The WICKED Root & Debris GRAPPLE!!!!!!!

[IslandTractor]

Was able to swap out the couplings. Works great.

Have fun with your new grapple. Remember we need action photos or at the very least trophy photos.

 

[blin]

Tried uploading pics, but once I choose the photo and click on upload it stalls. I'll check other threads for upload info. Don't want to change subject.

 

[ErikVann]

I received my grapple in time for Xmas. Thank you for a quick delivery without issues on your end. It's equipped with the 3/8 couplings just as planned. The problem I now have is that the Kubota installed 1/4 hose and couplings.
My first question, is this 3rd full function sufficient for my size tractor. It's an L4330. If so should I just look for an adaptor to go from the 3/8 hose coupling to the to the 1/4" mount?

I ordered mine the day after you. Don't think mine has shipped yet. Was hoping to get it in time for some play/work between xmas and new years. Oh well. I ordered mine with the standard 1/2" hoses, hoping this will be easy enough to adapt. I am going to use rear remotes for a bit before installing a diverter on the loader. I ordered 1/2" hoses and qds from blains farm and fleet. They should arrive soon. Will have time to get that set up and should be all set to start grappling right off the freight truck. Can't wait, there are lots of grapple worthy projects around here that would be great to get a start in before the snow flies. Happy new year to everyone.

 

[blin]

I ordered mine the day after you. Don't think mine has shipped yet. Was hoping to get it in time for some play/work between xmas and new years. Oh well. I ordered mine with the standard 1/2" hoses, hoping this will be easy enough to adapt. I am going to use rear remotes for a bit before installing a diverter on the loader. I ordered 1/2" hoses and qds from blains farm and fleet. They should arrive soon. Will have time to get that set up and should be all set to start grappling right off the freight truck. Can't wait, there are lots of grapple worthy projects around here that would be great to get a start in before the snow flies. Happy new year to everyone.

Some things are worth waiting for. Except for the hoses, everything seems great. The 1/4" hoses work the the lid quickly and smoothly. I did notice two grease fittings on the lid that needed initial greasing. I would assume they ship dry. Took two minutes to complete. It's been real wet here. Only thing I could do today was move big pile of loose hay we cleaned out of the barn loft. I was pleased how well it picked it up.

 

[Snowback]

Zeroing in here. I like the closer spacing of the add-in slats on the 50", but the 54" looks to be the one we'll go with ultimately. I wonder if anyone has clamped or wired some mesh fence panel to the inside of their grapple for the ability to rake up wood debris and keep it from falling through bottom and/or back? Example here: OK Brand Handy Panel, 8 ft. L x 50 in. H - For Life Out Here

A pair of bolt cutters and some U bolts with backing plates could whip of a screen in 15 minutes perhaps? Start it just behind the tine bar and go to back, or wrap up to top hinge with some well placed bends. It might be a bit redneck, but could help catch smaller pieces of wood and move to the burn pile while still allowing for dirt and small mulch to drop out. We recently had forestry mulching machines run our 17 acres after pine loggers left a mess. Some of the remaining debris is still big enough to be hard on a rough cutter, but small enough to slip through 9" slats. Anyone else find a better solution on this challenge? Travis - am I barking up the wrong tree in your opinion? Thanks all!

For pinching, all of the Wicked Grapple top/lid tines meet the bottom tines. The lid is slightly wider on the 50" because the lower tines are further apart.

54" Single Lid

View attachment 450804

50" Single Lid

View attachment 450805

 

[IslandTractor]

Zeroing in here. I like the closer spacing of the add-in slats on the 50", but the 54" looks to be the one we'll go with ultimately. I wonder if anyone has clamped or wired some mesh fence panel to the inside of their grapple for the ability to rake up wood debris and keep it from falling through bottom and/or back? Example here: OK Brand Handy Panel, 8 ft. L x 50 in. H - For Life Out Here A pair of bolt cutters and some U bolts with backing plates could whip of a screen in 15 minutes perhaps? Start it just behind the tine bar and go to back, or wrap up to top hinge with some well placed bends. It might be a bit redneck, but could help catch smaller pieces of wood and move to the burn pile while still allowing for dirt and small mulch to drop out. We recently had forestry mulching machines run our 17 acres after pine loggers left a mess. Some of the remaining debris is still big enough to be hard on a rough cutter, but small enough to slip through 9" slats. Anyone else find a better solution on this challenge? Travis - am I barking up the wrong tree in your opinion? Thanks all!

Have you explored with EA whether they can provide bolt in intermediate slats? I don't think they have done that with the 54" yet but they have all the CAD and laser or water cutters to do it easily. I don't know whether they have had many requests for the slats on the 50 but people like yourself would certainly pay the extra ?$150 bucks or so.

If EA won't do that then your proposed solution seems reasonable. You might want to protect the leading edge of the wire mesh by attaching a 54"x 2"X1/4" piece of steel to the leading edge with clamps or weld.

Let us know what you end up doing.

The other possible solution is to use a 3pt rake to collect the material and then bury it on site or move with a standard bucket.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I ordered mine the day after you. Don't think mine has shipped yet. Was hoping to get it in time for some play/work between xmas and new years. Oh well. I ordered mine with the standard 1/2" hoses, hoping this will be easy enough to adapt. I am going to use rear remotes for a bit before installing a diverter on the loader. I ordered 1/2" hoses and qds from blains farm and fleet. They should arrive soon. Will have time to get that set up and should be all set to start grappling right off the freight truck. Can't wait, there are lots of grapple worthy projects around here that would be great to get a start in before the snow flies. Happy new year to everyone.

Your grapple will ship today or tomorrow.
For clarification, the hose size is 3/8 on all of our grapples with no variations. If you ordered the grapple with 1/2" couplers, it should mate fine with the ones you have.
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I don't know whether they have had many requests for the slats on the 50

Intermediate slats are standard on the 50". They can be removed for max. weight reduction.
We do not offer them on larger models.

The other possible solution is to use a 3pt rake to collect the material and then bury it on site or move with a standard bucket.

A landscape rake would be a great complimentary attachment for using with the grapple. It would allow you to pile up small, finer debris, limbs, etc. into a dense pile that is easier for your grapple to grab onto.
Travis

 

[IslandTractor]

Intermediate slats are standard on the 50". They can be removed for max. weight reduction.
We do not offer them on larger models.

I bet it wouldn't be a big deal for you guys to engineer and fabricate removable slats for the bigger models that you could sell as an option. There really are some people who move rocks and debris who need narrower intertine distances than the standard 8 or 9 inches that works fine for most purposes. You already have the removable tine system on the 50 so it should be duck soup to scale it up. I'm sure Snowback is not the only grapple owner trying to figure out how to best manage small debris and trying to jerry rig a solution. Why not sell him a solution?

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Brad in Colorado shared some words and a few beautiful pics of his 55" Wicked Utility Grapple installed on a Kubota MX5800.

"This tool is quickly becoming my most used and favorite of all my attachments. Having lots of brush and debris piles on the new farm to deal with, this tool is perfect.
Well built and heavy duty, I can see this unit lasting generations. Thanks again."