Grapple Grapple counter-weight

[TwinCreek]

First, I want to say thanks to everyone on this forum for the help over the past few months. Based on some of your input, I purchased a Kubota L5030 HST, FEL, with an Unlimited Fabrication root grapple. If you are near the Washington Metro Area, I can't recommend High View Sales in West Virginia enough. They are the best.

My question is regarding rear weight to counter-balance the grapple and its' load. I don't want to lug the bushhog around due to the length. What are weight boxes and where do you find them? The grapple has amazing strength, but with a load, the rearend becomes very light.

TwinCreekAcres
Round Hill, Virginia

 

[thunderworks]

I also have a L5030 with a grapple (BoDozer). I've used my 6' boxblade for weight and still would like a little more . . . I might add some balast to the boxblade somehow . . . My BB weighs a little over 500lbs and my wheels are filled. From a safety perspective, I think the most important topic has to do with grapple operation, not the weight of whatever you're picking up or moving. Occasionally I've grabbed something that was stuck. The tractor hydraulics have plenty of power with the grapple to imobilize the the tractor on the stuck tree, rock or whatever . . . and tip the tractor if I continue to try to move the tractor. You have to be sensitive to the need to release the grapple if the object is stuck.

 

[m7040]

Here is a pic of my 2000 lbs counter weight. Just some lumber nailed together and filled with rock sand. cheap and effective.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...d1169390201-pics-glowplug-img_0109-small-.jpg

 

[kwolfe]

I like the box idea that m7040 has. However if you don't have the 3pt forks to pick it up, you could always go with the concrete tub idea. I have a small BX1500. I filled a 15 gallon drum with concrete that runs about 300lbs. If you search around, there are guys who have taken 50 gallon drums, cuts two holes to put a $20 drawbar through, stuck 2 pieces of flat bar in the top (for the top link, and then have filled them with concrete. A 50 gallon drum would run about 1000lbs. The whole job would run about $130 including the drawbar.

 

[JoeL4330]

First question ...are your rear tires loaded? if not, that and/or wheel weights might be a good start.

Secondly, can you give me a pointer to High View Sales ...website? loc?

 

[whodat90]

Just out of curiosity, why not Browning Equipment?

 

[flINTLOCK]

I will be operating a TC40D NH this spring. I had the tires loaded and was going to keep BB attached when doing loader/grapple work. Am I likely to need more weight?? BB weighs around 600 #.

 

[TwinCreek]

First question ...are your rear tires loaded? if not, that and/or wheel weights might be a good start.

Secondly, can you give me a pointer to High View Sales ...website? loc?

Yes, the tires are filled. The folks at High View said they always fill the tires with FEL's.

They don't have a website, but their phone number is 304-856-2514. Barbara Seldon and her husband own the place. Her email address is seldon@frontiernet.net.

 

[TwinCreek]

Just out of curiosity, why not Browning Equipment?

Amazing customer service from High View along with extremely competitive price. The grapple was a requirement for us, and High View was the only one willing to help research grapples with us and provide a turn-key product. I am close to Browning and gave them two shots at the sale but they didn't seem to value my hard earned money or have a desire to get the right equipment.

 

[TwinCreek]

I like the box idea that m7040 has. However if you don't have the 3pt forks to pick it up, you could always go with the concrete tub idea. I have a small BX1500. I filled a 15 gallon drum with concrete that runs about 300lbs. If you search around, there are guys who have taken 50 gallon drums, cuts two holes to put a $20 drawbar through, stuck 2 pieces of flat bar in the top (for the top link, and then have filled them with concrete. A 50 gallon drum would run about 1000lbs. The whole job would run about $130 including the drawbar.

I like m7040's idea also. I don't have the 3pt forks, but they may be worth the investment if a little wood and nails will do the trick. You don't have any pics of the concrete tub do you? I have seen them before, but didn't really pay attention since I didn't have a tractor back then (the bad ole' days).