Grapple WR Long Grapple

goldduster · Oct 15, 2009

I ordered a new WR Long OBG2-56 today. I can't wait for it to show up.

I really look forward to ripping out all of the underbrush.

Ductape · Oct 15, 2009

Nice...... I'd like that exact grapple myself. Be sure to post some pics when it shows up.

IslandTractor · Oct 16, 2009

Great time of year to be going toe to toe with Mother Nature, and you now have the weapon of choice. Good luck.

SLHawkins · Oct 17, 2009

When I bought my JD 5403, I had them include a OBG-72 with it. It is much better than the root rake which I had with my previous tractor. The open-bottom series is far more capable that the standard root rake.It is much more capable than the other. I do not have a FEL bale spear yet. So, I use my OBG to load the hay bales on my trailer. WR Long is a great company as well. Eventhough, you have to order their products through a dealer, the allowed me to bring my two previous tractors to their factory so that they could do the fabrication and installation right there on the spot. Great purchase and happy tractoring!

Ken45101 · Oct 18, 2009

SLHawkins said:
When I bought my JD 5403, I had them include a OBG-72 with it. It is much better than the root rake which I had with my previous tractor. The open-bottom series is far more capable that the standard root rake.It is much more capable than the other.

How do you find it "far more capable"? I'm guessing that it can pick up more, but I'm also guessing that a root rake can do more digging out of roots and other things? Or will the OBG dig too?

Ken

IslandTractor · Oct 18, 2009

As best I can tell, the OBG grapple series from WRLong would also be considered a root rake/grapple anyway. Sure looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.

Ken45101 · Oct 18, 2009

IslandTractor said:
As best I can tell, the OBG grapple series from WRLong would also be considered a root rake/grapple anyway. Sure looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.

Well as I look at them, the OBG series have to be tilted down a lot to do any digging whereas the root rake/grapple looks like it is used with the loader more in the more normal position. If that is true, I would expect the OBG series to put a lot more stress on the extended loader cylinders, which is supposed to be hard on the loader cylinders. Just like it's said not to use a standard bucket as a bulldozer (may stress the loader and cylinders), I wonder if it's not the same situation if one uses the OBG series to dig roots, rocks, etc.

OTOH, if I got a grapple, it would be for a skid steer which should be more capable of handling the stresses (I hope).

Ken

IslandTractor · Oct 18, 2009

I understand your point about the extended horizontal bottom tines on the OBG (and Markham and Millonzi and many other grapples). They differ from the short tines of the clamshell or bulldozer type grapple. Still, I believe the OBG and others are properly referred to as root grapples. The terminology can be confusing.

As you noted, no one should use any tractor mounted grapple the way a bulldozer does to scrape along the ground with the tines buried as the FEL arms are simply not built for that type of pushing strain. They are more aimed at lifting than pushing. I think the more appropriate use of a tractor mounted "root" grapple is to approach the root/stump/bush without the grapple engaging the ground and then to put the grapple into the ground while stopped or going dead slow. Then manipulate the grapple under the root complex and curl or lift to get the stump out. That is considerably different (and less efficient) than what a bulldozer would do with its stubby arms and more vertical grapple orientation.

goldduster · Oct 31, 2009

It has finally arrived!!!

It is sitting in the back of my truck. I just need some daylight to get to work installing it. I have been patiently waiting since 5am.

Will post some pictures soon.

goldduster · Oct 31, 2009

Here we go with installation.

Sitting in the back of the truck. Yes, it is raining.

Installing the valve is a piece of cake.

First problem...

The holes in the plate the QD bracket mounts to is on the wrong side of the tractor. Should be ok to flip it the other way. I guess.

Second problem...

Who the heck has metric cap screws at the ready.

Sigh... Off to the hardware store. More later.

goldduster · Oct 31, 2009

Alright! Where are the metric screws?

Found them! 8mm 1.25 x 16mm

Turned the cover around and bolted it back down.

Bolted the QD bracket in place.

Took the QD off the lower backhoe line and reinstalled on the hose provided as instructed.

Got all of the hoses routed and in place. May have to reroute a couple of them since I am not sure I like where they ended up. I just used some wire ties to keep them away from moving parts.

Removed the loader knob and installed the knob provided.

Found a hot wire behind the seat. Routed the others down to the valve.

Let's get that thing out of the truck.

Fits like a charm.

Now if someone can just tell me how to properly bleed the air out of the hydraulic lines and how much fulid I will need to add I would be in business.

goldduster · Nov 1, 2009

#&@%$... Problem #3

The instructions warned about not damaging the wires when securing the new knob but they failed to warn about pushing it on too far. A poor engineering design allows the hot terminal on the switch to contact the joystick shaft shorting out the switch.

A simple change to the molded plastic inside the knob would keep this from happening. Sorry no pic.

I knew I wouldn't get away with only one trip to the hardware store.

Off to get some fuses.

kennyd · Nov 1, 2009

Nice looking grapple!

There is no need to "bleed" the lines, just operate all functions completely a few times through their entire range a motion...the system is self-bleeding and will push the air into the tank or out of the seal.

Enjoy!

goldduster · Nov 1, 2009

kennyd said:
Nice looking grapple!

There is no need to "bleed" the lines, just operate all functions completely a few times through their entire range a motion...the system is self-bleeding and will push the air into the tank or out of the seal.

Enjoy!

Yeah, I figured that out once I corrected the blown fuse problem.

What a monster!

The first load goes on the burn pile.

Picks up logs too.

This is going to be fun.

What a great toy...er...tool.

J_J · Nov 1, 2009

Nice install and good pictures.

Thanks for sharing.

Are the grapples independent, or both work at the same time on one lever, or maybe even sequential.

OK, I went back looked again and only saw two hoses, so they both must work together.

goldduster · Nov 1, 2009

J_J said:
Nice install and good pictures.

Thanks for sharing.

Are the grapples independent, or both work at the same time on one lever, or maybe even sequential.

OK, I went back looked again and only saw two hoses, so they both must work together.

I put about three hours today. I have created the mother of all burn piles.

The county says I can have a 4 foot fire without a permit. So I can't measure.

The grapples work together on the same toggle switch. About 90% of the time the left one closed before the right one was halfway closed.

I pulled out some rotting stumps with no trouble. It wouldn't touch even a small fresh cut one though. Did a good job pulling the roots and debris from the ground. Next weekend I try some live brush. It will be mostly salal and huckleberries.