Grapple for DK45SE

k0ua · Mar 20, 2015

you see, that is the beauty of having a welder and fabrication skills. If you don't like the way something works you can just modify it! And by the way you did one heck of a good job on that push button. You could sell those.

Msamt · Mar 20, 2015

k0ua said:
It wouldn't be hard to "whack attack" that 66 inch grapple with a saw and chop out a chunk on each end, bevel, and weld it back together, grind it smooth, and repaint. I think even a "hack" welder like me could do it..:laughing:

No way, I got used to the width, amazing the stuff ya can grab onto

Msamt · Mar 20, 2015

What James said on the pushbutton, thats fricking awesome!!!!!

murphy1244 · Mar 20, 2015

Msamt said:
No way, I got used to the width, amazing the stuff ya can grab onto
View attachment 417373

You might have a problem rehooking your hydraulic lines back up as it is now under pressure. Unloosen the fitting and let it out.

Hilbilly · Mar 20, 2015

One thing I forgot to mention was that with the narrow grapple on my tractor I cannot see where the tines are relative to the ground unless the FEL is raised and the tines are angled down. With a wider grapple I could look at the outside tines and see where they were. I'm getting used to it though.

Whatever you decide on make sure to post pics here.

Murph that grapple of yours is the exact same one I was originally going to buy. It was on a Craigslist add near me but by the time I decided I wanted it, it was gone. I looked at new ones and they were a lot more so I decided to build one. I'm glad I did too because I really enjoyed the whole build process.

markandkristi · Mar 20, 2015

Hillbilly, I really like that setup of yours. I wonder if just going 54" would kind of be the best of both, still narrow but wide too, and be more visable as opposed to the 48". Did you build yours or if not what brand is it. I really like the diverter valve setup too.

markandkristi · Mar 20, 2015

Hillbilly I misread yours so it is built.

Msamt · Mar 21, 2015

murphy1244 said:
You might have a problem rehooking your hydraulic lines back up as it is now under pressure. Unloosen the fitting and let it out.

Oh I did alright, that photo was taken right after I got the boulder unjammed from the jaws. My first embarrassment of biting off more than I could chew. Shut down, relieve pressure, reconnect, wait for the ground to firm up so I could fill the mucky trenches I made with the tractor. Both my eldest son and wife found me out, but they were gentle on my mistakes...

Hilbilly · Mar 21, 2015

markandkristi said:
Hillbilly, I really like that setup of yours. I wonder if just going 54" would kind of be the best of both, still narrow but wide too, and be more visable as opposed to the 48". Did you build yours or if not what brand is it. I really like the diverter valve setup too.

My tractor is a 47 hp Massey and the 50" grapple is only slightly wider than the FEL arms but narrower than the front tires. If your tractor is a little narrower the smaller grapple may be visible from the seat. I doubt another 4" would make a difference for me. My FEL bucket is 72" and I have no problem seeing that. The build was quite an adventure for me and it was thoroughly enjoyed. Here is a link if you are interested. There were a lot of questions asked and a lot of suggestions offered. So there is a lot of information about choosing a grapple but it is a very long thread. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/330358-grapple-1-lid-2-a.html

markandkristi · Mar 21, 2015

Yeah my bucket is 72" also. I finally got to catch up on that thread that had alot of your build in it. If I was setup I would just make my own but I really dont have time to get one going even if I was setup. I am looking at a torch though, found a couple on amazon, a northern welders medium duty and a campbell hausfeld, both are right at $200. Im gonna need a torch anyway but not for a grapple. Im trying to get a shop built at the moment but if I already had that id be set. Anyway I like the look of the EA 54" single lid but man are they proud of it. I can get the titan 48" for under a grand so Im tossing the almost $700 difference around. Even the 60" EA is just a lil more than the 54". Decisions decisions haha. Price isnt really that big of a concern but Ive spent ALOT lately, mostly on wants and the wife is starting to raise an eyebrow but she really wants a grapple too so just gotta decide which one. The titan and the EA are the ones ive seen or heard most about. I know there are other good ones out there just dont have much info. My kioti has around 2700 lb lift capacity so Im trying to stay around 500 or less on weight. I do have some land to clear but the trees arent very big, just thick so beyond that its just moving some brush piles. Havent stumbled on any buried rocks yet but who knows what all Ill be getting into once I get one.