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

[beppington]

IslandTractor: Can you recommend a new grapple make/ model for my L3940? I know you recommend smaller/ narrower, & I'm in full agreement with that philosophy. No need for me to have a wide grapple; heavier with no great benefit.

 

[dustinfox]

Do I have this on right? There is no gap like this when my bucket is on.

The contour of the loader arm fits perfectly on the bucket, but on this (grapple) there is a gap and the flange doesn't fit into the contour. I guess most of the weight and stress will be on top so maybe this isn't an issue?

 

[IslandTractor]

IslandTractor: Can you recommend a new grapple make/ model for my L3940? I know you recommend smaller/ narrower, & I'm in full agreement with that philosophy. No need for me to have a wide grapple; heavier with no great benefit.

The easy part is to recommend a 48 inch light duty with a single upper jaw. 3/8 inch mild steel construction typically with 3 inch square tube (?4 I don't recall). Simple hydraulics with a guard under the cylinder. That is really all you need. There are a number of companies that make those.

Millonzi, who made my grapple, is out of business. Markham (now Gator) seems to be well liked by numerous TBN owners. I don't like the straight bottom tines on the Markham/Gator but that is just a quibble. I believe you can still get the Gator for a bit over $1000 delivered. Wildcat now makes one that looks almost exactly like my Millonzi but has a slightly wider top grapple. If those are really available for about $600 which is what I saw as the asking price on eBay then that is what I would buy today. WRLong makes their OBG-2 line as a 48" too and WRLong is a great manufacturer. They only recommend that OBG2 up to 2200lbs lift but it is constructed exactly like the others discussed so I think Nelson is just being way conservative. If I needed to go through a dealer to get my grapple and did not mind paying extra ($1500) I'd certainly consider the OMB-2 48 just because of the WRLong name.

There are other manufacturers too and more of them are starting to offer light duty grapples appropriate for CUTs. Everything Attachments doesn't have a light duty grapple (yet) but as they carry just about every other implement under the sun they may make one soon too. They do retail the WRLong and Bradco but those are heavier than needed for a CUT.

Anbo makes a light duty clamshell. So does WRLong. Don't know the cost but I'm pretty sure it is at least $1500. I don't personally like the clamshell style because they rely entirely on hydraulics to hold the load clamped and therefore some loads are hard to grapple (multiple logs for example). The Millonzi/Gator/Wildcat/OMB2 use combo of gravity and a little hydraulic pressure. Mostly though the clamshells are just more expensive and don't really do more than the others do.

One point to consider is whether you are going to try to collect rocks. If you do then consider either ordering a grapple with extra bottom tines so whatever size rock you want will not fall through. Or, simply plan to weld in some intermediate tines once you get it. The intermediate tines don't need to be very strong as they can be recessed below the main tines.

 

[beppington]

OK thanks! :thumbsup:

I have no rocks ... & would actually like to have some. And I mean some, not a ground full. While installing 3,400' of fence with fence posts spaced 8' on center, we hit rocks in about 3 of the holes. (shrug) The grass is always greener ...

 

[k0ua]

OK thanks! :thumbsup:

I have no rocks ... & would actually like to have some. And I mean some, not a ground full. While installing 3,400' of fence with fence posts spaced 8' on center, we hit rocks in about 3 of the holes. (shrug) The grass is always greener ...

Swap you all the rocks you want for just a little dirt


Oh, we actually have some dirt, it just isn't very deep, when you are in a cedar glade, where the trees have been there for centuries probably, the dirt is rich and dark, but just a few inches down, its limestone rock shelf time
James K0UA

 

[dstig1]

Do I have this on right? There is no gap like this when my bucket is on.

The contour of the loader arm fits perfectly on the bucket, but on this (grapple) there is a gap and the flange doesn't fit into the contour. I guess most of the weight and stress will be on top so maybe this isn't an issue?

It's a bit loose. It should be tighter, and could lead to a problem with it coming off in certain situations. I had to shim my gap, which was similar, but the root of the problem I had with the Gator grapple coming off is a combination of their grapple design with no support behind the SSQA plates and the Kubota SSQA design of the top lip of the bracket. This is mostly a problem on the 48" as there are no grapple tines to provide any support. The 60" version has a tine there, which is appears you have, if indeed that is a Gator.

 

[dstig1]

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?

Realistically you are talking 50 or 100 lbs. Unless your loader can only lift a few hundred pounds, the difference is insignificant, IMHO. Especially so if you find the unit used and cheap!

 

[dustinfox]

It's a bit loose. It should be tighter, and could lead to a problem with it coming off in certain situations. I had to shim my gap, which was similar, but the root of the problem I had with the Gator grapple coming off is a combination of their grapple design with no support behind the SSQA plates and the Kubota SSQA design of the top lip of the bracket. This is mostly a problem on the 48" as there are no grapple tines to provide any support. The 60" version has a tine there, which is appears you have, if indeed that is a Gator.

How did you shim? Should I have shim plates welded on?

 

[dstig1]

Gator supplied a couple extra plates for me to use. I suspect their pattern is off and they are making them too loose, seeing as yours has the same issue as mine did. Now mind you, the real problem was at the top, but the gap at the bottom was too much, in any case.

Here's my fix thread for the bottom:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/206260-gator-grapple-fix-kubota-ssqa.html

 

[rd_macgregor]

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.

Yeah, skid steers tend to have a lot more flow capacity than a CUT, so it doesn't always work to just buy any old, random SS hydraulic attachment. However, several manufacturers make relatively low-flow hydraulic augers, in the 6 to 15 gpm range, that ought to work with my Kioti DK45. Here's an example from Everything Attachments: Danuser Model EP6 Hydraulic Auger Drive Unit for Skid Steers Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach Free shipping within 1,000 miles

Unfortunately, the extra hassle of getting equipment from the US (where it is more affordable) shipped into Canada, is inhibiting me from going ahead with this plan right now.

BOB