EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
My grapple works pretty good, but not great. I've come up with a few ideas that might cut down on my problems, but haven't had any luck finding what I think I need.
My problem is that I have two seperat arms that close on my FEL to create a grapple. Each one works independent of the other. What is happening is they are twisting and bending on me. I've reiforced them to the point they are too heavy to install and they are still bending.
I'm now going to try 2x4 steel tubing.
The other problem is the pivot point. I just drilled holes through half inch steel and put a grade 8 bolt through there to pivot on. I'm using a one inch bolt, and that seems to be plenty strong enough, but my grapple wobbles on it. This movement allows the grapple to twist and in turn, bend.
My solution is to make the end of the 2x4 tubing like the end of a hydralic cylinder. A solid piece of steel that is either welded to the end of the 2x4 tubing, or through it. Then a matching bushing that goes through the 1/2 inch steel plate that attaches it to the FEL.
I'm doing something wrong, because I'm sure the parts must exist online someplace, but so far, I haven't found them. Does anybody know a source that has somethng like this?
I'm also open to any and all suggestions on another way to create a rock solid pivot point for my grapple that doesn't involve me having to machine it myself. Cutting and welding is about the limits of my fabrication skills.
Thank you,
Eddie
My problem is that I have two seperat arms that close on my FEL to create a grapple. Each one works independent of the other. What is happening is they are twisting and bending on me. I've reiforced them to the point they are too heavy to install and they are still bending.
I'm now going to try 2x4 steel tubing.
The other problem is the pivot point. I just drilled holes through half inch steel and put a grade 8 bolt through there to pivot on. I'm using a one inch bolt, and that seems to be plenty strong enough, but my grapple wobbles on it. This movement allows the grapple to twist and in turn, bend.
My solution is to make the end of the 2x4 tubing like the end of a hydralic cylinder. A solid piece of steel that is either welded to the end of the 2x4 tubing, or through it. Then a matching bushing that goes through the 1/2 inch steel plate that attaches it to the FEL.
I'm doing something wrong, because I'm sure the parts must exist online someplace, but so far, I haven't found them. Does anybody know a source that has somethng like this?
I'm also open to any and all suggestions on another way to create a rock solid pivot point for my grapple that doesn't involve me having to machine it myself. Cutting and welding is about the limits of my fabrication skills.
Thank you,
Eddie