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.

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