Grapple Titan Grapple - It's killing me

[BMW]

Since we don't have enough grapple threads, I figured I'd start one about my recent acquisition.

Last Friday, I ordered the 60" Lighter Design Grapple from Skid Steer Express

I had it shipped to the Mom & Pop store down the street because I didn't want to pay the extra $75 to have it delivered the additional two miles to my "residential address". According to the tracking number it was due in today so I decided it was a good day to get lunch from the Mom & Pop store deli. Low and behold there was my grapple sitting in their side lot and they loaded it on my truck while I was getting a sandwich.

I was impressed with the way it was shipped. I wasn't expecting all of the free angle iron they threw in. After I got it home and unloaded, I had extended my lunch a bit and had to get back to work which is two miles down the road in the other direction. Needless to say, it was killing me all after noon knowing that it was sitting there waiting.

[BMW]

Here are some photos on the tractor:

[BMW]

Another thing that is killing me is that I haven't plumbed in the hydraulic lines from the rear remotes. I wanted to get it on the tractor so I could see what all I needed. Here is a picture of the front hydraulic ports on my Woods loader

The grapple came with 1/2" flat face couplers so I will have to change either the couplers on the grapple or the couplers on the tractor. Those 1/2" flat face couplers are massive and I'm worried about all of that weight hanging on the hard lines. The hoses that came on the grapple are over 7 feet long. With it tilted all the way down I only need 5 feet of hose.

Here are my questions:
Should I mount the couplers to a bracket on the cross member and run hoses to the hard lines?
Is two extra feet of hose going to get in the way? Should I get shorter hoses?

Thanks

[lilranch2001]

I must be blind because I do not see any pics.....

[BMW]

Doh!!

[Marveltone]

Sorry. No pics. Are you using the "Manage Attachments" function and pulling them from your hard drive?

Joe

[flyingcow]

Got my glasses and still don't see the pics.

[BMW]

The pictures should work now. I guess I need to post pictures more often so I don't forget how.

[Missouri Pioneer]

There's another thread on here somewhere in which someone suggests that it's better if the hoses are loose rather than attached to a bracket. As far as the hose length goes, just get your hoses to the rear remotes made to a proper length to connect to your front hoses.

When I recently measured for the rear hoses, my dealer made the (good) suggestion that rather than using just a tape measure, thread a water hose where the hydraulic hoses will be, mark it, then measure the water hose to the mark.

[rd_macgregor]

When I plumbed my grapple, I left the SS flat-face couplers in place because I wanted to be compatible with other SS hydraulic implements (someday I hope to have a hydraulic auger). In your case, since the hard-plumbed outlets on the FEL arms are already Pioneer(?) fittings, I'm guessing it would be easier to replace the ones on the grapple...and you could slightly shorten the hoses at the same time; just be sure that nowhere in the range of motion can the hoses be pulled tight.

BOB