fixing bent grapple

[debushau]

I have a grapple and have managed to bend the upper lid. It's a 60" Millonzi light duty root grapple, this model has the dual upper lids with two cylinders. It's probably 5 or 6 years old at this stage and has been very good value. I bought it for use with a 38hp tractor and it's now on a 66hp tractor so I expect I will need to upgrade to a more robust grapple eventually.

The grapple is still functional though one of the lids is twisted about 6 inches to the outside. The bend is in the body of the lid (not just the tines) and was caused when I grasped the end of a log in one of the clamps and dragged it out of a pile. The log was at an angle to the grapple (not perpendicular) so it exerted a lateral force on the lid when I backed up and bent it. I can post photos in a few days. I don't think I can heat it to fix it because the bend is in both side plates. I was thinking there might be some way to use a jack, come along or one of those body shop rams to bend it back. I guess I could just remove the lid and bring it to a metal shop, maybe it could be pressed back into shape. Worst case scenario, I could have another one made up.

Open to suggestions on the best way to go about this.

 

[Dingo Man]

I have a grapple and have managed to bend the upper lid. It's a 60" Millonzi light duty root grapple, this model has the dual upper lids with two cylinders. It's probably 5 or 6 years old at this stage and has been very good value. I bought it for use with a 38hp tractor and it's now on a 66hp tractor so I expect I will need to upgrade to a more robust grapple eventually.

The grapple is still functional though one of the lids is twisted about 6 inches to the outside. The bend is in the body of the lid (not just the tines) and was caused when I grasped the end of a log in one of the clamps and dragged it out of a pile. The log was at an angle to the grapple (not perpendicular) so it exerted a lateral force on the lid when I backed up and bent it. I can post photos in a few days. I don't think I can heat it to fix it because the bend is in both side plates. I was thinking there might be some way to use a jack, come along or one of those body shop rams to bend it back. I guess I could just remove the lid and bring it to a metal shop, maybe it could be pressed back into shape. Worst case scenario, I could have another one made up.

Open to suggestions on the best way to go about this.

Island Tractor is not going to be very happy:laughing:

 

[LouieJunior]

Mine too. I don't have the tools to fix mine but I'd like to someday. Seems to work okay with the bent tip.

 

[Ken45101]

LouieJunior's can be easily fixed by heating it with a rosebud tip on an oxy/acetylene or oxy/propane rig. Probably even by heating it with a larger cutting tip, just don't hit the oxygen lever!

debushau, it's hard to tell what you have without pictures (heck, without pictures, the problem doesn't exist! ;-) ) But anyway, worst case, it could be cut apart, heated and straightened, then welded back together.

 

[k0ua]

Heat and beat. If you are no good at that or don't have the equipment, take it to a welding or machine shop and there are guys that are masters at "a heating and a beating". Ten minutes later, it is all fixed, and all you have to do is run a wire wheel over it and and prime and paint.
This guy can fix you right up

Google

James K0UA

 

[Furu]

Island Tractor is not going to be very happy:laughing:

Now that is funny:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[debushau]

Here are the photos. At the tips, it's probably 12 inches to the left of where it should be.



If I get it back in shape, I should think about how to strengthen if for lateral loads.

 

[Xfaxman]

I have straightened a lot of things with jacks and chains.

Rig it to push down on the high side while pushing up on the low side. go past straight to allow for spring back.

 

[debushau]

I'll give that a go, I might invest in one of those frame puller sets. I would like to weld in plates into the center to resist twisting in the future.

 

[Xfaxman]

I recently bought a 10 ton Porta-Power kit from NAPA. very handy. :thumbsup:


Need to get a Pullback Ram to go with it.


It I had a dollar for every bent thing that I have straightened in my life, I would have a lot of dollars! :laughing: