Root Rake/Grapple For Kubota B2910

[rswyan]

Hoses, fittings, sleeving, and clamps are ordered ...

 

[rswyan]

... I was lucky that the load of pipe was still over the trailer when it came off, no damage, no injuries. :thumbsup:

Good deal.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

It was seated all the way up, but I think too much gap at the bottom of the plate let the frame slide up and bend the top lip.

WOW! Makes me wanna take a look at the QAs around here. :shocked:

 

[Xfaxman]

WOW! Makes me wanna take a look at the QAs around here. :shocked:

Yep, there are several threads about twisted tractor QA cross tubes, from the forks coming off of one side.

 

[rswyan]

While I was checking for hose lengths yesterday I mounted the rod end of one of the cylinders to the upper jaw with it completely closed and then mounted the cut-off bushing from the base end on the base-end pin ... looks like an additional 5/8" extension of the length of the cylinder should do it ... :thumbsup:

Not going to mess with cutting off the 1/4" thick, 2" wide plate on the bottom of the upper jaw arms at this time.

 

[rswyan]

Got the re-welding of the base bushing on the base of the first cylinder done yesterday and got the second one tacked up with the root passes done, finished that this morning after I got back from having U. B. do a couple of stick welds at his place on the lower bar with the rake teeth:

Like the look of these welds on the cylinders a little better than my first attempt:

Also made it over to Home Depot yesterday afternoon and picked up the spacers for the brackets for the diverter valve and front aux hydraulic outlets.

Order @ DHH is shows "shipped" but it hasn't been picked up yet ... hopefully that will occur later today and I'll have the hoses and fittings by Friday.

Just cleaned off the brackets with some mineral spirits and gonna go hit them with a little phosphoric acid and then prime and paint.

Took the upper jaw off a bit ago, so I'll be drilling and tapping that for grease fittings, while the paint is drying.

While I had it off I decided to give the rake portion a little test, even though it's still kinda wet here. Seems to work pretty good ...

First dirt ... :

 

[rswyan]

Did a little work along the driveway where the jungle was trying to encroach:

Multiflora rose ... we have quite a bit of it:

Even works for decent sized saplings ... :

 

[rswyan]

Hoses and fittings are on their way, due to be delivered tomorrow afternoon.

Got the brackets treated with phosphoric acid, heading up to shop here in a minute to see if they are dry. And then start painting.

Will probably work on wiring up the electrical for the diverter some time later today. Will be wiring in both momentary and toggle/rocker switches, so I can flip the diverter on and leave it on without having to hold in the momentary switch constantly.

Wiring scheme courtesy of TBN member DonT-B7500 as provided in this thread:

Grapple Switch

Think I may have to use the lift circuit rather than the curl circuit, due to regen on the curl.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

If you tie into the lift circuit, I fail to see the benefit of having both style switches. With your style of grapple I can see how that could work on the curl as you could lift and close at the same time to pull stuff out. Having never used a grapple, I don't see how being able to curl and close or open would be a benefit. I understand about needing to work around the regen but think that a momentary switch would be plenty sufficient. Don't most newer machines now have regen on the curl? Other than having no choice, I can't see how tying into the lift would be anything but a pain in normal operation

 

[rswyan]

Seems I recall reading that there was an issue with diverter valves and regen. My loader valve is the 4-position valve type, with regen in the first position, and "power dump" (non-regen) once you move past the detent into the second position.

Plumbing it on the lift or curl circuits is equally easy.