Texas Grapple Shootout

[txdon]

Well Brandi, it doesn't look so pretty any more. I used it a abused today and it took a bunch of hits and scrapes. It is one tough grapple it took everything I thew at it. I was cleaning up storm damaged cedar trees from 7 years ago. One of the hydraulic cylinder protective covers came off when a Yaupon limb hit it but it was easy to put back on. Looks like rain tomorrow so it will get a rest.

 

[bindian]

Well Brandi, it doesn't look so pretty any more. I used it a abused today and it took a bunch of hits and scrapes. It is one tough grapple it took everything I thew at it. I was cleaning up storm damaged cedar trees from 7 years ago. One of the hydraulic cylinder protective covers came off when a Yaupon limb hit it but it was easy to put back on. Looks like rain tomorrow so it will get a rest.

Don,
Well, what's an old girl without a few marks of experience. Glad to hear you are not babying her!
hugs, Brandi

 

[TomSeller]

Just let me know if you need a measurement or specific photo.

Very nice grapple. Do you know how much it weighs?

 

[NativeSon]

My wife has got to get serious about that Lotto thing. If she hits the big one it'll be easier to add to the toy (errrrh) implement collection. And the Padre wants a new church.

Charlie

 

[txdon]

Very nice grapple. Do you know how much it weighs?

Tom, the shipping weight said 700#
I came close to your suggested opening width of at least 45" with 41.5"

My tractor can lift 2347# so that gives me an payload of 1647#. So far none of the largest dead trees I can find have exceeded that weight.

Assuming a square foot of dry oak weighs about 30# I can carry a 2 foot diameter tree that is about 26' long.

(disclaimer - This is a rough field estimate (on straight sided tree) and not knowing the moister content and the exact weight of the wood and not using the formula V = (D / 2)^ 2 x P x H / 3. In other words I lift till I can't then I know its over 1647#)

 

[pacerron]

Tom, the shipping weight said 700#
I came close to your suggested opening width of at least 45" with 41.5"

My tractor can lift 2347# so that gives me an payload of 1647#. So far none of the largest dead trees I can find have exceeded that weight.

Assuming a square foot of dry oak weighs about 30# I can carry a 2 foot diameter tree that is about 26' long.

(disclaimer - This is a rough field estimate (on straight sided tree) and not knowing the moister content and the exact weight of the wood and not using the formula V = (D / 2)^ 2 x P x H / 3. In other words I lift till I can't then I know its over 1647#)

Remember to keep your front tire pressure up:thumbsup:

 

[txdon]

Remember to keep your front tire pressure up:thumbsup:

I forgot to check the pressure after these cold spells. When I was cleaning out the pond a while back and the heavy mud load would squish the front tires and air would leak around the rims. So Thanks, I will!

 

[mikim]

kick *** grapple don fer sure...if you ever do get something stuck in those "V"s -- you can normally get it out by scraping it backwards on the ground. The extra $200 for front door delivery was certainly worth it. I paid $1700 total for mine but I had to pick it up at the freight yard. (in Houston at the time). Living in Angleton and wanting the grapple up here meant I was going to have to haul it anyway.

 

[TomSeller]

Tom, the shipping weight said 700#
I came close to your suggested opening width of at least 45" with 41.5"

My tractor can lift 2347# so that gives me an payload of 1647#. So far none of the largest dead trees I can find have exceeded that weight.

Assuming a square foot of dry oak weighs about 30# I can carry a 2 foot diameter tree that is about 26' long.

(disclaimer - This is a rough field estimate (on straight sided tree) and not knowing the moister content and the exact weight of the wood and not using the formula V = (D / 2)^ 2 x P x H / 3. In other words I lift till I can't then I know its over 1647#)

Oh I see where you had listed the 700# earlier, sorry. 1647# is still a lot of weight to lift and your curved tines will naturally hold the load closer to the tractor allowing you to work faster. I often have to curl to get the load to slide back on my flat L bottom grapple. Your looks like a good combination between rake and L bottom. The classic dilemma is one top clamp or a wide single for back raking when choosing between rake and L bottom. Yours is the best for hauling.

 

[txdon]

The classic dilemma is one top clamp or a wide single for back raking when choosing between rake and L bottom. Yours is the best for hauling.

I was raking with the bottom tines backward (smooth) and forward (sifting). I also have the box blade on for counter weight and it has a row of ripper tines, a.k.a. rake.

However, I had to disconnect one top and tilt on the box blade for the grapple.

Do they make a "Y" valved splitter for the hydraulic lines? I don't mind getting off the tractor to turn a valve but I do mind making sure all the pressure is off then yanking two lines out and the connecting two other lines.