Another Grapple

IslandTractor · Jul 25, 2007

Missed your original post so let me add my congratulations. Very nice job on the grapple. I've been toying with the idea of adding a grapple to my CK20 standard bucket and if I do so I'll copy yours. A boy can never have too many grapples.

KAB · Jul 26, 2007

Island,

I actually routed my hydraulic lines based on where you ran yours. I was going to run them up the right side of the tractor until I looked at yours. I am glad I did since I had a little more room to mount the QD's.

I guess I should try to make some time to get those pics together and posted.

Kurt

IslandTractor · Jul 26, 2007

KAB said:
Island,

I actually routed my hydraulic lines based on where you ran yours. I was going to run them up the right side of the tractor until I looked at yours. I am glad I did since I had a little more room to mount the QD's.

I guess I should try to make some time to get those pics together and posted.

Kurt

I hope you did a neater job than I did!

I wanted to get grappling as soon as possible so I zip tied everything into place and went to work. One year later I can report that not a single zip tie has failed and the installation looks as amateurish as ever. I've moved tons and tons of brush and stumps but haven't yet gone back to make more permanent attachment points for the hoses and QCs etc. I must have a strong streak of "bailing wire" mechanic in me. Or maybe I'm just a slob. I won't ask Mrs. Island Tractor to vote on this question.

hill · Jul 28, 2007

KAB,

A beautiful job, especially so because you took the time to smooth all of the corners and edges of the grapple parts. I know how tedious doing that can be but the result gives the look of a professionally made item and must add a little more satisfaction for you when you contemplate your work.

One thing has bothered me since I first opened your photos though: you said that the stock steel you found at a Lowe's is 1/2" x 2" x 3', but each time I've viewed the first pictures I can't see it as a 1:4 proportion, the steel looks thinner to me than 1/2" or the pieces are wider than 2". Can you just reiterate that what I'm seeing actually IS 1/2" x 2" and so any other perception I may have is in error? I'm asking because I have a small stock of 3/8" x 3" x 4' flat bar that I've been wondering would it be strong enough for my own grapple.

Island Tractor,

If it makes you feel better my new Kubota came with plastic ties holding various things including the loader hosing, and they didn't even bother to take the step toward neatness that would be demonstrated by simply snipping off all the tails on them. The first thing I did was go around cutting off the excess before I poked out an eye while studying this new machine!

KAB · Jul 28, 2007

Yes, it is 1/2" x 2". I was surprised to see it at Lowes. I think 3/8" would have been plenty.

If I was to redo this (might make new jaws, since I have the metal), I would make the curve radius smaller and use a 2" bore cylinder. The radius that I have now does not allow for a tight grip on some of the logs that I have been moving. The 1 1/2" bore cylinder does not have enough holding power for some of the heavier items (trees and stumps) that I have been moving.

Kurt

IslandTractor · Jul 28, 2007

KAB said:
Yes, it is 1/2" x 2". I was surprised to see it at Lowes. I think 3/8" would have been plenty.

If I was to redo this (might make new jaws, since I have the metal), I would make the curve radius smaller and use a 2" bore cylinder. The radius that I have now does not allow for a tight grip on some of the logs that I have been moving.
Kurt

I find that there is a trade off with most grapples between capacity and ability to tightly hold small logs. The clamshell grapples don't have this problem. For what it's worth, there is a simple solution to holding small logs tight without reducing the radius of the grapple arm (which would reduce overall capacity). The trick is to load a bunch of small logs at once so they compress to form a bigger mass and therefore are firmly trapped by the grappel arm. The other thing to do is to carry some lumber in the bucket as a spacer so the smaller logs are pressed against the lumber and trapped.