Grapple Very Dissapointed with MIllonzi Grapple

[pitt_md]

After waiting weeks to get the LD60 that I ordered it finally gets here and can not be used! It's not even close to fitting my kubota loader.

It remains to be seen how Millonzi will take care of this problem.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Really? Do you have the skidsteer attach?

Please keep us posted as to how it turns out. I'd guess they'd be supportive from my dealings with them, but never had a problem so I don't know.

 

[pitt_md]

Really? Do you have the skidsteer attach?

Please keep us posted as to how it turns out. I'd guess they'd be supportive from my dealings with them, but never had a problem so I don't know.

No I do not have the skidsteer attach. I paid the $120 for them to make adaptors for my loader and they didn't get it right. I talked to John Millonzi just before they shipped the unit and told him I was concerned about it not fitting. He said that if there was a problem that they would take care of it.

Time will tell.

 

[Rara Avis]

He said that if there was a problem that they would take care of it.

Time will tell.

They have been a standup outfit in the past...so I think it you will get resolution...I just don't know how long it will take...

Make sure to take lots of pictures and measurements for them...

 

[digicamnut]

They will make it right. I got the skid steer attach ld48 and it works great.

 

[RollTideRam]

I got Millonzi's second grapple with JD QA. The first was on an older model loader. They sent me a picture and measurement and I checked it. When I got the grapple, the mount was off 1/16". Five minutes with a grinder and I was in business. I later moved up to 3320 and a 300 loader. Had to grind a little more, because Deere's two models were a little off. At least give Millonzi a chance to fix the problem before you start a negative thread. JC

 

[pitt_md]

ROLLTIDERAM wrote:
"At least give Millonzi a chance to fix the problem before you start a negative thread. JC"

For me strike one came when I gave them the make model and serial number of the loader and they sent me something put together with a guess at the measurements. I sent several emails with pictures and approxamate measurements and told them both in email and on the phone that i do not have the equipment to take exact measurements and that they would need to make sure they had the correct specs or I would not buy the grapple. Maybe I am more demanding about the equipment that I buy.

I have no interest in bashing Millonzi. I just need a grapple that works. As I have already said John said they would take care of any problems. We will have to wait and see what they do about it.

 

[wedge40]

I'd like to know what "not even close" means. Are we talking inches or wrong type of hookup? Or are talking something less than a 1/2" inch needs to be removed.
I just got done installing a Markhan Tooth Bar. I measured like they said, and it fit like a glove. Well after I remove some ridges that weren't part of the measurement.

I'm not sure how accurate the machines are that manufacture FEL stuff. Could be that you got one on the outer limits and Millonzi made something to fit the other extreme.

I've heard nothing but good things about Millonzi on here and I'm sure they will fix it.

Wedge

 

[pitt_md]

I'd like to know what "not even close" means. Are we talking inches or wrong type of hookup? Or are talking something less than a 1/2" inch needs to be removed.
I just got done installing a Markhan Tooth Bar. I measured like they said, and it fit like a glove. Well after I remove some ridges that weren't part of the measurement.

I'm not sure how accurate the machines are that manufacture FEL stuff. Could be that you got one on the outer limits and Millonzi made something to fit the other extreme.

I've heard nothing but good things about Millonzi on here and I'm sure they will fix it.

Wedge

After talking with John Millonzi on the phone last night while measuring things he decided that they would have to take it back and try again. So I have to take it back to where I picked it up from and have them ship it back.

 

[gmercer]

I had a similar problem with my Millonzi LD48. It did not fit the JD522 FEL (pin) when I received it. However, mine was close enough for me to endure several hours of grinding, in order to avoid the effort of re-crating, and sending it back. Especially since it was several months to get it in the first place. You would think that they would purchase the foot of the FEL from JD (or make a mock-up), and have one on hand to test fit.

They make a good product, but you better have patientce to do business with Millonzi.

 

[wedge40]

This is precisely why I'm changing out my Koyker mount for a standard skid steer mount. I have one bucket I'll need to have reworked, but after that I'll be fine.

Wedge

 

[gmercer]

Wedge, have you detailed this "swap-out" in another thread?

 

[pitt_md]

After looking at the grapple sitting in the back of my truck and going back and forth with John trying to figure out a way to fix this I decided to just get a refund and send it back. Even if they did bore out the collars and make everything else fit some how I noticed there would be no way to grease the piviot pins with their design. They said they would take it back no problem so kudos to them for that at least. Guess I will keep looking.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm still confused about why Millonzi isn't using industry provided specs to build the non Universal QA mounts. Doesn't JD publish the specific dimensions necessary to fit their pin mount system? I have never asked for it for one of my tractors but I did ask Woods for the information on my backhoe and received a professional engineering drawing in PDF format that showed to a hundreth of an inch exactly what the dimensions are. Do the tractor manufacturers not make such information public or are they unwilling to give it out if specifically asked. Having a FEL model number and serial number should be perfectly adequate information (IMO) for a company like Millonzi to then get any further information they need to do the custom fabrication.

