Grapple Rake prices

[irwin]

Originally Posted by Ken45101

I received my Markham grapple late yesterday. A quick try out resulted in the grapple falling off in the heavy brush Then I realized that they sent what I guess is the wrong type of mount, there is nothing for the bottom of the quick attach to lock on to

I'll be calling them this morning. It will be a hassle to get it shipped back. It might be less of a hassle to see if a local weld shop can fabricate a secure mount for it.

Suggestion to board members: apparently they have different mounting systems beyond the standard QA and they are not careful about matching what they ship to what the customer needs. Myself, I only have experience with standard quick attach, didn't realize this.

Ken

Ken.. can you post a picture of the grapple mount? I'm interested in the different mounts out there.. usually if the top fits properly then the bottom is right?

With a picture to go by perhaps someone here might have a suggestion.

[Ken45101]

Originally Posted by irwin

Ken.. can you post a picture of the grapple mount? I'm interested in the different mounts out there.. usually if the top fits properly then the bottom is right?

With a picture to go by perhaps someone here might have a suggestion.

A photo probably wouldn't show up very well since it's all black.

The top looked a little wide to me but mated up okay. I noticed that, but thought "I guess they know what they are doing."

On the sides near the bottom there are two 1"+ pins (one above each other) on each side but several inches to the side of the QA coupler. Nothing along the bottom for the QA to lock into.

At this point I'm guessing they sent a proprietary mount for a JD loader instead of the JD skidsteer I specified. I guess I'll find out more this morning when I call them.

Ken

[IslandTractor]

Originally Posted by Ken45101

At this point I'm guessing they sent a proprietary mount for a JD loader instead of the JD skidsteer I specified. I guess I'll find out more this morning when I call them.

Ken

I suspect you are correct. You know what a skidsteer mount looks like and that is exactly what they should have sent. They don't make proprietary mounts to my knowledge except for the JD and that may have been the source of confusion. Except for those who have the JD style tractor quick attach, it is best to ignore your tractor/skidsteer brand and just order the generic skidsteer mount without mentioning brand. Still, this seems to me to be a Markham screw up and I hope they do right by you.

[Ken45101]

Originally Posted by IslandTractor

I suspect you are correct. You know what a skidsteer mount looks like and that is exactly what they should have sent. They don't make proprietary mounts to my knowledge except for the JD and that may have been the source of confusion. Except for those who have the JD style tractor quick attach, it is best to ignore your tractor/skidsteer brand and just order the generic skidsteer mount without mentioning brand. Still, this seems to me to be a Markham screw up and I hope they do right by you.

Yes. The first woman I spoke to this morning assured me that all their grapples fit skid steers. She then got Alan Markham on the line and he confirmed that they goofed and shipped one for a JD tractor. He said they would ship out a replacement today.

When I placed the order, I emphasized JD skid steer because I wanted to make sure I got the right hydraulic connectors. I'm not clear on hydraulic connector terminology but I know my equipment has at least three different types (the skid steer attachment connectors, the Kubota tractor rear remotes, and the Kubota M5040 loader remotes and maybe something different on the Kubota B21 backhoe).

Ken

[Maknwine]

I'm such a newby!
Went to the hose shop for a proper hosing and got hosed. Described what I needed and drew a picture for the guy showing the 90 elbow for the rear remote hookup. Wouldn't you know, they put the 90 on the front connectors for the grapple hookup and not the rear remotes. Purely and simply there faught. Luckily I noticed at the counter and they corrected with no fuss(he did look a little pissed, maybe just at himself b/c I drew a picture!)

Anyway, got away from there and realized they put it together with 1/2 inch hose. My faught b/c I didn't specify but I was so shocked and confused as to how the mix up with the 90 elbow happended that I didn't even pay attention when they brought it out. Should I run with 1/2" line or give up and start over?

[IslandTractor]

Originally Posted by Maknwine

Should I run with 1/2" line or give up and start over?

Absolutely use the half inch. The only downside is that it is stiffer and harder to go around the bend at the bottom of the FEL post but other than that there is no problem. It probably cost you a few bucks extra (not that much) but it is certainly absolutely fine. That is what I used on my first tractor before I understood that 1/4 or 3/8 would be perfectly adequate.

[Maknwine]

I. T.,

Man that sounds good, really appreciate you taking the time to type/reply to my questions. I was certainly hating to have to go back down to the shop and and ask them to change it for 1/4" line and have to pay again. I was going to put that 1/2" line without fittings on EBAY in hopes I could recover some money that way.

If it wont effect the performance I run it with 1/2" and chalk this up to another lesson learned.

Another note, I've got the grapple on and ready but have not got home yet to hook up the hydraulics. Will I be able to hook up the lines and start running it or will I have to open up lines to purge any air?

[IslandTractor]

Hook it up and use it no need to purge.

[irwin]

Originally Posted by Ken45101

A photo probably wouldn't show up very well since it's all black.

The top looked a little wide to me but mated up okay. I noticed that, but thought "I guess they know what they are doing."

On the sides near the bottom there are two 1"+ pins (one above each other) on each side but several inches to the side of the QA coupler. Nothing along the bottom for the QA to lock into.

At this point I'm guessing they sent a proprietary mount for a JD loader instead of the JD skidsteer I specified. I guess I'll find out more this morning when I call them.

Ken

Something like this?

[Maknwine]

Beautiful day here... have my hydraulic hoses made up, tractor hooked up to the new 66" grapple rake, and even just finished a bowl of "lucky charms" (must have been the Unlucky Charms for me) cereal with the kids. Thinking all is well I'll go hook those lines up and start working.

Before I go to running/zip tyeing everything up, I'll plug in those large skid steer type fittings just to make sure the local hose shop and the installed fittings on the grapple mate together nicely. Guess what.....


They dont. Great, hose shop is closed and I'm hosed again. I gave them all the numbers off the fittings on the grapple so you think that would have been the way to go. The numbers on the hose shop adapters only match on the end (female "501-8FP" and male "502-8FP"). My female numbers start with "09 US Parker FEM" and the male is "02TS Parker FEM" and then the same numbers as theres at the end. I guess I should have removed my fittings to make it stupid easy but I dont have any of the blue pipe dope/sealant compound that is on them to replace and I'm sure a can of it would run my cost up even more.

Now I'm a little bit flustered. Today, I looked on the paper I had all my numbers down and everything was right on my side. I even noticed I had written "1/4 inch hose 16 ft" on the piece of paper I gave the guy for what I needed and still got 1/2" line.

I'm wondering would it be fair for me to go back and request they redo these lines for me the way they should be and even credit me back the difference for the 1/4" line. It would be there 3rd attempt at getting it right or I am I being an @ss?

And should I remove my fittings from grapple and what about sealing them back on..what should I use to do that?