Grapple Grapple research and tentative conclusion what may be best for me; what do YOU think?

[dustinfox]

They probably will, depending on the length of the hoses. I paid nearly $200 for 2 nineteen foot hoses from the rear to the grapple and the necessary pioneer connectors. Call WildKat back again and tell them you misspoke and ask them to only delete the flat couplers,not the hoses.

The reason for that is that you may want to hook up some other things in front and it would be helpful if your hoses on the tractor just went to the front of the loader arms.

I called her back and she said she WILL send the hoses so all I need to get are the couplers. I may have misunderstood.

Thank you guys so much Missouri and Island for helping with this! I don't know what I am doing yet... :confused2:

Gotta talk to my dealer to figure out the best way to go for the auxilliary.

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

Dustin, have you gotten your grapple yet?

 

[dustinfox]

Dustin, have you gotten your grapple yet?

Just came today. It was supposed to be here on Monday but got delayed. I just unloaded it from my pickup 10 minutes ago. I won't have a hydraulic hookup until the end of next week so can't try it out yet. I'll probably go out later and put it on the loader... just to be sure it fits

I'll post pics.

 

[dstig1]

If you are using a diverter or other valve dedicated to the FEL 3rd function - rather than a set of rear remotes - then flat face skid steer couplers are fine. It is the standard for SS, so if you want to put future SS attachments on the FEL, the connectors will be more likely to match. That's why I did flat faced with mine. Either way won't hurt you if you are setting it up from scratch.

+/-100 lbs in a grapple is not the end of the world. I agree you want to be careful of the 900lb beasts designed for larger skid steers, but somewhere in the 300-400lbs range will not significantly impact your performance. Or even 450 for that matter. If you're that close to the edge, you are probably asking for trouble (like flipping the tractor if you get hung up or hit a dip/bump just right).

 

[k0ua]

this is just a thought, (by the way I have been enjoying this thread). But Dustin isn't the rating of your loader at 1150 lbs with a bucket?. As in it will lift 1150 lbs at some height at some position with the bucket? Keep in mind you wont have that 250+ lb bucket on anymore. Wouldn't that give you back maybe 250 lbs or more depending on the size of your bucket to put towards the weight of the grapple. I realize the grapple may stick out more than the bucket, but still.... just sayin.. or am I crazy?

James K0UA

 

[IslandTractor]

If you are using a diverter or other valve dedicated to the FEL 3rd function - rather than a set of rear remotes - then flat face skid steer couplers are fine. It is the standard for SS, so if you want to put future SS attachments on the FEL, the connectors will be more likely to match. That's why I did flat faced with mine. Either way won't hurt you if you are setting it up from scratch.

+/-100 lbs in a grapple is not the end of the world. I agree you want to be careful of the 900lb beasts designed for larger skid steers, but somewhere in the 300-400lbs range will not significantly impact your performance. Or even 450 for that matter. If you're that close to the edge, you are probably asking for trouble (like flipping the tractor if you get hung up or hit a dip/bump just right).

Regarding flat face quick connectors, you could just as easily use them with rear remotes. Doesn't make a difference where the hydraulic fluid is coming from.

Regarding grapple weight. I agree that mid three hundreds is no biggie. However, mid 400 range is really starting to cut into your net lift unless you have a 2000+ lift capacity. Using your own tractor as an example, with about 1600lbs lift capacity you will have a net lift of 1150 after mounting a 450lb grapple. I like to think that a tractor can lift a full grapple of almost anything other than granite but remember the load is not at the pivot pins so capacity is less, maybe 75%, of calculated. That means maybe 850lbs real lift capacity remaining. Three 12" by 8ft logs would weigh about 900lbs. That would be close to capacity (probably could lift a bit more as you wouldn't lift to full height). So for your tractor a 450lb grapple would be stretching it but probably OK. For any lesser loader capacity though a 450lb grapple (not that uncommon) would be silly as the loader couldn't manage any "heavy duty" load because of the grapple weight.

Dealers and manufacturers are really not very sophisticated about CUTs and grapples. They both tend to oversell and advise buying larger and heavier grapples than really make sense for CUTs. Virtually no CUT under 55-60hp (which is probably the upper limit of CUT anyway) can overpower a light duty 300-350lb grapple. Why spend more money for a heavier grapple that will only limit the amount of work you can do?

 

[dustinfox]

this is just a thought, (by the way I have been enjoying this thread). But Dustin isn't the rating of your loader at 1150 lbs with a bucket?. As in it will lift 1150 lbs at some height at some position with the bucket? Keep in mind you wont have that 250+ lb bucket on anymore. Wouldn't that give you back maybe 250 lbs or more depending on the size of your bucket to put towards the weight of the grapple. I realize the grapple may stick out more than the bucket, but still.... just sayin.. or am I crazy?

James K0UA

Good point and I do not know the answer. I'll see if I can find out if that 1150 lb lift includes the bucket or not.

 

[rd_macgregor]

When I got my Gator grapple rake a couple of years ago, I ran hoses from the rear remotes. This cost me a lot, partly because everything seems to cost a lot here, and partly because I ended up using four hose segments with eight couplers in all; I put couplers under the cab where the FEL hydraulic connections are... just in case I ever dismount the FEL, I can also disconnect the grapple hoses there, too.
I also agree with Dave about the flat face connectors. I deliberately left them on the grapple, and matching supply hoses, because I hope someday to have a SS-mount hydraulic auger, which is far superior to a 3PH PHD, in my opinion.
I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your new grapple in operation.
BOB

 

[IslandTractor]

When I got my Gator grapple rake a couple of years ago, I ran hoses from the rear remotes. This cost me a lot, partly because everything seems to cost a lot here, and partly because I ended up using four hose segments with eight couplers in all; I put couplers under the cab where the FEL hydraulic connections are... just in case I ever dismount the FEL, I can also disconnect the grapple hoses there, too.

I did the same thing with my first tractor: I used a split system rather than running a single set of lines from rear remote to the FEL torque tube. With hindsight I think it was a mistake and, as you noted, it is expensive. It almost doubles the cost as hose itself is cheap but fittings and quick connectors add significant cost. In my case I virtually never used the "benefit" as I only rarely took the FEL off. It really would be no big deal to simply unplug the lines from the rear of the tractor and cut a few zipties underneath then leave the coiled lines with the FEL if you do need to remove it.

The simplest solution is to use a single long set of lines with one set of fittings for the rear remote and one for the grapple. It's nice to weld or bolt a mount on the FEL torque tube as a connection point but frankly I never had trouble just using zipties to hold the lines to the torque tube. The benefit of zip ties is that they will break rather than rip the hoses if you do snag something. It doesn't look "factory" but then again it is a tractor not a show pony.

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

the flat face connectors. I deliberately left them on the grapple, and matching supply hoses, because I hope someday to have a SS-mount hydraulic auger, which is far superior to a 3PH PHD, in my opinion.BOB

Bob, I seem to recall that a hydraulic auger requires more GPM than most CUT hydraulic pumps produce. You might want to check that out before you order.