Mackdaddy9269
New member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2016
- Messages
- 21
- Location
- Central Michigan
- Tractor
- 2010 Kubota MX5100 (sold) - 2016 Kubota MX 5200 (sold) - 2018 Kubota MX5800
Hello All,
I'm in the market for a grapple. I've read A LOT of posts/threads on TBN on grapples to learn everything I can from reading about them as well as the experiences people have had buying/using them. I just purchased a used 2010 Kubota MX5100 Tractor which is my first. I have not used a grapple before, but have used two different tractors of similar size over the past few years to get some tractor time experience.
I already have read and understand I need to beef up the grille/brush guard. I've got that in the works to build a heavy duty guard like Ovrszd & do some other enhancing like Rustyiron. I'm not trying to beat a dead horse with this, but rather I would like input especially from the experiences of others.
I have a good understanding of the basic principle of the heavy the grapple, the less I can pickup with it. Typically I'm very much an HD guy as I expect my stuff to last and to work when I need it. I also understand you get what you pay for. I have an LA844 loader and from what I can find the lift capacity is around 2,400 pounds. I've already loaded the rear tires with beet juice/rim guard which put around 1,100 pounds of ballast in the rear. I'm going to be building a custom ballast box for the rear that I plan on putting 800 to 1,000 pounds into to help more with pushing than lifting as I don't want to overload the FEL or the front axle.
The tractor is 52hp and the hydraulics seem very strong, quick, and responsive. My primary uses for the tractor will be snow removal, light logging & lumber clearing, brush clearing, general property maintenance, and wildlife habitat maintenance. It will all be personal use, no construction or commercial work.
I am currently leaning more towards a claw/clam style grapple. I've read and understand the differences, the abilities, and the pros/cons to the different styles. I know already I don't want a bucket grapple or add on thumb grapple to my bucket. I also don't want a grapple with no or minimal under claw, but I don't know that the versions with the large under claw are what I'm seeking either. I understand the advantages that come with that, however, I want to be able to dig down a little to get at roots. I may be off in some of my thinking which is why I'm asking for input and I appreciate in advance your time and help. I'm not writing this to get into a debate or argument, just looking for peoples experiences with grapples.
I've shopped on Everything Attachements and looked at what they have, Titan attachments, CAL attachments, WR Long, and Mid State (Wildkat), Land Pride, Armstrong Ag, Michigan Iron & Equipment, as well as about 10 others that I can't think of at the moment. I'm looking at & interested in what I would call a modified claw/clamshell type grapple at this point. By this I mean one with a complete upper claw, not the two upper arm version, but a grapple with one cylinder at each end. I would like an in between where the bottom jaw isn't really long or short & flat.
OK.......now to my questions:
1) Has anyone bent or severely twisted their grapple, or perhaps caused damage to it that owns a two cylinder clam/claw grapple? By this I'm not asking about bragging by abuse, but rather unplanned & unexpected damage from normal use? In reading some posts, one concern I have that has been pointed out by IslandTractor is that this type can inherently cause damage based on cylinders compressing an uneven load.
2) Does Millonzi still make grapples? I can't find them on the internet, only older postings on TBN.
3) I want to gain a better understanding of the lower jaw and what tooth style would work best for me. I'd like to find one with a more open tine style (not necessarily gapped wider as I get that makes them weaker) that are thick to help prevent bending. I've seen them where there is flat plate welded at an angle to strengthen the tooth/bar, as well as most that have round pipe welded through the tooth bars to strengthen it. My thought on this is that if there is too much there, it will tear up the sod/earth and leave a big void. With the reinforcing bar that runs across the length of the lower jaw out by the teeth, that it would limit my ability to dig down reasonably to uproot stuff.
These are my initial thoughts and I'm trying to gain a better understanding to make an informed purchase on what would work best for me. The Landpride SGC15 model line is very close to what I'm thinking thus far but it's pretty pricey. Also the Quick Attach Eagle Claw Grapple (Eagle Talon Log, Brush & Rock Grapple) peaks my interest, but it's a little on the big side. The Mid State (Wildkat) as people have called them has a very attractive price and people have praised it largely on here, but when I look at current model styles they've got the hydraulic lines running right in front of where the quick attach plates connect & even if there was spacing there, I'd be concerned through use if any of that plating bent, the line would be crimped, squished, or be exposed to friction to fray?
