Loader Adding a grapple to my DK45SE

[tpulley]

Hey J J what is a feather option? I tried googling it but came up with all sorts of weird things.

Also what is a minimum thickness for the steel I should be looking at? I have found from 3/8 - 5/8 so far. As well as the type of steel? T1 is a hardened steel from what I remember. A36 is a common mild steel. It appears the more expensive grapples use T1 and at least 1/2 thick. Is this over kill? Do you guys get bent teeth often on your grapples?

 

[J_J]

Tractor Grapple for skid steer or frontend loader | eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tractor-Gra...ltDomain_0&hash=item5ae1b71aba#ht_1795wt_1055

 

[brin]

Tractor Grapple for skid steer or frontend loader | eBay

Tractor Grapple for skid steer or frontend loader | eBay

Hi JJ,

I have a question....I clicked on that frontend loader bucket on ebay you posted ...I have a NH - TC 29 with a NH 7306 FEL ..If I bought this from them with the cylinder for $295.00 would I need to add more hydraulic connections or would it plug into my existing loader connections...Thanks

 

[tpulley]

I see what you are saying now. The feather thingy is the thumb for the bucket? I am thinking I don't want to capture the dirt and "stuff" So I am thinking I need/want the open tined buckets.

 

[J_J]

Hi JJ,

I have a question....I clicked on that frontend loader bucket on ebay you posted ...I have a NH - TC 29 with a NH 7306 FEL ..If I bought this from them with the cylinder for $295.00 would I need to add more hydraulic connections or would it plug into my existing loader connections...Thanks

You will have to power your grapple with either remote hyd, or a diverter valve using the tilt cyl fluid as the source. A selector valve like this would work.

Surplus Center - SAE 8 15 GPM DOUBLE SELECTOR VALVE 12 VDC P15544-1

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Instruct/I9-5117.pdf

If you have remotes at the back, some extra long hoses to the front would work. However, when you are using the loader, the loader uses most all of the fluid. If you use only half of the fluid for the loader, then the other half of the fluid can be used for the grapple.

The diverter/selector valve will let you use either the tilt or the grapple, using a switch on the joystick handle.

 

[IslandTractor]

An excellent grapple plus use of rear remotes can be set up on any DK for just over $1000. Anyone looking to add a grapple should understand that more money invested really does not give you any more functionality.

A simple 48 inch single upper arm grapple will, paradoxically, lift more than any larger or more expensive grapple. Period. Why spend more? They can be purchased and delivered for just about $1000 or less. Everyone loves whichever grapple they purchase so why not save some bucks to spend on other implements. Spending much more on a grapple without a very clear rationale is just throwing money away. No newbie or first time grapple owner should spend more as by definition you would not have the experience to know that you are one of the 5% who might benefit from a more expensive grapple type.

Everyone adding a grapple to a DK, which already has at least one set of rear remotes, should just try using the rear remotes to control the grapple before investing in a diverter valve or electric over hydraulic. Seriously, if you can drive a 4 on the floor transmission then you can operate a grapple as easily as with a button on a joystick. I am one of the few who have used both the joystick button and the rear remote lever to control a grapple so I am speaking from experience. Do not get bamboozled by glitz. Before you invest in any higher priced option, try to use the rear remotes, which will cost you about $100 for hoses, fittings and zipties, and will take even a tractor newbie about 30 minutes to set up. If you find you want a joystick button system then the fittings and even the hoses are reusable. No one who doesn't know they need a diverter or electric over hydraulic should buy one of those $1000 plus cost options without giving the rear remotes a try.

So, spend about $1100 or less and join the hoards of happy grapple owners or spend two or three times as much to join the same club. Your call.

 

[steve0413]

An excellent grapple plus use of rear remotes can be set up on any DK for just over $1000. Anyone looking to add a grapple should understand that more money invested really does not give you any more functionality.