Maybe they do have the precise dimensions and the problem is on the fabrication side of the process. I don't know if Millonzi is using a CAD type system for producing these mounts but if not then perhaps they should or at least should up the standards for precision. Don't they QC their fabrications? If we were talking about a mount for an out of production Belarus tractor I could see there would be problems but I don't understand why they should have any trouble at all with current or recent models from JD, Kubota, NH, MF, Kioti, Mahindra etc. I have not seen any complaints about WRLong grapples or other brands. Not sure if those are simply mostly QA mounts but I know WRLong and ATI have tractor specific mounts.

Bottom line from my perspective is that this is the type of thing that should not be happening and should not require the major hassle of sending grapples back and forth across the country to fix. Millonzi has always been very responsive but it would be even better if they just got it right to begin with.

 

[gmercer]

AMEN IslandTractor. I sent Millonzi the downloaded drawings/specifications from the JD website on my build. But I guess they didn't opt to read them. Must be a quality control issue as you suggest. Too bad. I like to deal with the small vendor when possible, but they are making it tough to do.

As I said, I was able to grind on mine and make it fit, but it is FAR from a quick mount application. It takes some hands-on taping with a sledge to nudge it in place for the pin to drop in. Also, the hole in the center of the pin for the ring-lock (not sure proper term here) is very small. I have can't use the ring-lock that is cabled to my FEL, and I have to use some smaller rings off of an old box-blade. Again, poor QC

 

[pitt_md]

I'm still confused about why Millonzi isn't using industry provided specs to build the non Universal QA mounts. Doesn't JD publish the specific dimensions necessary to fit their pin mount system? I have never asked for it for one of my tractors but I did ask Woods for the information on my backhoe and received a professional engineering drawing in PDF format that showed to a hundreth of an inch exactly what the dimensions are. Do the tractor manufacturers not make such information public or are they unwilling to give it out if specifically asked. Having a FEL model number and serial number should be perfectly adequate information (IMO) for a company like Millonzi to then get any further information they need to do the custom fabrication.

Maybe they do have the precise dimensions and the problem is on the fabrication side of the process. I don't know if Millonzi is using a CAD type system for producing these mounts but if not then perhaps they should or at least should up the standards for precision. Don't they QC their fabrications? If we were talking about a mount for an out of production Belarus tractor I could see there would be problems but I don't understand why they should have any trouble at all with current or recent models from JD, Kubota, NH, MF, Kioti, Mahindra etc. I have not seen any complaints about WRLong grapples or other brands. Not sure if those are simply mostly QA mounts but I know WRLong and ATI have tractor specific mounts.

Bottom line from my perspective is that this is the type of thing that should not be happening and should not require the major hassle of sending grapples back and forth across the country to fix. Millonzi has always been very responsive but it would be even better if they just got it right to begin with.

Thanks for saying the above. I felt like the odd man out for expecting that a company would do the background work required for a proper fit. I keep thinking that if it were my company I would bust my butt to get the correct specs. Happy customers do a lot of good PR work for a company. I know a lot of you folks have nothing but praise to say about their products. I am VERY jealous of that.

I just got off the phone with ATI asking about the Tach All Q/A. Seems like a very high quality system. They even have them in stock to fit my loader. $690 + $60 shipping + $195 conversion plate for my bucket + labor...

WEDGE40, what type of Q/A are you going to go with?

 

[stimpee]

I got the ATI Tach All Q/A for my new B3030, and it is highly recommended.

I am interested in how this turns out, as I am seriously considering purchasing a Millonzi grapple for my tractor!

 

[IslandTractor]

I got the ATI Tach All Q/A for my new B3030, and it is highly recommended.

I am interested in how this turns out, as I am seriously considering purchasing a Millonzi grapple for my tractor!

To my knowledge no one has ever really complained or had anything but good things to say about the grapple itself, especially in the standard QA edition. All the problems reported seem to focus on mismatched custom pin mounts and that should not be an issue for you with your Tach All.

 

[stimpee]

To my knowledge no one has ever really complained or had anything but good things to say about the grapple itself, especially in the standard QA edition. All the problems reported seem to focus on mismatched custom pin mounts and that should not be an issue for you with your Tach All.

So is the 48" unit the right one for my b3030 with la403 loader?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[IslandTractor]

So is the 48" unit the right one for my b3030 with la403 loader?

Thanks,
Steve

Yep. I used mine on a 21hp tractor with FEL lift of 1070lbs at pivot pins (avatar photo) and now use it on a 41hp tractor with over 2700lbs lift at pivot pins. Works fine with both and I've never felt the need for anything bigger. The current version is a little beefier in a few critical spots compared to the older ones too but still only weighs a tad more than 300lbs. Anything bigger weighs a lot more which just detracts from your net lift capacity.