Again, any thoughts, experience, and of course help are appreciated!:cool2:
I'm in the market for a grapple. I've read A LOT of posts/threads on TBN on grapples to learn everything I can from reading about them as well as the experiences people have had buying/using them. I just purchased a used 2010 Kubota MX5100 Tractor which is my first. I have not used a grapple before, but have used two different tractors of similar size over the past few years to get some tractor time experience.
I already have read and understand I need to beef up the grille/brush guard. I've got that in the works to build a heavy duty guard like Ovrszd & do some other enhancing like Rustyiron. I'm not trying to beat a dead horse with this, but rather I would like input especially from the experiences of others.
I have a good understanding of the basic principle of the heavy the grapple, the less I can pickup with it. Typically I'm very much an HD guy as I expect my stuff to last and to work when I need it. I also understand you get what you pay for. I have an LA844 loader and from what I can find the lift capacity is around 2,400 pounds. I've already loaded the rear tires with beet juice/rim guard which put around 1,100 pounds of ballast in the rear. I'm going to be building a custom ballast box for the rear that I plan on putting 800 to 1,000 pounds into to help more with pushing than lifting as I don't want to overload the FEL or the front axle.
The tractor is 52hp and the hydraulics seem very strong, quick, and responsive. My primary uses for the tractor will be snow removal, light logging & lumber clearing, brush clearing, general property maintenance, and wildlife habitat maintenance. It will all be personal use, no construction or commercial work.
I am currently leaning more towards a claw/clam style grapple. I've read and understand the differences, the abilities, and the pros/cons to the different styles. I know already I don't want a bucket grapple or add on thumb grapple to my bucket. I also don't want a grapple with no or minimal under claw, but I don't know that the versions with the large under claw are what I'm seeking either. I understand the advantages that come with that, however, I want to be able to dig down a little to get at roots. I may be off in some of my thinking which is why I'm asking for input and I appreciate in advance your time and help. I'm not writing this to get into a debate or argument, just looking for peoples experiences with grapples.
I've shopped on Everything Attachements and looked at what they have, Titan attachments, CAL attachments, WR Long, and Mid State (Wildkat), Land Pride, Armstrong Ag, Michigan Iron & Equipment, as well as about 10 others that I can't think of at the moment. I'm looking at & interested in what I would call a modified claw/clamshell type grapple at this point. By this I mean one with a complete upper claw, not the two upper arm version, but a grapple with one cylinder at each end. I would like an in between where the bottom jaw isn't really long or short & flat.
OK.......now to my questions:
1) Has anyone bent or severely twisted their grapple, or perhaps caused damage to it that owns a two cylinder clam/claw grapple? By this I'm not asking about bragging by abuse, but rather unplanned & unexpected damage from normal use? In reading some posts, one concern I have that has been pointed out by IslandTractor is that this type can inherently cause damage based on cylinders compressing an uneven load.
2) Does Millonzi still make grapples? I can't find them on the internet, only older postings on TBN.
3) I want to gain a better understanding of the lower jaw and what tooth style would work best for me. I'd like to find one with a more open tine style (not necessarily gapped wider as I get that makes them weaker) that are thick to help prevent bending. I've seen them where there is flat plate welded at an angle to strengthen the tooth/bar, as well as most that have round pipe welded through the tooth bars to strengthen it. My thought on this is that if there is too much there, it will tear up the sod/earth and leave a big void. With the reinforcing bar that runs across the length of the lower jaw out by the teeth, that it would limit my ability to dig down reasonably to uproot stuff.
These are my initial thoughts and I'm trying to gain a better understanding to make an informed purchase on what would work best for me. The Landpride SGC15 model line is very close to what I'm thinking thus far but it's pretty pricey. Also the Quick Attach Eagle Claw Grapple (Eagle Talon Log, Brush & Rock Grapple) peaks my interest, but it's a little on the big side. The Mid State (Wildkat) as people have called them has a very attractive price and people have praised it largely on here, but when I look at current model styles they've got the hydraulic lines running right in front of where the quick attach plates connect & even if there was spacing there, I'd be concerned through use if any of that plating bent, the line would be crimped, squished, or be exposed to friction to fray?
Again, any thoughts, experience, and of course help are appreciated!:cool2:
Last edited: