Anyone have a Michugan Iron and Equipment Grapple (MIE)

[Urakunu]

I found very few mentions of this grapple anywhere but it seems like a pretty cool design with the ability of clamping down to 5" with the second stage clamping. I would love feedback if anyone has one as well as some pics as they seem to be limited as well. Any help with it would be much appreciated! Here is a link to the one I am talking about. BRUSH / DEBRIS GRAPPLES | miemachinerydivision

 

[bullockcm]

I looked at them very seriously a number of times over the years but ended up going with an EA grapple. A number of years ago there were a couple TBN members that had MIE grapples, not sure if they are still around or not. I ended up waiting to long and the price of the MIE grapples went up, at that point I didn’t feel they were as a good a value, you have to draw the line somewhere right... In hindsight for what I do I think I would have preferred a root style vs. the L bottom grapple I went with.

 

[Urakunu]

I looked at them very seriously a number of times over the years but ended up going with an EA grapple. A number of years ago there were a couple TBN members that had MIE grapples, not sure if they are still around or not. I ended up waiting to long and the price of the MIE grapples went up, at that point I didn’t feel they were as a good a value, you have to draw the line somewhere right... In hindsight for what I do I think I would have preferred a root style vs. the L bottom grapple I went with.

Thanks for that. They make root rake style from talking with them but they don't have photos or anything of it which I would kind of like to see. I'm planning on ripping roots and digging some rocks out with it. The root style starts at $1750 I think he said so it is cheaper than the one they show. I think they have a neat concept with the second stage clamping down on the one they show.

He did tell me the rake style clamps down to like 3" so that's pretty small stuff you could grab I guess. Appreciate the feedback. I tried finding some guys on here but nothing was recent.

 

[the old grind]

I'm still here and still can't dent or ding my MIE grapple after 4 years. It's cold and dark right now, and I'd love to show pics of why the details make it shine. Of note is that the lid cylinder mount will not be broken off, and other bits that make it durable compared to some others. I kept weight down by ordering 48", and sometimes a load will hang pretty fr off center at first grab.

Here's some little jobs I've done with it, first two pics taken 16 min apart. Last two are campfires I set up with the grapple and my 18" Echo CS400.



Pics of a giant poplar .. one piece at a time

 

[coobie]

MIE makes STOUT equipment.

 

[Urakunu]

I'm still here and still can't dent or ding my MIE grapple after 4 years. It's cold and dark right now, and I'd love to show pics of why the details make it shine. Of note is that the lid cylinder mount will not be broken off, and other bits that make it durable compared to some others. I kept weight down by ordering 48", and sometimes a load will hang pretty fr off center at first grab.

Here's some little jobs I've done with it, first two pics taken 16 min apart. Last two are campfires I set up with the grapple and my 18" Echo CS400.

View attachment 653436 View attachment 653437 View attachment 653438 View attachment 653439

Pics of a giant poplar .. one piece at a time

View attachment 653444 View attachment 653445 View attachment 653446

I would love to see some more close up pics of it. I appreciate your feedback on this and any better pics would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for root style (clamshell design) which he said they make but have no pics of to show me. But I imagine quality of build would stay the same. Any idea what yours weigh?

 

[Pixguy]

I bought their manual thumb and love it. Good product.

 

[Urakunu]

I bought their manual thumb and love it. Good product.

Will be going with their hydraulic thumb and thought I would consider the grapple as well. Looks like the make nice stuff but would love to get feedback from users of it. Thanks for the feedback appreciate it!

 

[the old grind]

Oh, did I offer pics? Well, fine then, OK? :laughing: Here's the best of five I just took. (11:00 PM EST & Birthday drinkin' )

In the first pic, see that there are four unique tooth component profiles and that the two for the lid cylinder connection extend from cusp to its anchorage. The cyl rod guard is robust and has to be 10 ga or so. (I don't let the sun shine on it for long, being so proud of this tool and not wanting the stickers to fade.) Weld quality from top to bottom is neat, with no undercuts or 'tall' beads that might not penetrate. I'm OK that 'teeth' overlap when 'closed' YMMV.

In the second pic, note the 'substantial' 1 1/2" hinge pins/bars and requisite grease fittings (top & bottom of each end, so 8 total). Also, between the two center teeth there is a 2" x 3" rectangular tube 'spine' (my word) that is flush with the top and bottom 2" x 2" 'crossbeams' in front and back of them. See how the four 'tallest' teeth also come behind and support the top lip. :thumbsup: and how the bottom slots (mini) are well supported with a curve to
avoid a stress riser ant to keep wight within reason.

In the third pic, note the 1 1/4" top, 2 3/8" mid, and 1 5/8" lower cross-tubes on the lid and 1 7/8" and 1 5/16" tubes across the teeth. All of them are 1/8" wall. I suspect that the 2" square top and bottom and 2" x 3" rect below the cyl are 1/4" wall. Teeth are 3/8" and I've busted loose many a fist-sized rock when stripping sod. I've also had my light-ish CUT with R-4s & RimGuard (love it! .. also KK BB out back for ballast) up on RT or LT wheels when maneuvering a bole etc off-center to be bucked. (See limbs on trailer for typical size )

There's no part of this thing that can be bent even when my FEL goes 'clunk' within the 'play' of its properly torqued mounting bolts and I'm up on two wheels. (could be any two. I don't baby this 'rock'. I'm a typical hobby farmer with a CUT who all but tries to break stuff and can't. )

View attachment 653590 View attachment 653591 View attachment 653592

I suggest that there is precious little to be lost in going narrower even if only to save weight. Many things I grab (20' long limbs/trunks, 12' long brush/limb piles) are easier to close the lid tightly onto a narrower bit for a solid bite on the way to the burn pile. Wider may be better for 'digging' (roots, rocks) if one has the traction, but for lifting & lugging I go narrow for more than just ease of maneuverability.

Was it Coobie that said MIE builds tough stuff? I'm sure he has as something to go on. You pay for the good stuff only once. IMO 'Hound Dog' sets the bar, another :2cents:.

 

[Urakunu]

Oh, did I offer pics? Well, fine then, OK? :laughing: Here's the best of five I just took. (11:00 PM EST & Birthday drinkin' )

In the first pic, see that there are four unique tooth component profiles and that the two for the lid cylinder connection extend from cusp to its anchorage. The cyl rod guard is robust and has to be 10 ga or so. (I don't let the sun shine on it for long, being so proud of this tool and not wanting the stickers to fade.) Weld quality from top to bottom is neat, with no undercuts or 'tall' beads that might not penetrate. I'm OK that 'teeth' overlap when 'closed' YMMV.

In the second pic, note the 'substantial' 1 1/2" hinge pins/bars and requisite grease fittings (top & bottom of each end, so 8 total). Also, between the two center teeth there is a 2" x 3" rectangular tube 'spine' (my word) that is flush with the top and bottom 2" x 2" 'crossbeams' in front and back of them. See how the four 'tallest' teeth also come behind and support the top lip. and how the bottom slots (mini) are well supported with a curve to
avoid a stress riser ant to keep wight within reason.

In the third pic, note the 1 1/4" top, 2 3/8" mid, and 1 5/8" lower cross-tubes on the lid and 1 7/8" and 1 5/16" tubes across the teeth. All of them are 1/8" wall. I suspect that the 2" square top and bottom and 2" x 3" rect below the cyl are 1/4" wall. Teeth are 3/8" and I've busted loose many a fist-sized rock when stripping sod. I've also had my light-ish CUT with R-4s & RimGuard (love it! .. also KK BB out back for ballast) up on RT or LT wheels when maneuvering a bole etc off-center to be bucked. (See limbs on trailer for typical size )

There's no part of this thing that can be bent even when my FEL goes 'clunk' within the 'play' of its properly torqued mounting bolts and I'm up on two wheels. (could be any two. I don't baby this 'rock'. I'm a typical hobby farmer with a CUT who all but tries to break stuff and can't. )

View attachment 653590 View attachment 653591 View attachment 653592

I suggest that there is precious little to be lost in going narrower even if only to save weight. Many things I grab (20' long limbs/trunks, 12' long brush/limb piles) are easier to close the lid tightly onto a narrower bit for a solid bite on the way to the burn pile. Wider may be better for 'digging' (roots, rocks) if one has the traction, but for lifting & lugging I go narrow for more than just ease of maneuverability.

Was it Coobie that said MIE builds tough stuff? I'm sure he has as something to go on. You pay for the good stuff only once. IMO 'Hound Dog' sets the bar, another :2cents:.

Thank you so much for that write up. For some reason I can not view the pics. Won't open them up for me. I'll have to try and figure that out but again thank you so much for the feedback. I'm between them and everything attachments and having a tough time with the decision. Thanks again truly appreciate it!