Grapple questions about choice of root grapple

[Deerherd]

I had been wanting to pull out this log for a while and wondered if the grapple would do it. I was surprised how easy it came out!

[Kioti Tom]

Dave,
Say it isn't so? You are missing the biggest benefit to your FitRite Hydraulics TnT setup! Your gonna need a box blade, make sure to get a heavy duty one to reap all the benefits.

Edit: I just tried looking on searchtempest for a box blade in your area, and you have the easiest zip code to remember I've ever seen.

Try the one I had in Virginia Beach and my brother still has,,,,23456

[rbtjr]

I had been wanting to pull out this log for a while and wondered if the grapple would do it. I was surprised how easy it came out!

Dave, your grapple looks strong. Also looks like you are having fun with it. Wish I had mine. I was piling up debris by hand today. The 4N1 bucket is great for lots of things but not for picking up scattered debris.

[gumshu]

Reminds me of a proud cat that just caught its prey.

[Piston]

To further understand, the hydraulics for the front blade are for swiveling the blade right to left so each side act in opposite of each other. In other words when one pushes out extending the cylinder, the other cylinder contracts. How will this work with a double cylinder grapple when both need to extend or contact together?

You can see that hydraulics are not currently part of my knowledge base but will soon be thanks to you.

Gary,
The two grapples are operated off of one hydraulic supply line, and one return line. It operates the exact same as a single grapple, only difference is that there is a Tee section put in the main supply/return so it branches out into two different hydraulic rams.

As an example, if I operate my 3rd function valve, and say I want to close the grapple half way (from fully open), I press the magic button to close the grapple half way, then let up. The two grapples will close the same amount because the exact same volume and pressure of hydraulic fluid are going to each grapple arm. If I got off the tractor, I could grab say, the right grapple arm, and physically push it down, to completely close that grapple arm, however, the left arm will now open fully, since they are Tee'd together, the fluid has to go somewhere.
The same thing happens when you pick up one single large boulder or something, lets' say about 2' in diameter for the heck of it. If you pick it up in the middle, you would be grabbing it with only the insides of each grapple (this is where a single grapple arm would completely grab the item, and hold it more securly than two arms) on the two grapple setup, both arms would close the same amount and the item would be centered between them. However, if you now drop the boulder or whatever you have, and pick it up with one grapple arm, it will work like this. With both arms fully open, you manuever the tractor to pick up the boulder with the right grapple arm, as you start to close the grapple, both arms will close together, then once the right arm starts to close on the boulder, it will stop, and the left one will continue to close fully, since there is nothing there to stop it, then once it is fully closed, the right arm will then close tightly on the boulder, and you can pick it up.

Hope that makes sense.

[JD 4520]

Gary,
The two grapples are operated off of one hydraulic supply line, and one return line. It operates the exact same as a single grapple, only difference is that there is a Tee section put in the main supply/return so it branches out into two different hydraulic rams.

As an example, if I operate my 3rd function valve, and say I want to close the grapple half way (from fully open), I press the magic button to close the grapple half way, then let up. The two grapples will close the same amount because the exact same volume and pressure of hydraulic fluid are going to each grapple arm. If I got off the tractor, I could grab say, the right grapple arm, and physically push it down, to completely close that grapple arm, however, the left arm will now open fully, since they are Tee'd together, the fluid has to go somewhere.
The same thing happens when you pick up one single large boulder or something, lets' say about 2' in diameter for the heck of it. If you pick it up in the middle, you would be grabbing it with only the insides of each grapple (this is where a single grapple arm would completely grab the item, and hold it more securly than two arms) on the two grapple setup, both arms would close the same amount and the item would be centered between them. However, if you now drop the boulder or whatever you have, and pick it up with one grapple arm, it will work like this. With both arms fully open, you manuever the tractor to pick up the boulder with the right grapple arm, as you start to close the grapple, both arms will close together, then once the right arm starts to close on the boulder, it will stop, and the left one will continue to close fully, since there is nothing there to stop it, then once it is fully closed, the right arm will then close tightly on the boulder, and you can pick it up.

Hope that makes sense.

Makes sense now and good reason why I probably want the smaller grapple (48" vs 66") with a single cylinder. Like I had mentioned, I am good mechanically on most everything but just don't have the background (yet) on hydraulics.

Thanks again.

[rwork]

Well, I got my new grapple today. Ordered the 48" LW grapple from Palletforks.com yesterday, and it was delivered today.
I know there had been some suspect posts in regards to "TitanSkidsteer" in the past, but this was my experience. Spoke with Todd when ordering yesterday, and he answered all of my questions.

Mine arrived on a pallett with a steel "crate" built around it. (1-1/4"angle iron)
The grapple looks very well built. 3/8" tines, with jaw tines being 1/2". It appears they have modified their design somewhat from the pictures on the website.
Doesn't have the 1/8 plate underneath the cylinder for protection, instead it has a square tube with a channel welded to the top to shield the cylinder.
Tapped on the 3x3 top tube with a bolt and it sounds solid, defineatly not 1/8", plus the cylinder mount is more of a saddle that straddles the top tube.
It has recessed grease fitting on all of the pivots. Haven't had a chance to hook it up to check the fit of the QA, but I'll do that that this weekend. It got dark on me this evening, so all I had time to do was get it unloaded.
Once I get it hooked up, and try it out, I'll report back, and post some detailed pictures.

[Piston]

Congrats! Your gonna LOVE it!

[bubbacuse77]

I had been wanting to pull out this log for a while and wondered if the grapple would do it. I was surprised how easy it came out!

Looks like you may be in the market for some grass seed as well. I always have to watch that I don't get carried away and create more work for myself.

[gumshu]

Well, I got my new grapple today. Ordered the 48" LW grapple from Palletforks.com yesterday, and it was delivered today.
I know there had been some suspect posts in regards to "TitanSkidsteer" in the past, but this was my experience. Spoke with Todd when ordering yesterday, and he answered all of my questions.

Mine arrived on a pallett with a steel "crate" built around it. (1-1/4"angle iron)
The grapple looks very well built. 3/8" tines, with jaw tines being 1/2". It appears they have modified their design somewhat from the pictures on the website.
Doesn't have the 1/8 plate underneath the cylinder for protection, instead it has a square tube with a channel welded to the top to shield the cylinder.
Tapped on the 3x3 top tube with a bolt and it sounds solid, defineatly not 1/8", plus the cylinder mount is more of a saddle that straddles the top tube.
It has recessed grease fitting on all of the pivots. Haven't had a chance to hook it up to check the fit of the QA, but I'll do that that this weekend. It got dark on me this evening, so all I had time to do was get it unloaded.
Once I get it hooked up, and try it out, I'll report back, and post some detailed pictures.

Hey rwork, you're overdue with those pictures.