A simple 48 inch single upper arm grapple will, paradoxically, lift more than any larger or more expensive grapple. Period. Why spend more? They can be purchased and delivered for just about $1000 or less. Everyone loves whichever grapple they purchase so why not save some bucks to spend on other implements. Spending much more on a grapple without a very clear rationale is just throwing money away. No newbie or first time grappme owner should spend more as by definition you would not have the experience to know that you are one of the 5% who might benefit from a more expensive grapple type.

Everyone adding a grapple to a DK, which already has at least one set of rear remotes, should just try using the rear remotes to control the grapple before investing in a diverter valve or electric over hydraulic. Seriously, if you can drive a 4 on the floor transmission then you can operate a grapple as easily as with a button on a joystick. I am one of the few who have used both the joystick button and the rear remote lever to control a grapple so I am speaking from experience. Do not get bamboozled by glitz. If you use the rear remotes, which will cost you about $100 for hoses, fittings and zipties, and will take even a tractor newbie about 30 minutes to set up. If you find you want a joystick button system then the fittings and even the hoses are reusable. No one who doesn't know they need a diverter or electric over hydraulic should buy one of those $1000 plus cost options should do so without giving the rear remotes a try.

So, spend about $1100 or less and join the hoards of happy grapple owners or spend two or three times as much to join the same club. Your call.

Couldn't have said it better. Common sense is a beautiful thing.

 

[J_J]

I see what you are saying now. The feather thingy is the thumb for the bucket? I am thinking I don't want to capture the dirt and "stuff" So I am thinking I need/want the open tined buckets.

Feathering a hyd valve is the ability to provide some finesse to the operation of a hyd valve, perhaps a grapple closing. Some times you want slow operation, so you only move the lever a small amount. Essentially what you are doing is letting a small amount of fluid into the cyl for slow movements.

If the valve is matched up to the flow of the pump, then feathering will work fine.

 

[brin]

You will have to power your grapple with either remote hyd, or a diverter valve using the tilt cyl fluid as the source. A selector valve like this would work.

Surplus Center - SAE 8 15 GPM DOUBLE SELECTOR VALVE 12 VDC P15544-1

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Instruct/I9-5117.pdf

If you have remotes at the back, some extra long hoses to the front would work. However, when you are using the loader, the loader uses most all of the fluid. If you use only half of the fluid for the loader, then the other half of the fluid can be used for the grapple.

The diverter/selector valve will let you use either the tilt or the grapple, using a switch on the joystick handle.

Thanks JJ,

I am still confused...I know about tractors but no so much about the hydraulics...My loader Hyd. hoses are plugged into the receptacles on the side of my tractor...so I assume I would have to add more receptacles to plug the grapple into ..I only want the single grapple that welds to the top of the FEL - I want to keep my existing bucket...so I do not want a separate grapple to replace my bucket...

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks JJ,

I am still confused...I know about tractors but no so much about the hydraulics...My loader Hyd. hoses are plugged into the receptacles on the side of my tractor...so I assume I would have to add more receptacles to plug the grapple into ..I only want the single grapple that welds to the top of the FEL - I want to keep my existing bucket...so I do not want a separate grapple to replace my bucket...

You can use rear remotes if you have them on your tractor. As you have a DK45se you must have at least one set in the rear. It is controlled with the spring loaded lever that is to the right of the FEL joystick. That will allow you to "feather" the hydraulic flow so you can slowly or quickly open or clamp the grapple.

As you have a set of remotes just hook it up to the grapple cylinder by running a couple of 3/8 inch hydraulic lines under the tractor, up the FEL post and to the grapple. You'll need 1/2 inch Pioneer style fittings for the rear remote connection plus adapters to the 3/8 hose. At the front of the tractor you'll need another two sets of connectors for the hose and for the grapple. Lots of descriptions of how to do this on TBN so just search. Takes about thirty minutes and costs about $100 in hoses and fittings.

To get a simple grapple bucket kit, check out "Add A Grapple" or ATI as they both sell nice bolt on kits. You can also just obtain just the upper jaw (the grapple part with hydraulic cylinder) from ebay and then weld or bolt it on to your bucket directly. Just reinforce the bucket mount area.