New Grapple

   / New Grapple #12  
I know you're going to love it. I got mine from a different place, but they must be sharing designs cause it looks nearly identical. Mine doesn't have as much paint on it though. Those teeth on the front can destroy yaupon.
 
   / New Grapple #13  
I would add the 3/8 shims/reinforcements. You do not want the grapple to come off.
I built adapters for my grapple. Skid Steer to JD 245 loader. Digging, lifting, carrying, and pushing it worked great. But once i was trying to pull a large log out of a tangle of logs and the 1/4 thick bars the pins engaged bent and the grapple popped off. I was able to stop before the hoses broke. Hammer and a welder and it's fixed.
Looks like there is plenty of room to add plates for more engagement.
I don't think it's a spring problem with your carrier's pins.
I see ebay seller offer the 3/8" reinforcements. But with your skills you could easily fab them, if the manufacturer does not send you some.
 
   / New Grapple #14  
bindian said:
I picked up my 72 inch grapple on Friday. It was shipped to my local dealer with no freight charge from www.palletforks.com (Skid Steer Attachments Pallet Forks Hay Spears Bobcat Cat John Deere Mount Plate)
I love it. It has recessed grease fittings on all pivot point, massive (I think 1.25") pins retained with bolts, and covered center hoses with the hoses to the QAs spiral wire cover. The cylinders are also covered, but not the chrome. Got this all for a very good price.

Now, my left QA pin engages this grapple slot less than 1/4 inch. The right QA pin engages the slot about 5/16th inch. I am thinking of welding 3/8 inch plates on the back sides of the slots for positive pin engagement. Is this slop normal for a skid steer grapple on a utility tractor? It is on my Mahindra 6520 4WD with a KMW ML275 loader. It works fine right now as long as I don't back drag anything with it. But I want the grapple to be able to handle all my tractor can give it.

The diverter valve installation for this grapple can be seen here... http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/229883-hydraulic-auger-mount.html
hugs, Brandi
Click to expand...

bindian said:
Zebrafive,
Here are bunch of photos. Can the QA Pin springs become too weak to work correctly? The first photo shows it best with the grapple hanging straight down and about 1/2 to 5/8th inch gap. It is being held on with only about 1/4 inch of pin. Also the red "corner" stop on the QA Tool Carrier is engaging the grapple.
hugs, Brandi
Click to expand...
NO, that is not normal - it is icorrectly dimensioned. I have a Bobcat attachment [Tilt Tatch] that remains permanently installed on my [identical to your] SSQA. I consider Bobcat the standard, and it fits extremely well. The pins on the SSQA engage about 5/8" ... extending about 5/16"+ out the other side of the slot. Note the cross pins in your overcenter levers on the QA. They are low in the slots and will rise to the top of the slot before stopping the QA attachment pin from rising. It looks like this would allow the grapple to come loose. Your going to need those shims. Id place them slightly forward of the slot edge so the QA pins will hit them sooner and close up that top play in the crosspins a bit. Youre going to like that grapple when you get it right. Just be sure its right before you back stress it or itll likely hurt your QA :eek:
larry
 
   / New Grapple #15  
Fix that before you use it for much of anything, or you will have the popping-off grapple experience like I did. Not fun!

Seems bad dimensioning and design on things like this QA mount is pretty common, as mine was from Gator.
 
   / New Grapple #17  
Now I'm wondering if I need shims too.
I bought a 4' Gator for my 4035 Mahindra last year and LOVE it. Haven't had a chance to use it yet this year but I'll check the fit as soon as I put it on.
Best labor shaving attachment I have!
Dan.
 
   / New Grapple #18  
Nice Brandi !!!
I am hoping to pick up a root grapple soon from skidsteer express. I'll be waiting to see your fixes so I can learn from you !

C-Ya
Scott
 
   / New Grapple
  • Thread Starter
#19  
Sorry for being tardy in replying here. Seems since the 4th I have not received any email updates on this thread. I received the $50 for photos and to help with welding repairs. I am told the shim plates are being sent to me
www.palletforks.com
Skid Steer Attachments Pallet Forks Hay Spears Bobcat Cat John Deere Mount Plate
and Titan Industries are all the same business as I understand it now. I am very happy with the support they have shown me so far.
Until I get the shims welded on, I won't put back pressure on the grapple. I plan on (depending on the design of the shims) installing them a little behind the existing slot, 1. for a lip to weld on, and 2., to account for the taper of the pin.
hugs, Brandi
 
   / New Grapple #20  
bindian said:
Sorry for being tardy in replying here. Seems since the 4th I have not received any email updates on this thread. I received the $50 for photos and to help with welding repairs. I am told the shim plates are being sent to me
www.palletforks.com
Skid Steer Attachments Pallet Forks Hay Spears Bobcat Cat John Deere Mount Plate
and Titan Industries are all the same business as I understand it now. I am very happy with the support they have shown me so far.
Until I get the shims welded on, I won't put back pressure on the grapple. I plan on (depending on the design of the shims) installing them a little behind the existing slot, 1. for a lip to weld on, and 2., to account for the taper of the pin.
hugs, Brandi
Click to expand...
Presumably they have no real affiliation with Bobcat or it would have been right in the 1st place. Take a harder look at the existing slot. On a properly designed implement the bend in the flange fits the bottom QA angle, and the cut slot metal matches the pin angle exactly. So shims backed off from the slot would be a bad choice because the pin will never touch them.
larry
 
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