Not ANOTHER grapple

[Jeepnford]

Here is a grapple I built for a friend. You'll likely notice it has a bit of an overbite. I built it using my bucket as a guide and his is a little different. Anyway, from those that have used one similar to this, is there any reason I should trim the tines? Or leave them as is?

 

[nybirdman]

Mine is set-up to "grip" the bottom;I can pick up a 1/2''thick rock.I also have a tooth-bar on my bucket.Handy tool for sure.

 

[oosik]

Basically - my answer is - NO, don't trim the tines. If you are going to trim the tines - leave them long enough so the bucket can be rolled forward and the tines can still be used to back drag. I find back dragging with my grapple a VERY effective way to gather up small things - pine straw, limbs, brush etc.

 

[KYErik]

oosik- is your grapple built heavier than the OP's grapple?

I can see how backdragging with the grapple tips would be useful for gathering small materials, but I would think that it will put a great strain on the grapple linkage if you hit something fixed (like the top of a root). Also if you ever turn the wheel and backdrag at an angle, that would really stress the grapple "teeth".

OP- It might be good to warn your friend about the risks of backdragging and let them decide whether to trim the teeth or leave it "as is". Very good work- looks factory made.

 

[oosik]

Yes - my grapple is a Land Pride SGC1560 and considerably heavier than the one that the OP built. However - as long as you are back dragging light stuff it should work just fine. BTW - that is a very nice looking bucket grapple. If the grapple is used to back drag with the tines in a relaxed/forward position rather than an aggressive/rearward position - nothing will be caught in the tines.

Even with my HD grapple I do not back drag with the tines in an aggressive/rearward position.......... with the tines in a forward position they will just bump over anything hard or fixed.

 

[Xfaxman]

My Gorilla Grapple has a serious overbite, very handy:

 

[oosik]

Mine doesn't have quite that much overbite - but any you can get proves out to help.

View attachment 500202 I particularly like that last pic, XFaxman, where the grapple has spit out the concrete chunk
like a cherry pit.

 

[Jeepnford]

Well, he decided to have me trim the teeth, so that's what I'll do. Thanks for the suggestions and the compliments. XFaxman I was buying some steel pipe from a scrap yard and the had a heavy grapple similar to yours on a skid steer for moving steel. I couldn't believe how much they had bent it

 

[Xfaxman]

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I particularly like that last pic, XFaxman, where the grapple has spit out the concrete chunk
like a cherry pit.

:laughing:

If that was spitting out a cherry pit, what is this?: