Grapple JD 790 Grapple?

[splunk]

Anyone have a grapple or grapple bucket on their 790? Pics would be great.

 

[RobS]

Which loader on your 790? I've got the 70 loader and it doesn't have much capacity to begin with. I suspect a decent grapple would weigh almost half of my lift power. There have been several different loaders on the 790 since mine though.

 

[splunk]

Mine came with a 300 loader.

 

[RoyJackson]

The 300 loader has more lift capacity at the maximum height then Rob's #70 or my 419 (which tells us something, doesn't it?). However, it's still only around 720 pounds or so.
When you investigate grapplers, the weight of the grapple will have to be subtracted from your lifting capacity to see what you could handle. If the grapple replaces the bucket, you'd subtract the bucket weight from the grapple weight. The result would be subtracted from the maximum lifting capacity.

There are the multi-tine (I don't know if "tine" is the correct term) grapples and there is a single tine grapple, which may be your best option.

There's also a single tine grapple that fits to the bucket. That may have been a TBNer's own design, though.

I did a search on Goggle ("Loader Grapples"). There are many manufacturers. The cheapest I saw was about $2000 and did include the hydraulics.

If you find one for your tractor, it'll probably do well with brush. If you need to move logs, you probably need a bigger tractor then the 790.

Now, a question for Rob...can't you install a thumb on your backhoe, Rob? I wonder how well that would work as a grapple?

 

[RobS]

Now, a question for Rob...can't you install a thumb on your backhoe, Rob? I wonder how well that would work as a grapple?

I've half wondered that myself Roy, but don't really have a need right now. For brush it seems like it would be clumsy. I envision working brush by picking it up and carrying it some distance, to a burn pile for example. The loader grapple would do that nicely. The backhoe/thumb wouldn't grab as much and there's all that twisting around etc. to grab the stuff.

Now for placing rocks, the thumb seems like it would be sweet. In my mind it boils down to precision versus bulk and moving with material versus stationary operation.

As small as the 7 hoe is, I'm not sure if there's room for a thumb. If you, or anyone else is interested I could take some pics/measurements.

And I agree on your comment about logs. I just don't think the 790 with any loader is up to serious log moving.

 

[BamaRob]

Check out my Grapple Install thread. The Millonzi International LD-48 Grapple weighs in at just 285 lbs. I've got about $1500 total in the grapple, WR Long Electric Hydraulic Valve, bulkhead kit, hoses, etc.

I think the Millonzi LD-48 is the best bet for the limited lift capacities of our compacts. I'm having a blast with mine. It does a great job cleaning up brush.

Good luck,

BR

 

[IslandTractor]

I think the Millonzi LD-48 is the best bet for the limited lift capacities of our compacts. I'm having a blast with mine. It does a great job cleaning up brush.

Ditto

 

[RoyJackson]

BamaRob and IslandTractor, thank you for that post and link to installing you grapple!

That Millonzi definitely looks like a great choice for the 790! Considering the weight of the 60" bucket on the 300 loader is pretty close to the weight of the Millonzi 48" grapple, it doesn't appear there would be much, if any, loss in lifting capacity.

Does Millonzi build them to quick attach? Do they build to use the tractor manufacturer's QA, or do you have to replace that with a Millonzi unit?

 

[splunk]

Thanks for the great info guys. I am also interested in in the questions roy is asking.

 

[IslandTractor]

Does Millonzi build them to quick attach? Do they build to use the tractor manufacturer's QA, or do you have to replace that with a Millonzi unit?

They offer their grapples in Skid Steer Universal QA style as standard but for about $150 extra they will fabricate the pin ears necessary to attach the grapple directly like your bucket. I have never talked with them about fabricating a mount for a specific manufacturers QA system but I am pretty sure they would do it if you can get them the exact dimensions and angles etc. One thing to be careful of when asking them to fabricate/weld the pin ears is that they don't have your FEL in front of them so they cannot account for the curl/dump angles. Probably best to take some detailed photos of your bucket mount in full curl and dump so they can see if there might be obstructions.