Grapple Failure

[Red Horse]

Since everyone here knows about it I don't think they would buy it now. I sure won't.

Ok, just out of curiosity, its 1000 bucks. What are you going to buy instead and what does it cost?

 

[murphy1244]

Ok, just out of curiosity, its 1000 bucks. What are you going to buy instead and what does it cost?

Its still a piece of junk...

 

[blueriver]

Its still a piece of junk...

I disagree .. It's the ECONOMY model.

 

[murphy1244]

I disagree .. It's the ECONOMY model.

You disagree on what? The price or its a piece of junk?

 

[Red Horse]

Its still a piece of junk...

And the basis for your statement is??? Do you own one? Have you seen one?

My statements are based on the fact that I own one. that I'm using it on a bigger, heavier, more powerful tractor than it is probably intended for, and that I damaged mine through my own negligence. And by the way, I was probably abusing it in the worst possible way-using the grapple to pull on a large buried bolder. And by the way, the tube really did not fail-rather the weld on the back side of the tower cracked.

Last point, if you truly believe that all items, machines whatever, should perform the same, and have the same degree of durability regardless of price, I guess for sure you don't believe in the old adage..."you get what you pay for". I knew I was buying an "economy" grapple. I was more than satisfied with the value I got. Agsin, show me something else for the same money.

another shot of my junk Econo wildkat in action

 

[CalG]

Since everyone here knows about it I don't think they would buy it now. I sure won't.

I would buy one without hesitation. The weakness is well explained, the cause (Banging the top jaws into stuff) is made clear. I can't touch the price point even with DIY efforts.

What's not to like?

Unless you just happen to have $3k burning a hole in your pocket and want to pick up some brush piles ...and even then, Kitty Kat has the pro models covered!

Hat's OFF to bhh and his recent post #137! 'Explains exactly all the good reasons to consider this grapple as a useful tool!

cheers

 

[murphy1244]

And the basis for your statement is??? Do you own one? Have you seen one?

My statements are based on the fact that I own one. that I'm using it on a bigger, heavier, more powerful tractor than it is probably intended for, and that I damaged mine through my own negligence. And by the way, I was probably abusing it in the worst possible way-using the grapple to pull on a large buried bolder. And by the way, the tube really did not fail-rather the weld on the back side of the tower cracked.

Last point, if you truly believe that all items, machines whatever, should perform the same, and have the same degree of durability regardless of price, I guess for sure you don't believe in the old adage..."you get what you pay for". I knew I was buying an "economy" grapple. I was more than satisfied with the value I got. Agsin, show me something else for the same money.

another shot of my junk Econo wildkat in action

Don't get excited. My basis is it failed and has failed many times before. This was broken header was posted two years ago. That's why I did not buy one. You like yours? That's great!!!!

 

[k0ua]

It is the economy model, It has some, well what some might call design flaws well in fact I would call them design flaws. BUT it can be fixed up and beefed up to be much stronger. Yes is should have been built with 1/4 in. tubing, but it wasn't. But I still believe it can be made stronger without a whole lot of effort or cost. That's what I really think.

 

[CalG]

Red Horse.

You have that Yankee common sense! For living in such a liberal State, you seem to take pride in in-de-vidual responsibility.

Thats a Good thing! ;-)

 

[TomSeller]

If 2 out of 100 fail, is that bad? 1 out of 100? 5? Everyone is going to have a different number and I'm sure they could achieve a zero fail rate but what would be the weight penalty we would have to endure as a result? As long as the company stands behind these failures and does right by the customers, a 1-2% failure rate might actually mean that the grapples are designed appropriately for their use. Just a thought.

I would say opening and closing a grapple lid structurally (the hinge) should be as reliable as opening and losing the door on my pickup. That is what a grapple is intended to do. I would expect 0 out of 100 failures on my pickup door and on a grapple within your stated hours of use.