The WICKED Root & Debris GRAPPLE!!!!!!!

[Mad Mac]

You deserve a beer and a back rub after loading those rocks/concrete. Been there and done that. One of my least favorite jobs.

That man has worked for my late father and now for me for more than 40 years.
I did move a few rocks and most definitely drank some beer.

When my two dogs are barking to be fed or let outside, I tell them, "Just a minute."
I was so tired after my shower, I was telling myself, "Just a minute."

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Sharing this for no other reason than, well, I really liked the picture....and you can kind of see the grapple. LOL

I LOVE the picture. It's beautiful! :thumbsup:

It looks to be a 72" Dual Lid Wicked Grapple on your L6060.
Travis

 

[innrkid]

I LOVE the picture. It's beautiful! :thumbsup:

It looks to be a 72" Dual Lid Wicked Grapple on your L6060.
Travis

View attachment 508276

Yes it is. It's resting in the picture after a long day!

 

[Bigfish50]

Hi All,
I too am starting to do research on a grapple for my nx5010. Based on this really looong thread I was thinking about the 54" Wicked single lid grapple. That said, I do have three questions that I didn't see or have overlooked.
1) Based on the size of my tractor will I have any issues with being able to see the outside edge of the grapple easily for alignment? I think I read yes on one of the threads for this question but wanted to confirm.
2) Based on the size of my tractor will I have any issues with seeing the single lid to understand when I have the load fully secured or do you guys just rely on the sound of the hydraulics to know you're there?
3) Don't know from an engineering perspective if this would be viable but are there any plans in the works to put cutting or digging tines on the back side of this grapple so it could be used for backdragging roots? (wishful thinking but doesn't hurt to ask)

 

[IslandTractor]

Hi Bigfish50. Great grapple choice and IMO a perfect match for your NX.

1) I can tell you that my Kioti DK40se is almost exactly the same size as yours and has the identical loader. I can easily see the outside edge if I need to come very close to something just by leaning to that side. My grapple is a 48" and I wouldn't worry about the 54".

2) No issue seeing if the load is secure. For starters you will learn what fully closed looks like but more importantly you will feel the lid clamp on the load and see the load compress. Remember this is an L shaped grapple so gravity is doing 90% of the work in securing the load. The lid mostly just pins the load and keeps things from bouncing around or rolling out the front. If you REALLY want to make sure you can curl the grapple after closing and see the tips of the lid. I never bother and have never had any issue securing the load.

3) Interesting thought but unless you engineer something hydraulic to retract the digging tines on the back of the grapple ($$$ and weight) you would find yourself inadvertently ripping things you didn't intend to when you go to grapple an object or pile of brush. I understand the desire and would suggest you research a Ratchet Rake attachment for your standard bucket which will do pretty much what you are talking about for shallow (3") roots. To get at deeper roots you'd probably be better off with a 3PT subsoiler type implement or just use the grapple going forwards.

 

[Bigfish50]

Thanks IT. All that makes sense. Regarding point 3 I was looking at some of the root rake grapples and it seems some of those have that ability to backdrag so I thought that might be something useful to have on a regular grapple as well. Oh well as I said wishful thinking. I'll prolly reach out to the folks at EA in the next few days to see if I can't get something in the works.

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks IT. All that makes sense. Regarding point 3 I was looking at some of the root rake grapples and it seems some of those have that ability to backdrag so I thought that might be something useful to have on a regular grapple as well. Oh well as I said wishful thinking. I'll prolly reach out to the folks at EA in the next few days to see if I can't get something in the works.

The clamshell or root rake grapples do have near vertical bottom tines that could be used to back drag but I don't know how efficient it would be as the tines still point forwards so would tend to push roots down and drag over them rather than ripping. Also, SSQA is designed mostly for pushing and lifting. You can certainly back drag but you're putting a lot of stress on the pins and that's not really what they are designed for. Back dragging with a bucket is unlikely to generate the shock loads that back dragging with a submerged tine would deliver when it hits a big rock or even just a solid root. There are better tools for that sort of deep root ripping.

 

[Eric102]

Don't know from an engineering perspective if this would be viable but are there any plans in the works to put cutting or digging tines on the back side of this grapple so it could be used for backdragging roots? (wishful thinking but doesn't hurt to ask)

Some of the general purpose ANBO grapples have the back drag cutters: General Purpose Grapple Attachments - ANBO Manufacturing

 

[Mad Mac]

We complement our grapple with a boxblade on the 3-pt hitch.
It has adjustable shanks for more ripping, dragging, digging and grading.
Boxblades are economical at $800 or so.
XTreme Duty Tractor Box Blades, Box Scrapers or Grader Boxes Everything Attachments

 

[EverythingAttachments]

We complement our grapple with a boxblade on the 3-pt hitch.
It has adjustable shanks for more ripping, dragging, digging and grading.
Boxblades are economical at $800 or so.
XTreme Duty Tractor Box Blades, Box Scrapers or Grader Boxes Everything Attachments

Yep, and you have a heck of a lot more traction when you pull something forward than you'll have trying to pull something from the front backwards! :thumbsup:
Travis