Grapple All this grapple talk...

KennedyDiesel · Feb 25, 2005

Looking at grapples (root/tine) and wanting something relatively light that will match my tractor's capacity which is rated at about 2125# lifted to 59" at the pivot pin.

So I found Virnig makes a series (48" thru 72") that is decent weight, BUT only has a single, wide grapple. http://www.virnigmfg.com/default.asp?page=Products&Item=Compact I could probably get them to weld direct hooks for my Deere loader and save the 92# for the skid steer carrier and get away with a 570-600# unit weight.

Quality Welding makes a kick but looking 73" unit much like I would build: http://www.qualityweldingservice.com/gtb.html but it weighs 885# which is a little much for my rig I think.

Any suggestions aside from building my own? I like the open end concept, but would also like to be able to atttach side plates for short item containment. Quality's unit lends itself well to that...

Bowhunter · Feb 25, 2005

I'd think the open ended unit would give good versatility. As for attaching side pieces, a person could easily weld some tabs for pins and make them easily and quickly removable.

By the way, welcome to the site. If I'm thinking right, I've seen you over at Atv Nation.

PineRidge · Feb 25, 2005

If you are serious about wanting something out of the ordinary why not contact Andy at htatro@bwsys.net I'm sure he can help you. He's good at grapples, all kinds of grapples. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tell em' Pine Ridge sent you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

KennedyDiesel · Feb 25, 2005

Thanks, will keep that in mind. I have a local guy that I plan to check with also. I could build my own as well, but a product from someone more familiar (been there done that kinda guy) makes more sense, an I lack the time as well...

Also looking into how optimistic or conservative the ratings are for the 300CX loader.

Harrygoodwrench · Feb 25, 2005

I gotta concur with Pine Ridge, that htatro does some nice work. My buddy Bill /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (F100panel) has one of those grapples from htatro and loves it. I'm convinced and going the same route. Here's a pic of Bill's machine with the grapple.

KennedyDiesel · Feb 25, 2005

Does he do the bucket/tine part too? I'd like to have open ends and sifting capabilities...

KennedyDiesel · Feb 25, 2005

Guilty as charged. That is me...

PineRidge · Feb 25, 2005

Andy is the kind of guy that can build anything that you might want him to. He has a CNC Plasma rig and knows how to use it. I sent him some sketches of parts that I needed and they cam back to me exactly as the drawings. Very cool stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KennedyDiesel · Feb 25, 2005

This may sound kinda wierd, but I'm thinking that a skeleton rock bucket with a grapple would be very versatile. The sideplates could be removeable as could the grapple. The only drawback I see would be that the tines are tied together vs a tine bucket/grapple that could penetrate a brush pile easily.

Did he make your entire grapple bucket setup?

How large is a TC40 compared to a Deere? Must be like a 4000-20 series?

PineRidge · Feb 25, 2005

If you can draw it Andy can make it. The only thing that he didn't cut for me was the 2 X 2 x 1/4' square tube and that was a cost saving issue since I already had the steel and the chop saw. In our case it was a grapple not a grapple bucket that he made.

I know beans about John Deere so I can't compare, mays a Deere guy will jump in and assist on the differences in size comparisons.

KennedyDiesel · Feb 25, 2005

Looks like loader specs are fairly close. The NH 40 is a few hundred pounds heavier than the 3000-20.

I think the Deere 3000-20/4000-10 best compares to the NH 35 models by the looks of it.

Do you have any idea what your grapple weighs, and how much it will lift?

PineRidge · Feb 25, 2005

I'm going to guess that the grapple adds 300-350 pounds to the weight of the New Holland HD bucket itself. Don't yet know what it's limits are but I'm guessing that my 17LA will max out before the grapple does.

