The WICKED Root & Debris GRAPPLE!!!!!!!

[TomSeller]

I got my 60inch et grapple last week and put in a bunch of time this weekend using it and my new et lanscape rake together.

Really like it.

One strange thing is in maybe 10 hrs of use, 3 different (no pattern) hairpin cotter pins fell out. They came in absolutely no contact with any brush, etc. But they someone popped off.

Noticed the first one was gone after only about an hour (noticed because I had a leaky cylinder). But then today after I cleaned up the tractor two more different pins were missing....

Must be happening while opening and closing, they work themselves off.

Anyone else have this problem?

This does not sound right. Did you call ETA? Leaking cylinder and pins falling out is not normal for 10 hours.

 

[BGigHarbor]

I didn't talk to them yet, as it was Friday 2pm Pacific time when I got started and thus too late.

The leaky cylinder was just a plug on the cylinder that had no dope or anything and so I took it out and put it back with loctite 545 (that's all I had except for t tape). That stopped that leak.

The hairpin clip thing is surprising, though. Haven't seen anyone else mention it. I'll ask them tomorrow what they think I should do.

The grapple is great fun, though, and I got a ton of work done on the new property over three days before I ran out of clips. Simple problem, and plenty of adequate solutions to be had.

 

[TomSeller]

. I'll ask them tomorrow what they think I should do.

The grapple is great fun, though, and I got a ton of work done on the new property over three days.

Good deal. I am sure they will take care of you.

 

[IslandTractor]

I didn't talk to them yet, as it was Friday 2pm Pacific time when I got started and thus too late. The leaky cylinder was just a plug on the cylinder that had no dope or anything and so I took it out and put it back with loctite 545 (that's all I had except for t tape). That stopped that leak. The hairpin clip thing is weird, though. I'll ask them tomorrow what they think I should do. The grapple is great fun, though, and I got a ton of work done on the new property over three days.

I'd never use hairpin clips on a grapple. Too much contact with brush. I know that was not the issue this time but it will be. E clips work. Otherwise I'd get a bolt with lock nut or even stainless baling wire to replace clips.

 

[BGigHarbor]

I'd never use hairpin clips on a grapple. Too much contact with brush. I know that was not the issue this time but it will be. E clips work. Otherwise I'd get a bolt with lock nut or even stainless baling wire to replace clips.

I love the idea of c/e clips on both ends of each cylinder pin. Looks to me like there is an adequate groove already there for clips. As long as there is room for the e clip pliers. I'd probably then need a larger set of e pliers though to open a clip that size.

Maybe I'll try to track down some in the right size and then see if I can figure out a way to open them.

clip missing after about an hour, other side, and new grapple and landscape rake resting between lots of work.

 

[IslandTractor]

I tried to attach some pics but for some reason it is failing....I've not had problems with attachments before....

I love the idea of e clips on both ends of each cylinder pin. Looks to me like there is a perfect groove already there for clips.

Maybe I'll try to track down some in the right size.

My grapple has e clips. No issues.

 

[BGigHarbor]

Good deal. I am sure they will take care of you.

I emailed Travis and he responded that that loctite is fine on the cylinder plug.

He said they have not had other reports of the hairpin clips jumping on their own, and suggested that I consider other types of clips or maybe push the clips in all the way and see if that helps .

Guess I was hoping for a bit more magic from their end. I'll probably look for some regular cotter pins (the kind that fold over) to fit next time I am in town so I can be up and running again (I don't have the right size on hand). Ideally the hole would be a touch bigger for that style of pin as they tend to be soft so they can be bent over. The hole is only around .016. Maybe a washer, too.

Liking the grapple alot, just need to get it reliable to prevent more serious/expensive surprises.

edit: For the sake of completeness, Travis emailed again and offered to send replacement hairpin clips. He said he didn't offer because he thought I was more interested in different solutions. My guess is that I won't be the last person to have the clips jump ship and they may switch to a more secure clip once someone else reports the problem.

Overall I am very impressed with their stuff for the price, and will almost certainly be buying more simplement from them down the road. Like their rear blade if they would bite the bullet and put an hydraulic angle on it!

And maybe make a place to mount the landscape rake gauge wheels to the rear blade, too.

 

[94BULLITT]

Push the pins in from the back.

 

[BGigHarbor]

Push the pins in from the back.

When I noticed the other two pins missing last night, I was on the way back home and did not really look close at it.

But I did notice on at least one of the round pins that hold the cylinder that the whole thing was loose enough to turn. So I think however I push in the haripin clips, the position will change as the round pin turns over time.

I'll be back out there in a few days maybe (weather permitting) and will look at the situation closer.

Still like the elegant idea of a retaining clip, though. If anyone gets a chance to measure the bottom of the groove where the hairpin clip goes through, please let me know and I'll look for some source of the clips online.

 

[k0ua]

I wondered about those hairpin clips too. I haven't had any trouble losing mine yet, but I have been doing more rock work and not as much brush work. I am thinking a Cotter pin is the solution. I don't have any reason to take the cylinder off anyway, and if you did it only takes a minute with a pair of pliers to remove the cotter pin. A quick dirty and inexpensive solution.

James K0UA