My Hoe
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2010
- Messages
- 560
- Location
- NYS--Various Parts
- Tractor
- Kubota B3000HSDCC, BH77, 5' Belly Mower, 6' Hyd. Angle Plow
Hi all,
I'm looking hard at a B3030, and the dealer is recommending a "Paladin Grapple" for my needs.
My immediate needs are to pick up bucked, firewood rounds--18-30" in diameter, by 18" in length--and load them into my pickup or a rented trailer and, ideally, both. Some "giants" would be 36" in diameter, but I will have a hoe with a hydraulic thumb, so I'm not too concerned that the largest rounds may defeat the grapple. (Where I will be dumping the splits will only be a foot or two wider than 48", and my goal is "zero spillover" on the sides, if possible, when I dump the splits, so I figure the 48" is the widest I dare go. Thoughts on whether 48" is TOO wide?).
My BIGGEST, and LONG-TERM need, will be picking up firewood splits. Like 18" long by 6-8" wide.
I understand one cannot "shove" a conventional, dirt bucket into a pile of splits and come close to filling it. That is why the dealer suggested a grapple. A 48" grapple, to be more precise, and I agree that that's the biggest width I'd want, for what I have in mind.
But he never gave me the part number of the bucket, just the price ($1,895.00--and he couldn't recall if that included any labor.) :confused2: And he never gave me a Model Number. So I found this one: Compact Tractor Grapples, Scrap Grapples, Grapples
I understand why the bucket sides are "scalloped-out"--to more securely hold a tree, for transit or bucking, or bunches of brush, for transit.
But I'm concerned that, even IF this is the grapple best-able to PICK UP the splits, I'm afraid many of them could fall out of those scalloped sides. Is that likely? Or will the pressure of the grapple, on the whole bundle of splits, pretty much keep them in the grapple, as I travel from my wood processing area to the house (200', on largely-flat ground)?
Then he told me that he was considering the Bradco grapple, which is a company he said is "owned by Paladin," and sure enough, Bradco comes up on the Paladin site.
When I pressed him for the MODEL NUMBER of the grapple, he gave me this: # 108605.
I can't get that number to come up with anything in Paladin's site, even when I search under Bradco.
My main question is:
What is THE BEST SOLUTION, in terms of bucket-with-added-grapple, or a dedicated grapple, for picking up split firewood?
Due to health considerations, I want to handle the firewood, manually, as little as possible. I have a rather creative idea (I think) for getting buckets of splits inside the house, which I will gladly share with you all, when I have the time. But he's soon to be pressuring me to buy, and I can't do that until I know what bucket or grapple I need.
The tractor already has the proper valve for an FEL installed on it.
I am also interested in an aftermarket, SSQA-ready dirt-bucket, as he says the grapple bucket will come SSQA-ready, and I don't want to get involved in cutting/fabbing a female plate on, if I can simply "pin on" an ATI SSQA male plate, and pick up:
1. A grapple
2. Or a dirt-bucket with ADDED grapple
3. And a set of forks
4. OR a separate, dedicated dirt bucket that is SSQA-ready, standard width (54"?) that will accept W.R. Long's Flat Toothbar. This rules out a Kubota bucket, as they are not SSQA-ready (for the B-series), from the factory, and require cutting and fabbing, to install the female SSQA plate. (The dealer suggested Paladin/Bradco for this as well, BUT AGAIN, HAD NO PART NUMBERS FOR ME.)
In fact, I wouldn't mind adding that toothbar to a grapple bucket, as well, to better enable me to "comb out" near-surface roots, from locust trees, as well as "roto-till" or "power-rake" encroaching roots out of the garden, after I first loosen them up with the hoe. (I'm trying to avoid buying a roto-tiller here, in case that wasn't obvious--LOL). I know it will take longer to "roto-till" a garden with a 16" hoe bucket with hydraulic thumb, and I'm looking forward to the seat time. I just thought I'd need to "comb out" the broken-up roots that slip past the hoe's thumb and bucket-teeth.
I thought a front grapple, with added toothbar, would make an excellent "garden comb" or "power-rake." Thoughts?
Side Question #1--Why Install Rear Remotes At ALL?:
Why do I need ANY remotes to operate the grapple? Which can't I get a "diverter valve," that will take the power from the hoe, and shunt it up front, to the grapple? (I can't operate the hoe and grapple at the same time anyway, you know?)
He's already telling me I need a set of REAR remotes to operate the grapple. I will have a hoe mounted, 90% of the time, I believe. So why not FRONT remotes, instead of REAR remotes, to run a FRONT grapple?
Side Question #2: Why Have a Second "Joy Stick," near the 4-way, Loader Joystick, Instead of a Third-function Switch?
Is the answer that I need to "feather" the grapple, and a third-function switch is, by definition, operating an electric solenoid-controlled "diverter valve," so that I will have ZERO ability to "feather" the grapple? IOW, it would either be open or closed, and I would have no way to apply PARTIAL PRESSURE, when the grapple is closing down?