Most lifts would be kind of a clean and jerk with a full twist of the bucket to place the weight on top of the open end of the bucket for transport to the dump site. Hope that's somewhat clear.....

jinman · Feb 25, 2005

( Do you have any idea what your grapple weighs, and how much it will lift? )

My grapple and rock bucket combined weigh about 750 lb. In the attached picture, I had all I could lift without rear ballast. My loader was not even really challenged. Unless you try to lift a big, big log, you should not be overweight with any load you would want to carry. In my opinion, you make a mistake by attempting to get a full load every time. Just get the load you can best lift and come back for the next one. I had some huge loads and some small loads, but they were all easier to handle than any load without the grapple. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

KennedyDiesel · Feb 26, 2005

Which NH model do you have? Is your grapple a production unit? Any details as to width and mfr appreciated. I'm not looking to max out the loader either, rather trying to lighten up the thing a bit as it seems most of these are built for much larger tractors than we have.

jinman · Feb 26, 2005

( Which NH model do you have? Is your grapple a production unit? )

My NH is a TC45D hydrostatic tractor with 45hp. The 16LA loader has a lift capacity of about 1 ton at the lift pins and around 3/4 ton at 20" out from the pins. With the extra weight of the grapple and rock bucket, I'm probably looking at a breakout force around a ton and a lift capacity of 1000-1250 lb depending on where the load is centered inside the bucket. In my experience, 1200 lb of loose brush is huge. If you have lots of dirt in it, you can reach that weight really fast, but my rock bucket sifts most of the loose soil out and my loads are almost exclusively brush.

I bought the grapple from Andy Tatro who has been mentioned many times in these forums and particularly by PineRidge who also has had the pleasure of working with Andy. This grapple is simple and less than $500 shipped to your door. You'll have to mount it, paint it (if you want), and plumb your own hoses. If you are the least bit of a DIY kind of person, Andy's grapple will work for you. He has lots of adds on ebay under the name "htatro". Here is a link to the details of my grapple project I posted in the Projects forum here on TBN. See what you think... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Get a grip

justforme · Feb 26, 2005

( Thanks, will keep that in mind. I have a local guy that I plan to check with also. I could build my own as well, but a product from someone more familiar (been there done that kinda guy) makes more sense, an I lack the time as well...

Also looking into how optimistic or conservative the ratings are for the 300CX loader. )

i just went through this and decided on a 72" piranah root grapple.

i had it with in three days.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3874414142

i called (336-857-2564) and ordered one, i didn't feel like waiting for another ebay auction

hopefully i'll be installing the 12v remote valve this week.

F100Panel · Feb 27, 2005

K-D That was my pic HarryGoodwrench ( thanks Harry! I 'm none to computer skilled & have trouble trying to put pic's here..) supplied of Mr. Tatro's standard grapple. As supplied I think it weighs about 100 pounds/I have no trouble carrying it around in my hands... Light enough & rolls far enough back to leave on all the time. I put snap couplers on the hydraulics & with the pins supplied it will on/off in about 2 minutes. As supplied it will latch on securely to a load heavier than my 3000 pound tractor can handle. I've had stumps in it so big on ground that looked reasonably level that when I raised the bucket high enough to put the stump in the 1 ton dump from the side one rear wheel came off the ground & I had to go around behind the truck where it was facing down the unnoticable grade to put it in the truck.. Picked up a whole middle 80's Ford 8 foot pick up box by "biting" into the side wall ( was headed to scrap ) & carried that around/loaded it effortlessly. The thing has an AMAZING ammount of bite..... For its weight the thing is VERY heavy duty/have NO concerns over twisting it up no matter what I bite into & I've had to re-enforce my Koyker bucket so as not to twist that up from the pressure the grapple can generate. Overall, for the $ I don't think you can beat the workmanship quality or the design of Tatro's grapples... Obviously I'm a 100% SATISFIED customer... I've also got one of Andy's backhoe thumbs on my Woods 650 backhoe. NICELY sized unit for a 6.5' or larger hoe.

BarryinMN · Feb 28, 2005

Another option for you to consider:

I looked at Virnig last year but ended up buying from Midsota. Albany MN & I-94. I severely abused it cleaning up a field & didn't fail. If you get one without the tines welded near the front unsupported tines may bend when picking up something round.

Pix is of a smaller gem I picked out of tha field last summer.

http://www.midsotamfg.com/featured.asp

KennedyDiesel · Mar 7, 2005

Nice pic!

I'm really thinking that a dual grapple would be best. I like the Vrinig skeleton rock bucket as a base, and they will build it with bolt on side plates which is a bonus. From there, they have a nice looking grapple, but it's a single 33" wide unit. I'd rather have twin 16" units.

Looks like I'll be calling Andy for the grapples.