add on bucket grapple

[Buckee]

Just got the ATI Grapple - see photo - it's great for moving RR ties, has already saved my back. Has anyone taken theirs off before? Either remove 8 bolts & take the whole thing (would be a monster to remount I think) or should I pull the 3 bushings where the jaws mount and the 1 on the cylinder?

 

[PineRidge]

Buckee nice looking grapple. I would really like to see some shots of the backside where the cylinder is attached to the bucket. What did that set you back in dinero?

 

[tcary]

Does anyone have the email address of the grapple maker.I'd like to get in touch with him to ask a few questions. Ted

 

[MuncyBob]

Looks like something I may be interested in....looking forward to your next week-end's workout! Seems the arms remove fairly easily??

 

[JohninCT]

...Seems the arms remove fairly easily??
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Yes the grapple is easy to take off by disconnecting the hoses and pulling the two pins for the grapple arms and the back pin for the hyd cylinder and its off. No tools required.

 

[JohninCT]

Does anyone have the email address of the grapple maker.I'd like to get in touch with him.

You can contact the guy who makes the grapple sold on eBay by going to his eBay listing eBay Grapple and clicking on the link that says "ask seller a question". This is how I have contacted him.

The ATI grapple is sold through dealers you can email sales@preseeder.com to ask for dealers in your area. The ATI web site is here Contact ATI

John

 

[KentP]

I received info on ATI's grapple. Since I am planning on using this for assisting in moving rocks with my JD4310 430 loader, I noticed that ATI's lit only talked about moving light materials (leaves, brush).

Does anyone have experience using a grapple to actually pick up and help hold rocks on their bucket?

Kent

 

[texbaylea]

I have the ATI grapple and it works fine, however I have found that it is possible to pull something out from under it. In my setup there is about 15' of hose from the valve to the grapple. My guess is that there is enough expansion in the hose to let the grapple give some. This could be a problem with any grapple with a lot of hose feeding it.

I am thinking that a double piloted check valve like is used on hydraulic top links might be the solution to this problem. Any thoughts?

 

[PineRidge]

A friend of mine and I were also discussing adding a double piloted check valve to his grapple cylinder as it seems he has a very similar situation. My bet is it would dramatically help the grapple stay in the closed position without having to hold pressure to the cylinder manually to keep it closed.

 

[Buckee]

Here's a closer shot of the ATI GK-4866 grapple on my NH TC33DA. Haven't had a chance yet to really stress it, but there's enough squeeze to easily lift & move a very waterlogged RR tie (one I couldn't even break free from the ground manually) in a straight up lift. I purposely kept the bucket pointed straight down as I moved it about 500 yds just to see if it would slip out - no movement at all. No manual pressure on the hydraulics was necessary. I do think it would benefit from some serrations in the jaws - as they come they're just a straight edge, will have to think on how best to do that.

One of my concerns was mounting & dismounting. I talked to ATI & they said no problem just driving out the 3 main pins & the one on the cylinder - they are all made with grease fittings & a locking crossbolt. Then I can pull just the jaws & the cylinder off & leave the crossbeam on, without having to undo the 8 bolts on the ends of the bucket. Otherwise remounting the whole monster would be a monstrous chore for 1 person I think. I don't think it needs to come off for most dirt & snow work anyway.

PineRidge you asked about cost - I don't really have a breakout because this was a throw-in in the deal I made for the tractor. I'd be curious what others have paid stand-alone. ATI's website is http://www.preseeder.com/attachments/
. They are very responsive to questions.