Started my first grapple project

[Keddowes]

The grapple end pieces came from the eBay auction today!

I mocked up my idea for a grapple to be attached to my Kubota L35 FEL, here are a couple of pics.





Material I plan on using.

Plasma cut 3/8" steel end pieces with 1" pin slots welded in.
4 scrifire from my box grader
Square and round tubing to weld between end pieces
Solid round steel through the hole of the scrifires welded on both sides
1" zerk fitted pins attached to bucket brackets - to be fabricated
1 hydraulic cylinder in the center of bucket
Quick connect hydraulic lines
3rd function hydraulic.



Question I have?

Should the teeth close inside the bucket or clamp down on the outer edge of the skid plate.

What would be a good separation of the teeth to get the widest grapple, yet strong enough for picking up large trees. ( want to prevent twisting of the grapple over time)

How do I figure out if I should use one or two hydraulic cylinders., where to place them? ( was thinking one in the center, 3 x whatever)

Already have a 2" receiver hitch welded to bucket for moving trailers around, thought I might fabricate the bracket for the hydraulic cylinder to slide into the receiver so that I could remove the grapple by taking out the two 1" pins and slide out the cylinder connection.
Here's a pic of my 2" receiver on the bucket.





Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Wish me luck, for I'm a computer guy and gentlemen farmer.
Kevin

 

[Keddowes]

A little better picture

 

[grsthegreat]

I made a similar thing for my old JD870...very similar in fact. But the round rods on mine never held up to the stress that the hydraulic cylinder put out. They kept bending. I fiddled with it some more, then gave up. I took the 8" cylinder and installed it on the snowblower rotator instead.

Most grapples i see are made of really thick steel plate. I hope this works out for you....and have fun making it.

 

[Kendrick]

just a humble opinion from an eyeballer... that hitch mount isnt tied in to the bucket secure enough to put a cilinder on. I would use a 3 point cat 1 pin for each side to attach to the bucket. 1 or 1/2" plate for those pins to tie in to. beef up the top edge and tie it in to the uprights your putting the pin through. at worst you could make 2 holes in the plate so that the jaws could either be outside or inside. since you dont have an open sided bucket that may not matter though. trees would be aginst the sidewall and the graple unless they were shorter then the bucket

 

[grsthegreat]

just a humble opinion from an eyeballer... that hitch mount isnt tied in to the bucket secure enough to put a cilinder on. I would use a 3 point cat 1 pin for each side to attach to the bucket. 1 or 1/2" plate for those pins to tie in to. beef up the top edge and tie it in to the uprights your putting the pin through. at worst you could make 2 holes in the plate so that the jaws could either be outside or inside. since you dont have an open sided bucket that may not matter though. trees would be aginst the sidewall and the graple unless they were shorter then the bucket

how hard is it to operate your backhoe with the cab tractor..... seems like it wouldnt work too well.

 

[Keddowes]

Thanks for the inputs,

Here's an updated photo on what I plan on doing via the input received. Please feel free to advise.






As for the cylinder connected to bucket. If I add the three point connection won't I loose the ability to use my hitches for moving trailers?

 

[EMB5530]

I think you are on the right track and I love the Idea of scarifier blades for the grapple teeth:thumbsup:
I never would have thought of it. I was thinkin about making a grapple eventually and I was going to go through all the work of cutting out patterns w/ a torch. What a time saver let me know how they work.
again thats awsome what a time saver

good luck

 

[J_J]

Here is something I made several years ago, using scarifier blades.

 

[Keddowes]

J-J
thanks for the pic, I have enjoyed your posts with others and glad your aware of my project for I'm sure I will have more question to come.

With my L35 hydraulic system I believe I have a 11 gpm system, what suggestion would you have on the size cylinder I should use? This tractor is very powerful for it's size and I have moved very large trees, I want to make sure I can hold and pick up large trees to cut and split.

Thanks

Kevin

 

[Keddowes]

J-J

Looking at your picture again, I see you welded tabs to the square stock and then bolted the scarifier to it through the holes already there., I know this is to allow pivoting but would I be better off doing something similar or will the butt joint welding be strong enough?