Grapple Which type of grapple is best suited for...

[CJONE]

I don't have any insight yet. Ted just told me to announce that he's working on it. I directed him to this thread so he's aware of everyone's comments. He(and the customers that have used one) is very happy with the opening and performance of the larger Wicked Grapples so I think the design will be very similar.
Travis

If you are building this out of T-1 and can get a fullopen thumb I would be first in line for one, even it kit form. That is my biggest complaint on my econo grapple is the thumb opening. My chinese cylinder is going south [imagine that!] so I will be replacing it with a 2" longer stroke and refabbing the mounts to give me more open distance but to get more it would be a major redesign. Big stumps and when loading firewood it would be nice to have a bigger opening. I do NOT need more width, the 48 works great for digging and just about everything else. CJ

 

[Xfaxman]

Surely 51" is plenty for 99% of jobs? Just curious what issues you have experienced with your 51" mouth that makes you want a design that gives you more than that.

Big brush piles! :laughing:

I haven't heard a complaint from a Wicked Grapple owner or a Construction Attachments compact grapple owner and both open to 30". Ted has used both for many hours and hasn't had any issues. He says that an extra wide opening would push the brush away from the grapple rather than taking a good bite. I'd like to hear some Wicked Grapple owners chime in.
Travis

I realize that I have a higher capacity machine, but the operation is the same, push the brush together, roll the grapple over the top and pick it up. The grapple on a CUT would still work the same. Brush isn't very heavy.



Show Ted these pictures and ask him how an extra wide opening would push the brush away from the grapple?

 

[IslandTractor]

Big brush piles! :laughing:

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316906"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316907"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316912"/>

I realize that I have a higher capacity machine, but the operation is the same, push the brush together, roll the grapple over the top and pick it up. The grapple on a CUT would still work the same. Brush isn't very heavy.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316909"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316910"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316911"/>

Show Ted these pictures and ask him how an extra wide opening would push the brush away from the grapple?

I agree. The only problem with a wide opening is engineering the upper lid/arm and lower tine length to be strong enough. Otherwise I cannot see any disadvantage to a wide opening. I haven't seen measurements for the wicked grapple opening but my 48 Millonzi opens to 46" tip to tip and that is VERY useful when collecting brush into piles. I could probably live with 42 or so but don't see any advantage to a smaller opening.

It really is just a brush and stump issue. You couldn't lift a tree or big log with greater than 36" diameter anyway but getting wide to clamp the fat end of a stump is very useful and having a big maw to corral and crush big piles of brush before clamping really can help increase the amount of brush that can be moved in a single trip. Weight is never the limiting factor in carrying brush and so what does limit capacity is how big a volume you can
bite and crush. Scoop and the roll over the top of the pile as you slowly drive forward into a big brush pile while simultaneously "dumping" the grapple over until the top arm is almost at the ground before closing will allow you to crush and grab an enormous pile of brush at once. That is the main reason to have a fairly wide opening.

 

[Xfaxman]

I agree. The only problem with a wide opening is engineering the upper lid/arm and lower tine length to be strong enough. Otherwise I cannot see any disadvantage to a wide opening. I haven't seen measurements for the wicked grapple opening but my 48 Millonzi opens to 46" tip to tip and that is VERY useful when collecting brush into piles. I could probably live with 42 or so but don't see any advantage to a smaller opening.

I think the lower tine length can stay the same, just raise the upper pivot point, and make the ends of the upper arms longer to come down to the lower tines.

Notice the extra height above the SSQA on my grapple.

It really is just a brush and stump issue. You couldn't lift a tree or big log with greater than 36" diameter anyway but getting wide to clamp the fat end of a stump is very useful and having a big maw to corral and crush big piles of brush before clamping really can help increase the amount of brush that can be moved in a single trip. Weight is never the limiting factor in carrying brush and so what does limit capacity is how big a volume you can
bite and crush. Scoop and the roll over the top of the pile as you slowly drive forward into a big brush pile while simultaneously "dumping" the grapple over until the top arm is almost at the ground before closing will allow you to crush and grab an enormous pile of brush at once. That is the main reason to have a fairly wide opening.

Learned a new word, had to look it up!

 

[94BULLITT]

I haven't heard a complaint from a Wicked Grapple owner or a Construction Attachments compact grapple owner and both open to 30". Ted has used both for many hours and hasn't had any issues. He says that an extra wide opening would push the brush away from the grapple rather than taking a good bite. I'd like to hear some Wicked Grapple owners chime in.
Travis

I have not used mine a whole lot yet but I do not see a need for a larger opening. There are very few trees around here that are 30" plus. I think people are forgetting that we are talking about a grapple for a compact tractor not a skid steer or something with a higher lift capacity.

 

[Xfaxman]

I have not used mine a whole lot yet but I do not see a need for a larger opening. There are very few trees around here that are 30" plus. I think people are forgetting that we are talking about a grapple for a compact tractor not a skid steer or something with a higher lift capacity.

I am not talking tree trunks, I am saying for brush you need a wide opening.

I made a brush fork for this, with 4' long tines, because these 2' forks where not long enough for picking up limbs.


For the big trunks I use the little grapple, about as wide as the SSQA and about a 30" opening.


This one was 36' long.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have not used mine a whole lot yet but I do not see a need for a larger opening. There are very few trees around here that are 30" plus. I think people are forgetting that we are talking about a grapple for a compact tractor not a skid steer or something with a higher lift capacity.

You are correct about not needing more than 30" for lifting trees or logs but brush is a very different issue. Brush capacity for a grapple is almost never limited by lifting capacity but rather by the volume that can be wrangled into the open jaws before closing. That is why the clamshell style grapples are popular for brush removal despite being very heavy for their size. Clamshells are king when just measuring max opening.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think the lower tine length can stay the same, just raise the upper pivot point, and make the ends of the upper arms longer to come down to the lower tines.

Notice the extra height above the SSQA on my grapple.
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316932"/>

Learned a new word, had to look it up!

Yep, more than one way to skin a cat or arrange grapple geometry. The advantage of increasing the bottom tine length rather than just raising the pivot point of the upper jaw is that you add a bit more volume to the belly of the grapple but either way would increase max jaw opening.

 

[94BULLITT]

How often do you guys have a full load in your grapple? The only time you have a full load in the grapple is with brush is when you are moving a pile. You are not rarely going to get a full load gathering brush. I can get a really big load in my grapple with a 30" opening.

I think I posted this pic in this thread already.

 

[Xfaxman]

I have not used mine a whole lot yet but I do not see a need for a larger opening. There are very few trees around here that are 30" plus. I think people are forgetting that we are talking about a grapple for a compact tractor not a skid steer or something with a higher lift capacity.

I have used both grapples on the Toolcat, that is smaller than some compact tractors, so I think the pictures I post apply to the discussion.


TSO's question that started this thread, was "Which type of grapple is best suited for...... all around grapple work?