Grapple another grapple ?

farmerjim · Feb 18, 2007

i'm in the market for a grapple for my jd790. most of them i've been looking at are skid steer type attach to the loader. i was wondering how everyone has theirs setup? i also need to use my bucket, i have been considering getting an ati adaptor that allow me to run ss and jd attachments. i plan to mainly use the grapple for brush removal and some forestery use. i ve pretty much narrowed my choices to either the milonzi 48 or the dehner welding 48in. and then getting a set of rear remotes to run the grapple.

IslandTractor · Feb 18, 2007

Do you already have a QA (skid steer compatable) attachment adapter on your FEL? If not, and if you are like most of us trying to get the best bang for the buck, then an alternative to the grapples you mention would be a bucket grapple. There are a lot of guys who are quite content with their bucket grapples. I'd say that they make economic sense mostly if you can fabricate your own bolt on or welded mount using one of the ebay grapple arms (thumb, dehner etc) as the ATI set up will cost you almost as much as the whole Millonzi grapple.

If you already have rear remotes that is by far the quickest and least expensive way to run a grapple. If you don't have rear remotes now, then dollar wise it is a toss up to use that strategy versus putting in a diverter valve on the FEL. Of course if you have other potential uses for the rear remotes that would make sense even if it doesn't save money right now.

kennyd · Feb 18, 2007

FarmerJim,
What loader do you have on your 790? If it is the olpder 400 series or the new 300 series than you can get a grapple to mount on the QA system you already have.

3RRL · Feb 18, 2007

I was gonna say it sounds like you don't have rear remotes no, right? Well, if you are thinking about adding them anyway, get a 3 spool valve. You could have 2 for the rear remotes for your other hydraulic needs and use the 3rd one for your dedicated grapple set up, or other front mounted hydraulic attachments.
Not counting that cost of the hydraulic installation, IslandTractor is right about a bucket add a grapple being the easiest and least expensive way to go. I did just that and am very happy with my bucket grapples. I leave them on all the time even when I'm digging with the bucket. It may not be a dedicated rock or brush grapple, but I can do nearly everything with that set up as a regular dedicated grapple can, especially with the toothbar I have. The only thing is I can't "sift" through dirt with it. But for everything else, it is great.

dtd24 · Feb 19, 2007

I am in the process of designing and building a grapple for my JD1070 440 loader. Look over this thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/94277-grapple-design.html

I am going with the bolt on approach to keep the cost down. Gotta get back on it.

farmerjim · Feb 19, 2007

kenny i have the new 300 series loader on my 790. who makes a grapple that can be fitted to the jd factory qa, or would i have to make plate myself. right now i don't have any rear remotes but i'm getting them very shortly.

kennyd · Feb 19, 2007

Jim,
I think the folks at Millonzi International Homepage will set thier grapple up for the JD style, or if you have a welder you can do it yourself, the hooks and pins are avialable for about $35.00 from JD.

You could also use a diverter on the curl circuit instead of the rear remotes, just another option to think about...

Do a search here for "millonzi", there has been alot of talk about them here...

m7040 · Feb 19, 2007

The grapples mounted on you bucket can work very well indeed. See the attached picture of the Tumb welded to the top of the bucket. It will pick up brush, Rocks, logs or anything else you can grap over