Thank you all, in advance.
My Hoe
I'm looking hard at a B3030, and the dealer is recommending a "Paladin Grapple" for my needs.
My immediate needs are to pick up bucked, firewood rounds--18-30" in diameter, by 18" in length--and load them into my pickup or a rented trailer and, ideally, both. Some "giants" would be 36" in diameter, but I will have a hoe with a hydraulic thumb, so I'm not too concerned that the largest rounds may defeat the grapple. (Where I will be dumping the splits will only be a foot or two wider than 48", and my goal is "zero spillover" on the sides, if possible, when I dump the splits, so I figure the 48" is the widest I dare go. Thoughts on whether 48" is TOO wide?).
My BIGGEST, and LONG-TERM need, will be picking up firewood splits. Like 18" long by 6-8" wide.
I understand one cannot "shove" a conventional, dirt bucket into a pile of splits and come close to filling it. That is why the dealer suggested a grapple. A 48" grapple, to be more precise, and I agree that that's the biggest width I'd want, for what I have in mind.
But he never gave me the part number of the bucket, just the price ($1,895.00--and he couldn't recall if that included any labor.) :confused2: And he never gave me a Model Number. So I found this one: Compact Tractor Grapples, Scrap Grapples, Grapples
I understand why the bucket sides are "scalloped-out"--to more securely hold a tree, for transit or bucking, or bunches of brush, for transit.
But I'm concerned that, even IF this is the grapple best-able to PICK UP the splits, I'm afraid many of them could fall out of those scalloped sides. Is that likely? Or will the pressure of the grapple, on the whole bundle of splits, pretty much keep them in the grapple, as I travel from my wood processing area to the house (200', on largely-flat ground)?
Then he told me that he was considering the Bradco grapple, which is a company he said is "owned by Paladin," and sure enough, Bradco comes up on the Paladin site.
When I pressed him for the MODEL NUMBER of the grapple, he gave me this: # 108605.
I can't get that number to come up with anything in Paladin's site, even when I search under Bradco.
My main question is:
What is THE BEST SOLUTION, in terms of bucket-with-added-grapple, or a dedicated grapple, for picking up split firewood?
Due to health considerations, I want to handle the firewood, manually, as little as possible. I have a rather creative idea (I think) for getting buckets of splits inside the house, which I will gladly share with you all, when I have the time. But he's soon to be pressuring me to buy, and I can't do that until I know what bucket or grapple I need.
The tractor already has the proper valve for an FEL installed on it.
I am also interested in an aftermarket, SSQA-ready dirt-bucket, as he says the grapple bucket will come SSQA-ready, and I don't want to get involved in cutting/fabbing a female plate on, if I can simply "pin on" an ATI SSQA male plate, and pick up:
1. A grapple
2. Or a dirt-bucket with ADDED grapple
3. And a set of forks
4. OR a separate, dedicated dirt bucket that is SSQA-ready, standard width (54"?) that will accept W.R. Long's Flat Toothbar. This rules out a Kubota bucket, as they are not SSQA-ready (for the B-series), from the factory, and require cutting and fabbing, to install the female SSQA plate. (The dealer suggested Paladin/Bradco for this as well, BUT AGAIN, HAD NO PART NUMBERS FOR ME.)
In fact, I wouldn't mind adding that toothbar to a grapple bucket, as well, to better enable me to "comb out" near-surface roots, from locust trees, as well as "roto-till" or "power-rake" encroaching roots out of the garden, after I first loosen them up with the hoe. (I'm trying to avoid buying a roto-tiller here, in case that wasn't obvious--LOL). I know it will take longer to "roto-till" a garden with a 16" hoe bucket with hydraulic thumb, and I'm looking forward to the seat time. I just thought I'd need to "comb out" the broken-up roots that slip past the hoe's thumb and bucket-teeth.
I thought a front grapple, with added toothbar, would make an excellent "garden comb" or "power-rake." Thoughts?
Side Question #1--Why Install Rear Remotes At ALL?:
Why do I need ANY remotes to operate the grapple? Which can't I get a "diverter valve," that will take the power from the hoe, and shunt it up front, to the grapple? (I can't operate the hoe and grapple at the same time anyway, you know?)
He's already telling me I need a set of REAR remotes to operate the grapple. I will have a hoe mounted, 90% of the time, I believe. So why not FRONT remotes, instead of REAR remotes, to run a FRONT grapple?
Side Question #2: Why Have a Second "Joy Stick," near the 4-way, Loader Joystick, Instead of a Third-function Switch?
Is the answer that I need to "feather" the grapple, and a third-function switch is, by definition, operating an electric solenoid-controlled "diverter valve," so that I will have ZERO ability to "feather" the grapple? IOW, it would either be open or closed, and I would have no way to apply PARTIAL PRESSURE, when the grapple is closing down?
Thank you all, in advance.
My Hoe
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