55" grapple build

[MELEON]

We had a pretty bad hurricane blow across our island last fall. My property sustained quite a lot of tree damage. Thought I could use tractor to help out with the clean up.
So I modeled up a grapple and had a buddy cut it out on his plasma table.
I'm sure it will be clear from where I drew my inspiration from (i.e. robbed, it looked like the best out there.)
I used 1/4 AR400F for the majority of it and spent a few hours this weekend and got the lower jaw mostly complete.

 

[ddbackhoe]

very nice. Are you using bolts or pins and bushings on the pivot points?

 

[MELEON]

I oversized all of the pivot locations on the plasma parts so I can so I can turn accurate bushings out 1144 stress proof.

I'll be using pins on the cylinder lugs and 3/4" grade 8 bolts on the hinge.

 

[MELEON]

Put a little time on the grapple last weekend. still need a few gussets and finish welding.
Then install the diverter valve when it arrives.

 

[tradosaurus]

Nice looking grapple.

What was your total cost to build?

 

[MELEON]

Thanks tradosaurus, Pleasantly surprised at how well its coming out.

The AR400 was $900 and I've probably got 1/4 sheet left over. (oops I mean I have a stump bucket left over.)
Plasma cutting, my buddy did the for free.
Cylinders $200
Tube and sch80 pipe $140
Grade 8 bolts $6
I used some drops I had kicking around to turn bushings and pins.
6lb of wire and a small tank of c25 gas
$1021 (canadian) total so far.
That doesn't include the diverter valve and various hoses and fittings

 

[Smokeydog]

Nice fabrication skills!! Doubt you save much as your time is worth something. Even manufacture’s prototypes are expensive. But you have a piece of equipment you should be really proud of.

 

[MELEON]

Thanks Smokeydog!
The grapple I "borrowed" my design from the most is currently on sale for $2400 which is $3000 Canadian, and that is assuming I could even get here.

As far as my time goes, well I design farm equipment for my day job which involves sitting on my but 10 hours a day. That leaves me cracking to do something productive with hands evenings' and weekends. I would almost pay double to do it myself, in fact I'm sure there times that I have. lol

tinkering in the shop and playing on the tractor is as close to a hobby as I've got and I know for a fact that I would never have splurged on a grapple purchase outright. its just a bonus that the time I spent building it will save ten times the effort it is going to take to clean up my wooded property from the damage hurricane Fiona caused last fall.

 

[AndyMA]

Looks great. What type of farm equipment doe you design?

Andy

 

[MELEON]

Mostly potato planting/ harvesting equipment, with some blueberry and grain handling stuff.

Allan Equipment |Potato and Blueberry Harvesting Equipment

Allan Equipment Manufacturing Ltd. is Canada’s largest designer and manufacturer of potato harvesting equipment. We also manufacture blueberry harvesters and mowers. We have been serving the needs of our farm community by manufacturing quality equipment for over 60 years and are proud to be...

www.allanequipment.com

 

[manac]

Grapple looks great!
Is that a Certiflat table? Do you like it?

 

[MELEON]

Same guy that cut the grapple, cut the table for me as well.
I love it. Makes clamping and squaring up assemblies so easy. I just have a terrible habit of laying crap on every horizontal surface.

 

[Smokeydog]

Thank you for sharing. Lot of us try to modify, repair and innovate our equipment to meet our needs. Materials and fabrication equipment certainly has changed and improved attachments. Operating a tractor in the woods needs several modifications. Any special procedure for welding AR400?

 

[MELEON]

Not an expert by any means, but my understanding is that its pretty standard up to 1/2 thickness. These thinner plates can be welded at room temp without preheating. The biggest thing as far as I'm aware is you want the welds to cool slowly.

 

[ddbackhoe]

We had a pretty bad hurricane blow across our island last fall. My property sustained quite a lot of tree damage. Thought I could use tractor to help out with the clean up.
So I modeled up a grapple and had a buddy cut it out on his plasma table.
I'm sure it will be clear from where I drew my inspiration from (i.e. robbed, it looked like the best out there.)
I used 1/4 AR400F for the majority of it and spent a few hours this weekend and got the lower jaw mostly complete. View attachment 804184

looks great so far. I am wondering why you didnt put any lightning holes in the lower jaws.

 

[MELEON]

looks great so far. I am wondering why you didnt put any lightning holes in the lower jaws.

Mostly oversight. As I was watching the parts being cut, I said to myself "I meant to put speed holes in those bottom tines."

 

[tradosaurus]

Thanks tradosaurus, Pleasantly surprised at how well its coming out.

The AR400 was $900 and I've probably got 1/4 sheet left over. (oops I mean I have a stump bucket left over.)
Plasma cutting, my buddy did the for free.
Cylinders $200
Tube and sch80 pipe $140
Grade 8 bolts $6
I used some drops I had kicking around to turn bushings and pins.
6lb of wire and a small tank of c25 gas
$1021 (canadian) total so far.
That doesn't include the diverter valve and various hoses and fittings

The 55" grapple from EA is $2400. Not sure if it would be worth it for me to do it myself (if I had the tools and the skill). The plasma cutting would add a few hundred $$ to the price if you had to pay for it.
55" Grapple

 

[MELEON]

Yeah. 2400$ is 3000$ Canadian. I’m in for just over 1000$ I’m happy saving just under 2000$ besides that I enjoy it.

 

[Mud2Money]

I’m self employed now days. I find a ton of value in building my own things always. I was a machinist for years. I have a mill and lathe at home. As someone stated time is worth something. It is indeed, but I value my federal I owe you notes in my bank more then some spare time. Awesome fab work !

 

[ddbackhoe]

Mostly oversight. As I was watching the parts being cut, I said to myself "I meant to put speed holes in those bottom tines."

Always hate when that happens.