Herkypilot
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2011
- Messages
- 570
- Location
- Meadows of Dan, VA
- Tractor
- Kubota M7060 HDC12, KX040 & L3540 HST
I called WildKat a few days ago and told them I was interested in a 48" grapple, but I was concerned about what some on this site had posted about the 1/8" steel 4x4 top tube issue. She asked me to send pictures of what had been posted and I did. I only live about 40 miles from their store/factory so I made the trip today. I asked her about the issue when I was there and Connie said she asked about it and the manager said that has been taken care of. I looked over the 48" & 66" grapples on their lot before making the decision. The cost for the 48" was $750 + tax so they have gone up about $100 since the last time I looked. That includes removing the flat faced couplers. As the worker was bringing the 48" around on the Bobcat forks, I looked at it and decided it was too small (narrow) for my MX-5100. I told the guy I think I want a 66" single cylinder grapple instead. He didn't mind at all so we walked over and he first showed me a heavier duty 66" which weighted about 850 lbs. I told him I didn't want an extra 400 lbs over the 48" econo so we looked at the 66" single 3/8" (just like the 48"). It only weighted about 100 lbs more. Total was $965 including taxes (no Farm exemption yet!) out the door.
When I got it home, I whacked the top 4x4 tube a couple of times with a small sledge hammer to see if it would dent it in. It was pretty solid. I was thinking if it were 1/8 inch, it should have dented it in. I was going to take it back if it did dent. I cleaned it up a little - pulled the two pins to grease up the holes and pins since there was no zerks to use. The end of ram on the hydraulic cylinder had some play between the brackets so I installed 1" washers to take up some of the gap. Also, some had mentioned they've lost some of the spring clips so I decided to run some safety wire on the open ends to keep them seated.
I have one question though, I'm trying to get the Kubota compatible couplers to work. I found some at Tractor Supply, but the threads are 1/2" JIC (female) and the grapple has 1/2 pipe 14 NPT (Male) threads. TSC didn't have adapters for this. Where are you guys finding them?
HP
When I got it home, I whacked the top 4x4 tube a couple of times with a small sledge hammer to see if it would dent it in. It was pretty solid. I was thinking if it were 1/8 inch, it should have dented it in. I was going to take it back if it did dent. I cleaned it up a little - pulled the two pins to grease up the holes and pins since there was no zerks to use. The end of ram on the hydraulic cylinder had some play between the brackets so I installed 1" washers to take up some of the gap. Also, some had mentioned they've lost some of the spring clips so I decided to run some safety wire on the open ends to keep them seated.
I have one question though, I'm trying to get the Kubota compatible couplers to work. I found some at Tractor Supply, but the threads are 1/2" JIC (female) and the grapple has 1/2 pipe 14 NPT (Male) threads. TSC didn't have adapters for this. Where are you guys finding them?
HP
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