A grapple for fabrication challenged folks like me
- Thread starter VT_Kioti
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PineRidge
Super Member
Al it looks to me like you have a really great start to a grapple project. I like the kit that WR Long fixed you up with and your installation looks first rate to boot.
I don't think that you'll be sorry that you added the relay to control the electrical load and the joystick design looks "premo" to me.
What kind of a grapple will you be installing on the bucket when the time comes? Will you be making one from scratch?
I don't think that you'll be sorry that you added the relay to control the electrical load and the joystick design looks "premo" to me.
What kind of a grapple will you be installing on the bucket when the time comes? Will you be making one from scratch?
Thanks for the complements Mike. You had a lot to do with it’s success. I am very pleased with the way it turn out. The joystick control gives me the same control as the one you built. I like having everything on the joystick.
The bucket on my CK30 is 54” wide. My choice, I could have gone wider but I like this bucket. So I went with a grapple I found on eBay. It’s made by Green Machine called “The Thumb” and is basically a bolt on. It is 18” wide and divides the bucket into thirds. The top of the factory bucket is not strong enough to support the grapple so I built a frame similar to the one in your project. I used a 2X4X1/4 tubing for the cross piece. If I had to do it again I would use a 4X1/4 channel and save some weight but better over built than rebuilt.
Right now I am trying to get around the fact that the grapple does not close all the way. Not good. I think I am going to have to go with a longer throw on the cylinder to get it down farther. Time will tell.
I tried it out a little yesterday it and it is an awesome addition to the bucket even not closing all the way.
Al
The bucket on my CK30 is 54” wide. My choice, I could have gone wider but I like this bucket. So I went with a grapple I found on eBay. It’s made by Green Machine called “The Thumb” and is basically a bolt on. It is 18” wide and divides the bucket into thirds. The top of the factory bucket is not strong enough to support the grapple so I built a frame similar to the one in your project. I used a 2X4X1/4 tubing for the cross piece. If I had to do it again I would use a 4X1/4 channel and save some weight but better over built than rebuilt.
Right now I am trying to get around the fact that the grapple does not close all the way. Not good. I think I am going to have to go with a longer throw on the cylinder to get it down farther. Time will tell.
I tried it out a little yesterday it and it is an awesome addition to the bucket even not closing all the way.
Al
Got the grapple mounted and .....................it won't close all the way /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Whoa, I have just encountered the first bump. I’m going to have to look at how the mounting bar is installed.
It’s going to go a little slow because I am going to be gone for a while, but any suggestions would be welcome.
Al
Whoa, I have just encountered the first bump. I’m going to have to look at how the mounting bar is installed.
It’s going to go a little slow because I am going to be gone for a while, but any suggestions would be welcome.
Al
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PineRidge
Super Member
Al normally it's best to mount the grapple to your mounting bar to get the correct angles before attaching the mounting bar to the bucket. It sounds to me like it (mounting bar) needs to rotate forward a bit to take care of your problem.
Why do you think it necessary for the grapple to close all the way? Are you going to try to pick up cigarette butts?
For grabbing and picking up most brush and limbs I think your grapple will work just fine. In fact most of the time I think you will not have to close the grapple as far as shown in the photo to achieve a secure grasp on the limbs.
This can also help protect the bucket and grapple from bending if you were to accidently grab something hard like a rock too tightly.
I recommend you try working with it as is for a while to see what real limitations might exist before doing any major surgery.
Good Luck.
JackIL
For grabbing and picking up most brush and limbs I think your grapple will work just fine. In fact most of the time I think you will not have to close the grapple as far as shown in the photo to achieve a secure grasp on the limbs.
This can also help protect the bucket and grapple from bending if you were to accidently grab something hard like a rock too tightly.
I recommend you try working with it as is for a while to see what real limitations might exist before doing any major surgery.
Good Luck.
JackIL
PineRidge
Super Member
After using one of these bucket grapples my take is that I would rather have it close all the way down than open all the way up.
Most logs that we pick up can easily max out our loader which is rated at around a ton. Have not grabbed one with yet with to large of a diameter that could not be put in the bucket using the grapple. Sometimes however you will want to grab something smaller in diameter and you will need the grapple to close down a bit more to do so.
Still think it would be easy to remove some of the bolts on each end, rotate the mounting plates to get the correct angle, then re-drill the end plates to mount the grapple in the correct position.
Check out my pictures as our grapples are almost identical in design and see if you get some ideas here that you can use.
Most logs that we pick up can easily max out our loader which is rated at around a ton. Have not grabbed one with yet with to large of a diameter that could not be put in the bucket using the grapple. Sometimes however you will want to grab something smaller in diameter and you will need the grapple to close down a bit more to do so.
Still think it would be easy to remove some of the bolts on each end, rotate the mounting plates to get the correct angle, then re-drill the end plates to mount the grapple in the correct position.
Check out my pictures as our grapples are almost identical in design and see if you get some ideas here that you can use.
Mike, I did just that. I put two bolts in the bottom front holes and rotated it forward. I think it may be enough but I won’t know until Saturday. If so I will fill the other bolt holes and drill new ones for the other bolts. You are right in that if I had mounted the grapple FIRST I would have known all this and saved myself a lot of work. But in truth it is more fun than work so I plow on undaunted.
Al
Al
<font color="blue"> Why do you think it necessary for the grapple to close all the way? Are you going to try to pick up cigarette butts?
</font>
Nope not cigarettes but most of the brush we are removing is under 3" in diameter so closing all the way or at least close is kind of important.
Al
</font>
Nope not cigarettes but most of the brush we are removing is under 3" in diameter so closing all the way or at least close is kind of important.
Al
Bob_Skurka
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2003
- Messages
- 7,615
Al it looks awesome. I've been clearing a path in the woods and really could have used a grapple for that, I'm envious! And as for the fact that you had to remount it, just chalk that up to an initial "test fit" and blame your nitwit neighbor for distracting you. I know my nitwit neighbor gets blamed for all sorts of stuff that I won't admit to /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
