What would keep your Grapple out of the FIRE?

[EverythingAttachments]

Hmmm, don't think mine has shipped yet...tempted to cancel and get the new one

Don't cancel, but you can wait an extra week on the new one if you wanna.
Just give me a call and we can easily arrange it.
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Here's a pic of the newly modified tine. These notches are cut for a 3/16 x ｽ cold roll radius on every corner for strength.
All sizes have been completed, so the new ones that we make will all be updated.

The one shown has 3 notches and is for our Compact Wicked Grapples(50"-72"). The Wicked Utility Grapples(55" and 73") will have 4.
Travis

 

[murphy1244]

That should do it. How about a pic of a finished one...

 

[Jim Timber]

Here's a pic of the newly modified tine. These notches are cut for a 3/16 x ｽ cold roll radius on every corner for strength.
All sizes have been completed, so the new ones that we make will all be updated.

The one shown has 3 notches and is for our Compact Wicked Grapples(50"-72"). The Wicked Utility Grapples(55" and 73") will have 4.
Travis

View attachment 451965

Why are they in the weak axis? Seems like they'd hold up better and block even less view in the other orientation. You also get more weld surface; although that's likely not an issue either way.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Why are they in the weak axis? Seems like they'd hold up better and block even less view in the other orientation. You also get more weld surface; although that's likely not an issue either way.

Off the top, without adding more material, the axis you're asking about potentially weakens the grapple's strength.

 

[sea2summit]

Why are they in the weak axis? Seems like they'd hold up better and block even less view in the other orientation. You also get more weld surface; although that's likely not an issue either way.

You mean on the front side? Think it would sustain a lot of damage real quick up there.

 

[Jim Timber]

Eric, once you weld the bars in, there's no weakening of the plates unless you only weld one side of the joint.

Another option is to counter sink them slightly from the back edge and put a weld across the gap. Sure, it's not 100ksi, but 70k from a decent MIG filler is going to be plenty.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Eric, once you weld the bars in, there's no weakening of the plates unless you only weld one side of the joint.

True, but think about the time it takes to production weld a lateral over a vertical axis.

Also, as a user I think a horizontal axis will be harder to unload twiggy debris than a vertical axis. Time will tell with feedback to verify.

 

[Jim Timber]

I don't think those slats would add much time even with the added length of weld a horizontal orientation would have. It's going to add some time, and cost, no argument there. How much more one to the other is maybe 10 minutes per unit? Hard to say without knowing how far the bars go and how many joints are there and if they're seam welded or just stitched.

As for which way would trap less stuff - I'm not sure. I don't know if a sharp edge vertically would be less prone to grabbing than a flat in the horizontal with something stuck in between it and the next one or the jaw plates. Vertically would possibly stop more, or could just result in a smaller opening for it to get jammed in.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

That should do it. How about a pic of a finished one...

I think it will add to the value, especially since the price isn't going up.
I'll show pics when the first one is complete. The factory fires back up on Monday and we've had a couple of requests for the new version already.
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

The protective grid is now reality!

 

[ovrszd]

Strong but barely effective. The limbs that will get your latches or hydraulic hoses will fit easily between the bars. Nice try though.

Not to be offensive,,,,, but you guys need an experienced operator to test your products. He/She would easily see these types of issues before mass production.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Strong but barely effective. The limbs that will get your latches or hydraulic hoses will fit easily between the bars. Nice try though.

Not to be offensive,,,,, but you guys need an experienced operator to test your products. He/She would easily see these types of issues before mass production.

WoW :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

WoW :laughing:

Laugh all you want. You are the company modifying your product to fix an issue.

It's all good. At least you are willing to adapt and improve.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

You guys need an experienced operator to test your products.

I'm sure Ted is ready to crash that Honda.

 

[4570Man]

Strong but barely effective. The limbs that will get your latches or hydraulic hoses will fit easily between the bars. Nice try though. Not to be offensive,,,,, but you guys need an experienced operator to test your products. He/She would easily see these types of issues before mass production.

About twice that many bars would be better, but I wouldn't go as far to call it barely effective.

 

[newbury]

The protective grid is now reality!
<snip>
View attachment 452815

Now offer some extruded steel panels we can put up against those slats, or take off if we don't want them.

 

[dreed]

Now offer some extruded steel panels we can put up against those slats, or take off if we don't want them.

The new bars look great as they still allow good visibility and some defense against the errant branch. I'm sure you wil refine this more with possible clamp on panels for more protection if the customer needs it at the sacrifice of some visibility. I plan on adding bars to my grapple since you have given us all this easy idea. I use a Skidsteer so I really like to see as well as possible. The even better point to this thread is how our quick attach levers can be tripped by the brush. I plan on adding a couple of short loops of small chain to positively secure the handles so the grapple doesn't end up hanging from the hoses!

 

[Coyote machine]

Personally, I'd put expanded metal over the entire grid, maybe reducing the number of grid bars, due to the expanded metal offering way more protection from branches/limbs, etc., and not reducing visibility all that much. I've added expanded metal to my brushbar and my log grapple, and it has saved the bacon on numerous occasions, in the various applications each piece encounters.
As far as needing an experienced operator - I'd just ignore inane comments like those.:confused3: (Insert smiley face here).

 

[Jim Timber]

The concern with expanded steel is that it'd catch debris and get tangled up forcing the operator to get off the machine to clear it. I can certainly see that being a possibility with the diamond pattern acting like a snare if something is drawn into the narrow side of the diamond.