How to Grapple without a Grapple - Pictures please

[ovrszd]

I assumed that extension was part of the fork frame and engineered by the manufacturer to prevent loads from falling back onto the tractor. If he added it himself it is certainly a professional looking and pretty well engineered extension. Assuming the manufacturer designed the "bridge", I'd also assume it is engineered to withstand a ton or more of pressure. It actually looks like an oversized grating so should withstand backwards forces pretty well.

That might be true. If so, it was designed to prevent loose forked loads from shifting rearward. Maybe 1/10th the force that's now being placed on it. I didn't see any angle iron, channel iron, I beam or anything other than flat bar, which has little to no resistance to forward/rearward pressures.

Again, I am hoping for success. I am also not condemning his work at all. Just having a great discussion about the stresses involved.

 

[k0ua]

I can tell you he has not extended his fork mast.. It is OEM stock I have the same forks. I am not going to delve into the discussion further about the forces exerted and whether this is a good idea or not.

 

[IslandTractor]

I can tell you he has not extended his fork mast.. It is OEM stock I have the same forks. I am not going to delve into the discussion further about the forces exerted and whether this is a good idea or not.

Chicken. (Insert smiley, my phone can't)

 

[k0ua]

Chicken. (Insert smiley, my phone can't)

It is not that I am chicken. It is that I am not qualified.. Most of my education and life experience has dealt with electronics. Not mechanics.

I have learned quite a bit about hydraulics in the last couple of years thru self study, but Mechanical forces are not my forte..

 

[ovrszd]

It is not that I am chicken. It is that I am not qualified.. Most of my education and life experience has dealt with electronics. Not mechanics.

I have learned quite a bit about hydraulics in the last couple of years thru self study, but Mechanical forces are not my forte..

And you my friend are smart enough to stay out of firing range. I on the other hand stupidly dive in and prove to everyone involved that I don't know what I'm talking about!!!

Being uneducated I reach conclusions from practical application rather than formulas.

 

[ovrszd]

I might also add, on TBN we see many, many modifications that are claimed to be efficient, practical and durable. Rarely do we see followup reports of subsequent failures. So it leaves us "armchair" fabricators to offer our opinions based on what we see in posted pictures. Almost always there is inadequate information in the picture to reach a formulated conclusion. So I can't support my concerns about this project with engineering quality assessments. I can only use my personal experiences and failures as a guide.

 

[IslandTractor]

I might also add, on TBN we see many, many modifications that are claimed to be efficient, practical and durable. Rarely do we see followup reports of subsequent failures. So it leaves us "armchair" fabricators to offer our opinions based on what we see in posted pictures. Almost always there is inadequate information in the picture to reach a formulated conclusion. So I can't support my concerns about this project with engineering quality assessments. I can only use my personal experiences and failures as a guide.

I agree. We don't have 100% followup on failed projects. On the other hand, the interweb is usually a very reliable source.

 

[k0ua]

I agree. We don't have 100% followup on failed projects. On the other hand, the interweb is usually a very reliable source.

Uh, huh... yeah...for sure for sure.. I know for a fact that I post my best welds not my worst ones...

 

[IslandTractor]

I know or a fact that I post my best welds not my worst ones...

So does ShieldArc!

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Where his setup has exceeded the manufacturers assumed stresses is that he added what appears to be 12" of vertical height to the fork frame. . It would be interesting to send the Fork Manufacturer a picture of this setup and ask them if this voids their warranty??

Remember, we are not talking about a manufactured Grapple. We are talking about a light duty fork set that has been modified.

I assumed that extension was part of the fork frame and engineered by the manufacturer to prevent loads from falling back onto the tractor.

That might be true. If so, it was designed to prevent loose forked loads from shifting rearward. Maybe 1/10th the force that's now being placed on it. I didn't see any angle iron, channel iron, I beam or anything other than flat bar, which has little to no resistance to forward/rearward pressures.

Again, I am hoping for success. I am also not condemning his work at all. Just having a great discussion about the stresses involved.

Even without k0ua's confirmation that the 'bridge' on the top of the frame is factory, have you ever seen a commercially manufactured fork with a top guard made from anything other than flat bar? I haven't but that doesn't mean that they don't exist.

I agree. We don't have 100% followup on failed projects. On the other hand, the interweb is usually a very reliable source.

I might also add, on TBN we see many, many modifications that are claimed to be efficient, practical and durable. Rarely do we see followup reports of subsequent failures. So it leaves us "armchair" fabricators to offer our opinions based on what we see in posted pictures. Almost always there is inadequate information in the picture to reach a formulated conclusion. So I can't support my concerns about this project with engineering quality assessments. I can only use my personal experiences and failures as a guide.

I've got 2 less than successful projects that I have admitted to and posted
My hydraulic dump wagon build didn't have the geometry right and struggles to dump anything more than a load of brush. I still need to rebuild it 2 yrs later. The other is my homemade light duty pallet forks that I've beat the snot out of for 4 yrs, repaired once and need it again.

:drink: