2 Wildkat econo's on the way

[buck12]

When I ordered my 48" I had Anita delete their JD system. I think she knocked 50 bucks off- attached are some pictures-actully cost me a few bucks more because Deere went up on the price of the hooks and pins since I last did this in 2005

Wildkat also knocked $50 off my grapple to delete the quick attach plate. I love the Wildkat grapple.

 

[buck12]

good decision!:thumbsup:

You will be amazed at how much grubby backbreaking work you can get done in just a few minutes with the DK plus grapple combo. Once I was properly set up as you will soon be, I could get more done in half an hour than I could working all day without a tractor or in a couple of hours working with my trusty CK20 plus grapple.

If you are planning to take out trees I'd suggest you practice with various techniques but in general the following works very well with a DK:

Raise grapple to above your eye line and push on the tree while in 4wd low range. This will generally put enough force on a tree less than 5-6 inches diameter that it will expose some of the lateral roots. Next back off and do the same from 90 degrees if accessible. Then lower grapple and insert it under the exposed root ball if you can or at least under some of the exposed lateral roots. Drive forward and curl/lift at the same time. If that doesn't immediately pop the tree loose (for bigger ones it won't) then work it a bit with the same technique and then go back to pushing on the trunk about 8-10ft off the ground. Once you get it to tip/unroot just stick the grapple back under the root ball and drive forward to free it up.

I rarely use the chain saw for dropping a tree. Leaves too much of a hassle getting the stump out. For trees bigger than 6 inches or so it is best to use a ripper/BH combo to tear up the lateral root system before pushing the tree over and using the grapple just to carry it away.

Good luck with the grapple

I use the same technique. On stubborn trees it sometimes takes pushing from all four sides to find the week point where it wants to go over. Once the root ball breaks its just matter of a little persuasion under the root ball and out she comes. It is always a good feeling to get rid of an unwanted tree and not have to deal with a stump.

 

[bigballer]

Good, but stop there. Don't read the flail mower or ripper threads or you'll get hooked on one of those too!:laughing:

no kidding, i have been wanting one of these for a long time though.. i figured all the time i spent getting on/off the tractor to load brush, logs, trees, rocks, etc it would have paid for it's self by now in time saved. adding the toothbar made a big difference, then the box scraper, then the backhoe, then the rake, then the disc, ohhh and the list goes on..

 

[IslandTractor]

no kidding, i have been wanting one of these for a long time though.. i figured all the time i spent getting on/off the tractor to load brush, logs, trees, rocks, etc it would have paid for it's self by now in time saved. adding the toothbar made a big difference, then the box scraper, then the backhoe, then the rake, then the disc, ohhh and the list goes on..

Of all my implements (not counting the mowers), the grapple saves me the most work overall. It is a perfect match for a CUT when clearing brush or tree debris tasks need to be done. And for removing trees there is simply nothing like the combination of a grapple and a BH mounted ripper. Oops, you don't have a ripper yet do you? You will soon. As soon as your bank account recovers anyway. Luckily, they are much cheaper to ship.:laughing:

 

[CJONE]

I have 2 main projects to do and that is to fit my buddies JD backhoe to my tractor and build sides for the econo grapple to haul firewood. I have started on a pin on ripper for my 3 point hitch, curious to see how the 3 point ripper works. Should do great and if it does I will run it past Bob at MIE to produce them. I am also going to build or buy a ripper for the JD backhoe. and a skidplate and a snowpusher and,and,and. Where does it stop??? CJ

 

[GreenWannabe]

I have 2 main projects to do and that is to fit my buddies JD backhoe to my tractor and build sides for the econo grapple to haul firewood. I have started on a pin on ripper for my 3 point hitch, curious to see how the 3 point ripper works. Should do great and if it does I will run it past Bob at MIE to produce them. I am also going to build or buy a ripper for the JD backhoe. and a skidplate and a snowpusher and,and,and. Where does it stop??? CJ

When everything you want done and your wife wants done and you want to do for your neighbors, etc. is done, or when you are done - whichever occurs first! Good luck!

 

[IslandTractor]

Only problems with a 3PT ripper in theory are 1) the rear tire will prevent you from getting it close enough to the side of the tree unless you mount it on a boom, and 2) there is no way to exert downforce to drive the ripper in. It will eventually dig in as you move but it needs to be 18" deep when it is next to the tree trunk in order to snag and cut the lateral roots. It won't cut roots parallel to your direction of travel.

Same issue with an FEL mounted ripper regarding getting it close to the trunk but you can put down pressure on it.

 

[CJONE]

Only problems with a 3PT ripper in theory are 1) the rear tire will prevent you from getting it close enough to the side of the tree unless you mount it on a boom, and 2) there is no way to exert downforce to drive the ripper in. It will eventually dig in as you move but it needs to be 18" deep when it is next to the tree trunk in order to snag and cut the lateral roots. It won't cut roots parallel to your direction of travel.

Same issue with an FEL mounted ripper regarding getting it close to the trunk but you can put down pressure on it.

It will be mounted on the 3 point hitch that I have built, that will give it about 1' past the tire then I will add another 3'+ the unit will weigh 1000-1500lbs with the box full. that should be enough to get it to dig. Will see how it goes. CJ

 

[buck12]

It will be mounted on the 3 point hitch that I have built, that will give it about 1' past the tire then I will add another 3'+ the unit will weigh 1000-1500lbs with the box full. that should be enough to get it to dig. Will see how it goes. CJ

Post pictures when you finish. Others like myself that don't have a BH may want to copy your design.

 

[Piston]

Of all my implements (not counting the mowers), the grapple saves me the most work overall. It is a perfect match for a CUT when clearing brush or tree debris tasks need to be done. And for removing trees there is simply nothing like the combination of a grapple and a BH mounted ripper. Oops, you don't have a ripper yet do you? You will soon. As soon as your bank account recovers anyway. Luckily, they are much cheaper to ship.:laughing:

Absolutely the case with me as well. Nothing (I don't mow much) saves me more work than my grapple.

I try to stress how good of a purchase it was, but I can't really put it into words. When I think about the most useful thing I have (not limiting myself to tractor related equipment) it is by far the grapple on my tractor.

i figured all the time i spent getting on/off the tractor to load brush, logs, trees, rocks, etc it would have paid for it's self by now in time saved.

You couldn't be more correct. :thumbsup:

If I were shopping for a new tractor, and I had a definitive budget that I could not go over, I would deduct $1,500-2k off what I could spend on the tractor and buy the grapple. For any type of woods, brush, or tree work, they are unbeatable for what they provide/cost.

I haven't had my bucket on the tractor since last June. I even bought the $200 dollar ratchet rake but haven't tried it yet since I have no reason to put the bucket back on.

You will be VERY happy with your new grapple!

Also, until you have your ripper built, you can use the grapple for digging as well. This is a big advantage of the 48" grapple, you can actually dig around the stump of a good sized tree to break the roots free, then knock it over.

I've put my grapple through A LOT of stress and it hasn't shown any signs of breaking (except when I let my dad use it and he tried dragging a fully length tree backwards and turning tightly at the same time, of course torqueing the heck out of the grapple thumb and bending it, ever so slightly, a quick heat up with the torches had that fixed and I told him that probably isn't a good idea)
I do drag trees with the grapple, sometimes two at a time by one stump in each grapple arm, but you can't turn tightly at all when doing so.