wr long or ??? for brush & logs?

[94BULLITT]

I thought he meant the grapple would not clamp down on one small tree and hold it tight.

 

[lwm]

Have both the blade and the grapple here. Like the blade. Not sure about the grapple, had a bad experience, it arrived with all the fittings finger tight so it spewed fluid all over the place.

The grapple just got here, not sure if I like it or not. A neighbor who knows way more than me said I won't like it because it won't hold one tree.

I'm stewing on how to grab stuff. Stay tuned.

To answer the question below about my neighbor being jealous, I doubt it. He does construction for a living, has every skidsteer attachment known to man, he's a pro. I trust his judgement.

What I think he is saying is that he's likes being able to clamp down on whatever it is he's moving around. And I can see his point, unless you put enough stuff in the grapple it will bounce around (sort of makes you wonder why someone doesn't make a grapple that could close further doesn't it?)

I think I see a way to fix it for times when you want it to close better, still stewing on this but try this on for size.

The shape of the top part is a big L turned sideways 90 degress clockwise, right? Suppose a guy drilled a couple of holes at the two ends of the L and then bolted a bar across the L turning it into a triangle. That would mean it would close down on a smaller log and hold it tight.

If a guy were to drill another hole at the corner of the L, then he could pin the bar parallel w/ the long side of the L (out of the way) with a pin and a lynch pin. Need to grab more? Get out, drop the bars, pin them, get back in. Now your grapple is more like a clam shell grapple that can grab stuff tighter.

See what I mean? If so, what do you think?

 

[IslandTractor]

What do you mean it won't hold one tree? The nice thing about the open bottom grapple is that you don't need to rely on the clamping force to hold the tree in, but rather the weight of the tree just sitting on bottom of the grapple.

I can say I have never had trouble holding a tree that was too small, now, too big has happened but never too small. My only issue is that I can't lift 3k lb logs but that has nothing to do with the grapple.

I suspect he is talking about "clamping" one tree. That is an advantage of the claw type or 4n1 bucket which will hold a single tree in place for sawing for example. I don't use my grapple like that but if I did I would so as SD455dan said and simply add a few short logs to take up space in the grapple maw and provide active clamping on the one I wanted to buck.

 

[lwm]

I suspect he is talking about "clamping" one tree. That is an advantage of the claw type or 4n1 bucket which will hold a single tree in place for sawing for example. I don't use my grapple like that but if I did I would so as SD455dan said and simply add a few short logs to take up space in the grapple maw and provide active clamping on the one I wanted to buck.

Yeah, clamping is what I'm talking about. Sometimes that's nice. We tend to move stuff a ways and if it bounces around thats not so nice.

 

[Deerherd]

Yeah, clamping is what I'm talking about. Sometimes that's nice. We tend to move stuff a ways and if it bounces around thats not so nice.

Too bad somebody who uses their grapple like you want to do didn't chime in earlier and recommend the RGBD style grapple from W.R. Long.

Any grapple will hold a tree, it's those rascally different sized logs that cause problems!

 

[IslandTractor]

Yeah, clamping is what I'm talking about. Sometimes that's nice. We tend to move stuff a ways and if it bounces around thats not so nice.

Bouncing is rarely an issue. Just grab a big bite of stuff so the load is compacted. With trees, just grab so a branch is pinned by the upper lid. Bouncing might be an issue when moving a single telephone pole but it is rarely an issue otherwise.

 

[lwm]

Too bad somebody who uses their grapple like you want to do didn't chime in earlier and recommend the RGBD style grapple from W.R. Long.

Any grapple will hold a tree, it's those rascally different sized logs that cause problems!

Heh, I remember that conversation, people get heated about their grapples

Anyway, my main use is grabbing big piles of brush and it works well for that. If the other stuff becomes a problem I think I have a plan for that.

 

[Xfaxman]

To answer the question below about my neighbor being jealous, I doubt it. He does construction for a living, has every skidsteer attachment known to man, he's a pro. I trust his judgement.

What I think he is saying is that he's likes being able to clamp down on whatever it is he's moving around. And I can see his point, unless you put enough stuff in the grapple it will bounce around (sort of makes you wonder why someone doesn't make a grapple that could close further doesn't it?) Maybe cause it isn't necessary!

I think I see a way to fix it for times when you want it to close better, still stewing on this but try this on for size.

The shape of the top part is a big L turned sideways 90 degress clockwise, right? Suppose a guy drilled a couple of holes at the two ends of the L and then bolted a bar across the L turning it into a triangle. That would mean it would close down on a smaller log and hold it tight.

If a guy were to drill another hole at the corner of the L, then he could pin the bar parallel w/ the long side of the L (out of the way) with a pin and a lynch pin. Need to grab more? Get out, drop the bars, pin them, get back in. Now your grapple is more like a clam shell grapple that can grab stuff tighter.

See what I mean? If so, what do you think?

I see what you mean, but don't think you will need it. If you travel with the grapple curled back all the way, stuff won't bounce out.

Just use it for awhile first, then let us know.

 

[k0ua]

How old is your cat James?

Keisha is just about 8 years old.

 

[sd455dan]

I suspect he is talking about "clamping" one tree. That is an advantage of the claw type or 4n1 bucket which will hold a single tree in place for sawing for example. I don't use my grapple like that but if I did I would so as SD455dan said and simply add a few short logs to take up space in the grapple maw and provide active clamping on the one I wanted to buck.

Actually i think that the short log addition was Xfaxmans suggestion and I think that will work


lwm- you can just grab the log diagonally like this

I thought you had mentioned having some large logs to deal with- post 52, and that is what happened to me lately- any larger and i am not sure if the grapple would have closed on it. but it sure beats dragging it .


I think once you get some hours on the new set up , you will be glad that the grapple has a larger opening and Longer lower tines- if the movement of a small log bothers you can tilt the grapple back and it will be held like a v on each side like Xfaxman said, then it takes a quite a bit to get the log to actually move around oh and the style you got should be able to unload a trailer like this style i have looked at the RBG style and i guess I just can't wrap my head around how that style can easily unload a trailer full of logs, maybe it's easy but i don't see how to do it it?? I agree with xfaxman and island tractor, running time is what is needed my :2cents: