Dave, that thought has crossed my mind several times since The Incident. If you come up with a solution, let me know.I would like to come up with a way to pin the levers down with a cable or something (like the folding ROPS, perhaps) so they cannot get moved by brush/sticks/etc when using the grapple.
Dave, that thought has crossed my mind several times since The Incident. If you come up with a solution, let me know.
I had a chance to use my grapple for the first time this morning since having one side detach while in operation three weeks ago, bending my tractor's quick attach adapter. I ran the grapple for five hours straight today, doing some pretty heavy brush work.
The right-hand SSQA lock lever got knocked into the unlocked position by stray debris TWO different times!!! Thank goodness I was watching it like a hawk and caught it right away before disaster struck (again).
So, a word of advice to you quick-attach grapple users out there: Watch your levers!
Jay
Seems like just a safety cable would be all you need--wouldn't even need to be tight, just tight enough that the release levers can't pop up. Maybe drill a hole in the release lever handle, pop in a carabiner or shackle, then swage up a small piece of wire rope with loops at each end, find something to attach it to on the grapple. I think brush could pop those levers up and release the thing when you can't even see it.
My levers require some effort to release, too, so I think they're properly tensioned. I've never adjusted them since buying the tractor new in 2008.Do you have proper tension on the lever pivots and the pin springs??? Mine take a bit of effort to open.
I've used only my FEL bucket on the quick attach frame until early January this year when I bought the grapple. I never had any trouble whatsoever with levers unlocking while using the bucket.I do not have a grapple so I use mine a bit different.
I think johnbro's method is the way to go, however I'm thinking I might weld an upside down U-bolt or something on the SSQA cross tube under the tail of each lever, and attach one end of the wire rope there, instead of attaching it to the grapple.I would rig up some type of lock or safety pin to be sure that they cannot open.
I've learned the hard way that it doesn't take much for the butt of a stout limb to work its way underneath the grapple or between its verticals and kick a lever upward.
Jay