EA Wicked Grapple Carnage!

[ovrszd]

Man, I'll get flamed for this.......

You guys actually think these examples are acceptable failure??

How much did you pay for these Grapples that have failed??

Not flaming. Just asking??

 

[D2Cat]

It's now how much did you pay for these grapples that have failed, it what was the grapple attached to and what was it suppose to be attached to?

If you put a category 1, 3 point rear blade on a category 2 tractor and bend the blade, was it the blade manufacturer's fault?

 

[John_Mc]

You guys actually think these examples are acceptable failure??

Yes, in fact I do. Putting a grapple designed for a subcompact on a tractor of this size and then pushing it hard, this sort of thing is to be expected. That's why they rate implements for various sized tractors.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

I totally agree. This $2000 grapple was not designed for a 60hp tractor that weighs 7000#
I was exceeding the design envelope, especially by back dragging with the lids. If I were plowing forward with the bottom tines it would not have had an issue. I'm sure of that.

Someone mentioned ANBO grapples. I priced them out. A comparable one was nearly twice the cost of the EA Wicked.
EA had not come out with their utility model when I ordered mine. I looked at Eric's use & gave it a go.
I misused it and I paid a bit of a price. Not sure yet what really happened to mine. Again nothing looks bent or broken but the one lid won't quite close.

 

[CalG]

You know, the idea that a fella could just call up EA and have them send out the pre-fabed component that could be welded right in just seemed like such a wonderful notion. Use it, break it, cut out the damage and weld in the repair. dollars to donuts that's something that could happen, and worth a bundle!

Now maybe EA doesn't have the built up part on the shelf, but they might say when they are going to be building grapples again, and if it fits your schedule, we can send you the repair part without breaking our planning. In the same way, who better than EA to"build from print" the repair part. Sure, it's nothing a napkin sketch won't cover, but for EA to do it, You would know it would be right.

I'm starting to like the idea of buying stuff from active outfits.

And if it get's torn up again,.....well, just fix it again.! ;-)

 

[rustyshakelford]

Timely post. Was back dragging a small stump out of moist soil last night with one of the lids.

Now I have a 1" gap there
Nothing appears to be bent.

Would not recommend that use with a 60hp with loaded rears.

EA Wicked 72"

That's strange, I'd think a rod might've been tweaked just enough. Try pulling the pins and see if you get the range of motion back.

Man, I'll get flamed for this.......

You guys actually think these examples are acceptable failure??

How much did you pay for these Grapples that have failed??

Not flaming. Just asking??

My tractor is prolly around twice as heavy as these grapples are marketed for. If you bought a truck and pulled twice what it's rated for and drove it like you stole it, would you be mad at the manufacturer when you tore up the transmission. Bear in mind, you knew what you were going to do when you bought it and accepted the consequences.

It's now how much did you pay for these grapples that have failed, it what was the grapple attached to and what was it suppose to be attached to?

If you put a category 1, 3 point rear blade on a category 2 tractor and bend the blade, was it the blade manufacturer's fault?

I agree. I don't place any blame on EA. This is on me. The grapple is designed extremely well and does great, I just put it in a bind.

I totally agree. This $2000 grapple was not designed for a 60hp tractor that weighs 7000#
I was exceeding the design envelope, especially by back dragging with the lids. If I were plowing forward with the bottom tines it would not have had an issue. I'm sure of that.

Someone mentioned ANBO grapples. I priced them out. A comparable one was nearly twice the cost of the EA Wicked.
EA had not come out with their utility model when I ordered mine. I looked at Eric's use & gave it a go.
I misused it and I paid a bit of a price. Not sure yet what really happened to mine. Again nothing looks bent or broken but the one lid won't quite close.

I would've bought the utility version had it been out but it wasn't nor was the larger opening one. Still very happy but would've liked a bigger one. This one can hold and carry more than the tractor wants sometimes too.

You know, the idea that a fella could just call up EA and have them send out the pre-fabed component that could be welded right in just seemed like such a wonderful notion. Use it, break it, cut out the damage and weld in the repair. dollars to donuts that's something that could happen, and worth a bundle!

Now maybe EA doesn't have the built up part on the shelf, but they might say when they are going to be building grapples again, and if it fits your schedule, we can send you the repair part without breaking our planning. In the same way, who better than EA to"build from print" the repair part. Sure, it's nothing a napkin sketch won't cover, but for EA to do it, You would know it would be right.

I'm starting to like the idea of buying stuff from active outfits.

And if it get's torn up again,.....well, just fix it again.! ;-)

IIRC, they tried this concept for member bullet or somthing like that. He won a kit. They did some studying and figured the amount of tech support would be difficult to support and everything someone starts to build it and has questions it would be flooding EA. Easier and a more consistent product if they build it in house.

Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

Ok, so this weekend, I received a PM from Travis with EA. He told me to call on Monday and we could figure something out. This was on a Sunday I might add so I messaged back and told him I would for sure. Today got very hectic and I was finally able to carve out some time to call. Talked to Travis and was getting caught up, he told me he was going to send out 4 new pins, new mounting tabs that have been reinforced and are now standard and have been for a while and a new cylinder.

EA IS COVERING MY WHOOPS AND SENDING ME EVERYTHING I NEED. FOR FREE!

Luckily I have a decent set up for welding so I'm going to start cutting that broken mount off tomorrow in preparation of the new stuff. These guys are going above and beyond and this is a company I will always have respect for and compare others to.

I think the fair thing would've been to sell me the mount for a reasonable price, same with th cylinder and not kill me on shipping. That would be a reasonable transaction but not with these guys. It's amazing what happens when you own up to your whoops. I even reminded Travis that when I bought it I told him if I tear it up, it's on me. He told me that's not how they do business

One more thing, I hope everyone understands this is a case by case basis I'm sure. I hope people don't think it's ok to abuse their equipment and expect EA to cover their mistakes. I know I sure wasn't expecting anything other than an opportunity to buy parts for this.

Hats off and thanks. I'll gladly recommend this company to anyone asking.

Repair pics coming soon

Brett

 

[k0ua]

Ok, so this weekend, I received a PM from Travis with EA. He told me to call on Monday and we could figure something out. This was on a Sunday I might add so I messaged back and told him I would for sure. Today got very hectic and I was finally able to carve out some time to call. Talked to Travis and was getting caught up, he told me he was going to send out 4 new pins, new mounting tabs that have been reinforced and are now standard and have been for a while and a new cylinder.

EA IS COVERING MY WHOOPS AND SENDING ME EVERYTHING I NEED. FOR FREE!

Luckily I have a decent set up for welding so I'm going to start cutting that broken mount off tomorrow in preparation of the new stuff. These guys are going above and beyond and this is a company I will always have respect for and compare others to.

I think the fair thing would've been to sell me the mount for a reasonable price, same with th cylinder and not kill me on shipping. That would be a reasonable transaction but not with these guys. It's amazing what happens when you own up to your whoops. I even reminded Travis that when I bought it I told him if I tear it up, it's on me. He told me that's not how they do business

One more thing, I hope everyone understands this is a case by case basis I'm sure. I hope people don't think it's ok to abuse their equipment and expect EA to cover their mistakes. I know I sure wasn't expecting anything other than an opportunity to buy parts for this.

Hats off and thanks. I'll gladly recommend this company to anyone asking.

Repair pics coming soon

Brett

That is a heck of a good outcome !:thumbsup:

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I can see this happening. I have a W.R. Long Root grapple, and my tractor is over 10K lbs with the tires loaded. Fill it with diesel and throw an operator in it and you are probably around 10.5K lbs. I spend a lot of time on the radio telling my wife not to put so much stress on the lids. I have said it before, SWAMBO is rough on equipment. I don't understand it, because she squeezes a dime till it screams and constantly asks me why I need to buy the things that I buy.....but for some reason, she doesn't make the connection between beating the heck out of something and increased costs. She runs the bottom of the root grapple into the ground at extreme angles, puts the tractor in mid range, subjecting it to increased speed/impact forces when she hits something that resists....also increased stress on the gears...I have tried to explain......but she just does it again. I have started to try not to watch her. She does great work...but she does it HER WAY...not mine. If the grapple and the FEL last a year, I'll be amazed. I will not allow her in the excavator because I am certain she would kill herself.

 

[CalG]

That's strange, I'd think a rod might've been tweaked just enough. Try pulling the pins and see if you get the range of motion back.



My tractor is prolly around twice as heavy as these grapples are marketed for. If you bought a truck and pulled twice what it's rated for and drove it like you stole it, would you be mad at the manufacturer when you tore up the transmission. Bear in mind, you knew what you were going to do when you bought it and accepted the consequences.



I agree. I don't place any blame on EA. This is on me. The grapple is designed extremely well and does great, I just put it in a bind.



I would've bought the utility version had it been out but it wasn't nor was the larger opening one. Still very happy but would've liked a bigger one. This one can hold and carry more than the tractor wants sometimes too.



IIRC, they tried this concept for member bullet or somthing like that. He won a kit. They did some studying and figured the amount of tech support would be difficult to support and everything someone starts to build it and has questions it would be flooding EA. Easier and a more consistent product if they build it in house.

Brett

Never implied a Kit to build an entire unit, only the repair piece to replace the damage.

But it sounds like that exactly what you are getting. the mounting tabs.....

Good show from EA!