new wildkat grapple comin this way ?

[candyman]

Consider welding in some intermediate bottom tines. If you put them an inch or so below the top of the existing tines you won't need to worry about strength as they will just keep stuff from falling through. 1/4 inch x 2 inch steel plate or even just rebar would do the trick. If you search the Markham/Gator grapple discussions you will probably find a photo of intermediate tines installed by the manufacturer as an option. I think those are full size tines which may not really be necessary if you just want to stop smaller (lighter) rocks from falling through the 8-9" gaps between the main tines.

don`t quite understand what you mean , welding what where. ?

 

[IslandTractor]

don`t quite understand what you mean , welding what where. ?

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Your bottom grapple has eight tines. They are welded at the back to a ?4x4 square tube and at the front to a ?3" round pipe. The distance between each of those bottom tines is roughly 48 divided by 7 or about 7 inches. If you want to keep rocks smaller than 7 inches in diameter inside the grapple, you will need to fill those 7" gaps. An easy way to do it is to get some 1/4" x 2" flat stock and cut pieces that are the same length as the distance from the square tube to the round tube. Then (you'll need to fit them first), weld the new pieces of steel in the middle of each of the 7" spaces, back to front in between the main bottom tines. You are just making the "sieve" smaller by half so that the smallest rock that will then be able to fall through will be about three inches or so in diameter. Welding on the square tube side is easy but you'll need to do some grinding or plasma cutting on the other side of the insert to create a concave edge to fit snuggly up to the round pipe. I suggested mounting the new inserts a bit below the "grade" of the top of the other eight bottom tines so that you don't need to worry about these new intermediate tines/inserts taking a significant load. Anything big like a boulder or tree stump would contact only the main tines and not put any pressure on the intermediate inserts/tines. They are just there to prevent rocks/sticks etc from falling through. I'm a lousy artist or I'd draw a picture to help explain it.

 

[Red Horse]

Well guys mine came today. After reading some of your posts about sloppy pins on the Deere set up, I had them delete the hooks/pins. Probably ends up costing me more as anita took 40 bucks off and I was going from memory on the first set of hooks/pins I bought in 2005- surprise almost twice the price! In any case pix of a "work in progress-Had to add some 1/4" plates as the top to bottom dimension on the Deere's is 14-1/2" and the top beam to bottom beam dimension is greater.

In any case a couple of shots of temp tack job. Finish up in AM.

MoPioneer and the rest of you guys-thx for all your recommendations-can't wait to get at the burn pile. THIS is VALUE!

 

[Red Horse]

Well guys mine came today. After reading some of your posts about sloppy pins on the Deere set up, I had them delete the hooks/pins. Probably ends up costing me more as anita took 40 bucks off and I was going from memory on the first set of hooks/pins I bought in 2005- surprise almost twice the price! In any case pix of a "work in progress-Had to add some 1/4" plates as the top to bottom dimension on the Deere's is 14-1/2" and the top beam to bottom beam dimension is greater.

In any case a couple of shots of temp tack job. Finish up in AM.

MoPioneer and the rest of you guys-thx for all your recommendations-can't wait to get at the burn pile. THIS is VALUE!

Try again on pix

 

[k0ua]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Your bottom grapple has eight tines. They are welded at the back to a ?4x4 square tube and at the front to a ?3" round pipe. The distance between each of those bottom tines is roughly 48 divided by 7 or about 7 inches. If you want to keep rocks smaller than 7 inches in diameter inside the grapple, you will need to fill those 7" gaps. An easy way to do it is to get some 1/4" x 2" flat stock and cut pieces that are the same length as the distance from the square tube to the round tube. Then (you'll need to fit them first), weld the new pieces of steel in the middle of each of the 7" spaces, back to front in between the main bottom tines. You are just making the "sieve" smaller by half so that the smallest rock that will then be able to fall through will be about three inches or so in diameter. Welding on the square tube side is easy but you'll need to do some grinding or plasma cutting on the other side of the insert to create a concave edge to fit snuggly up to the round pipe. I suggested mounting the new inserts a bit below the "grade" of the top of the other eight bottom tines so that you don't need to worry about these new intermediate tines/inserts taking a significant load. Anything big like a boulder or tree stump would contact only the main tines and not put any pressure on the intermediate inserts/tines. They are just there to prevent rocks/sticks etc from falling through. I'm a lousy artist or I'd draw a picture to help explain it.

Your verbal "picture" was very good.. I got it this time..

James K0UA

 

[IslandTractor]

THIS is VALUE!

It sure is! I cannot understand why anyone would pay $1500-3000 for a CUT grapple when this thing will do virtually every single task as well or better. I like the version you got best. No need for two upper grapples and that single upper is very well supported as well as being wider than mine. If someone stole my Millonzi, I'd come steal yours the next day and then cut that silly looking JD mount off.

Happy grappling. :thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

Your verbal "picture" was very good.. I got it this time..

James K0UA

You might consider using something like rebar or inverted angle iron or even pipe instead of the flat stock for those intermediate tines. Another consideration would be to provide some lateral support at the midway point as 1/4 inch would be pretty bendy over a three foot span. Shouldn't be hard and you don't need to worry about structural strength as that is already in place. Whatever is easiest would be best.

 

[Red Horse]

It sure is! I cannot understand why anyone would pay $1500-3000 for a CUT grapple when this thing will do virtually every single task as well or better. I like the version you got best. No need for two upper grapples and that single upper is very well supported as well as being wider than mine. If someone stole my Millonzi, I'd come steal yours the next day and then cut that silly looking JD mount off.

Happy grappling. :thumbsup:

Hah-if you think it looks silly now wait till I finish welding it!!:laughing:

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

Red, "this is value" hits the nail on the head. I figuratively scratch my head whenever I read a post about someone spending three to six times more, but to each his own. And a recent post talked about one of those bending the first time out!


The $$ I saved buying my WildKat will go toward my next purchase, a set of 60" pallet forks locally for $502.

 

[candyman]

island, got it this time. thanks for the detailed xplanation..

candyman