Bent Grapple Arm - Reinforced it

BobRip · Mar 7, 2007

Well, I bent my grapple arm on the grapple bucket out about two inches at the end. No big deal, but this is the second time. I have an older bucket with no tube typing the arms together. I stopped by my local salvage yard to look for some appropriate metal. Sure enough they had an 8 foot piece of two inch tubing with 3/16 inch thick wall. This looked very close to what PT now uses. Five bucks and it was mine.

I first straightened out the arm by pulling on it with the high lift jack. The tip of the arm fit nicely into the top bracket on the jack and I put the jack lifting foot against the other end of the bucket. I tightened it down until the arm was straight and applied the week burner flame to the arm for about five minutes. I then cooled off the arm with a garden hose. When I took off the jack the arm was pretty straight. I then cut two pieces of the tube about 20 1/4 inches long. I then welded them into place about 7 inches back from the tip of the grapple arms. It now looks a lot like the newer PT bucket. It is much more rigid than before! See attached pictures.

MossRoad · Mar 8, 2007

That should do a fine job of reinforcement.

J_J · Mar 8, 2007

BobRip said:
Well, I bent my grapple arm on the grapple bucket out about two inches at the end. No big deal, but this is the second time. I have an older bucket with no tube typing the arms together. I stopped by my local salvage yard to look for some appropriate metal. Sure enough they had an 8 foot piece of two inch tubing with 3/16 inch thick wall. This looked very close to what PT now uses. Five bucks and it was mine.

I first straightened out the arm by pulling on it with the high lift jack. The tip of the arm fit nicely into the top bracket on the jack and I put the jack lifting foot against the other end of the bucket. I tightened it down until the arm was straight and applied the week burner flame to the arm for about five minutes. I then cooled off the arm with a garden hose. When I took off the jack the arm was pretty straight. I then cut two pieces of the tube about 20 1/4 inches long. I then welded them into place about 7 inches back from the tip of the grapple arms. It now looks a lot like the newer PT bucket. It is much more rigid than before! See attached pictures.

That is a good job at reinforcement, but will limit you some what, when biting into a large trash pile.

BobRip · Mar 8, 2007

J_J said:
That is a good job at reinforcement, but will limit you some what, when biting into a large trash pile.

J_J, I was wondering if there was a down side, but could not see one. Could you describe what you think will happen? I can't visualize any issues.

I needed this done anyway, so no regrets. I would have broken or seriously bent an arm eventually.

J_J · Mar 8, 2007

BobRip said:
J_J, I was wondering if there was a down side, but could not see one. Could you describe what you think will happen? I can't visualize any issues.

I needed this done anyway, so no regrets. I would have broken or seriously bent an arm eventually.

What I mean is this. Before, when you grabbed or bit into a load of vines or limb's, you could take a rather large bite. Now, when you hit something solid with the supports arms, that is as far as you can go. Not a really big deal, you just take little bites. Can you close the grapple all the way to crush things, or does the reinforcing bars impose a limit?

BobRip · Mar 8, 2007

J_J said:
What I mean is this. Before, when you grabbed or bit into a load of vines or limb's, you could take a rather large bite. Now, when you hit something solid with the supports arms, that is as far as you can go. Not a really big deal, you just take little bites. Can you close the grapple all the way to crush things, or does the reinforcing bars impose a limit?

I picked up a stump and it stopped on the new bar. Probably on brush it would crush it. A mixture, it just depends. I see your point now. Thanks for the comment. I really only bend the arms on solid stuff, not on brush. So you could save I abuse it by picking up a big log or stump. The fact that PT made this standard is what convinced me. There is some compromise, but that's life sometimes.

KentT · Mar 9, 2007

Bob,

Great job reinforcing the teeth. I don't think you'll find it to be too limiting -- since mine has always had that reinforcing bar.

I've even considered going one step further on a temporary basis -- I've considered attaching some chain link fencing as a web (using U-bolts) for use in handling all the mulch that I have from clearing my lot and grinding it up. It's difficult to push into the pile with the LM bucket and get a full bucket (no teeth on the bucket, and lots of larger chunks in the mulch).

The grapple-bucket (having long narrow teeth) will push rignt into the pile, but I lose a lot of the mulch out of the bucket once I've closed the grapple teeth. I'm thinking a "web" that might flex a little bit would work better...

Just thinking...

I'm also considering permanently welding in "triangles" between that reinforcing bar and the ends of the teeth, to keep from bending the teeth. I've bent both of my outside ones by articulating while something was clenched in them. Most skidsteer grapples seem to have this type of reinforcement on their teeth...

BobRip · Mar 9, 2007

KentT said:
Bob,

I'm also considering permanently welding in "triangles" between that reinforcing bar and the ends of the teeth, to keep from bending the teeth. I've bent both of my outside ones by articulating while something was clenched in them. Most skidsteer grapples seem to have this type of reinforcement on their teeth...

I straightened a tooth on a friends 425 and he had the support bar. I think I will wait on the triangles. If it's still a problem, they seem like a good idea. They also might help with leaf pickup.