planning on using primarily a grapple 3rd function being installed next week. Is it better to have the valve ends horizontal with FEL tube or perpendicular ? seems like horizontal would be less likely to be snagged by a branch. Thoughts ?
3rd function/remote ?
- Thread starter Logan979
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Zebrafive
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Mine run down the boom and end below the cross tube pointing down. Hoses need to be long enough for grapple to be fully dumped. I use a tarp strap to keep extra hose from dragging on the ground.
TractorGuy
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Somewhat depends on the length of the hoses on the grapple too. My MTL grapple had long hoses I was trying to manage so I ended up moving my 3rd function connection on top of my loader arm. Of course you can always change hoses on the grapple to accommodate where you mount the tractor end.
ovrszd
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The hose length is critical. Takes wayyyyy more hose than it appears when rolling the Grapple forward (dump position).
The hose ends on my Grapple are in the center, high on the Grapple structure. My tractor couplers are on top of the FEL cross tube toward the right side.
My hoses are "just" long enough to allow the Grapple to dump completely. When the Grapple is sitting on the ground flat my hoses are just touching the ground.
The farther you place the tractor couplers from the Grapple connections the more hose you are going to have to deal with in various positions.
Sorry I don't have better pics that I can find. This pic shows the location of my tractor couplers.
The hose ends on my Grapple are in the center, high on the Grapple structure. My tractor couplers are on top of the FEL cross tube toward the right side.
My hoses are "just" long enough to allow the Grapple to dump completely. When the Grapple is sitting on the ground flat my hoses are just touching the ground.
The farther you place the tractor couplers from the Grapple connections the more hose you are going to have to deal with in various positions.
Sorry I don't have better pics that I can find. This pic shows the location of my tractor couplers.
davrow
Veteran Member
I couldn't find a good place/way to mount a plate, so my hoses are actually simply loose with bungees. Which way they point is pretty much dependent on grapple height and curl/dump.
But, if I had found a way to use a mounting plate, I would have installed them horizontal. But for no other reason than aesthetics.
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If they are pointed down roughly parallel to the loader arms like LouNY did, then when the grapple is curled down the hoses run more or less straight towards the grapple.
I originally had mine closer to perpendicular to the loader arms. That was great until I curled the grapple down. I had to make another bracket that went closer to parallel.
I originally had mine closer to perpendicular to the loader arms. That was great until I curled the grapple down. I had to make another bracket that went closer to parallel.
