Bolt on grapple

[Indygunworks]

I have saw lots of links with people being happy with the tatro bolt on grapple, but cannot find the website. did he go out of business? Do any of our sponsors sell one? What should I be looking at? It seems that a few years ago you could pick up the tatro for just over 400 bucks, that's right in the ballpark of what I would be willing to spend. Do these work as well as people say? Could I modify them with really long tines to use in conjunction with my slip on pallet forks (that I am getting for Christmas). will it work well with a smooth edge or do I NEED to add something like the piranha tooth blade? Is it even worth putting on this sort of tractor?

Here is a pic of my FEL (best pic I have) to get an idea what I would be working with.

 

[JJZ 109]

New Bucket Thumb Grapple for Skid Steer Loader Tractor | eBay

 

[Indygunworks]

Will that thumb lift high enough to be out of the way for the other things I use the bucket for? Or at least easily removed? What sort of reinforcing of the bucket would I need to do with that?

 

[Indygunworks]

I ask this because the red tractor in the photo's on that link you can clearly see the bucket bending upwards.

 

[srs]

Here is the Thumb I added to my homemade grapple.

 

[Indygunworks]

Thumb grapple 36"

Any idea how to measure what size thumb I would need? I am thinking bigger is better. I would run it off the rear remotes of the tractor and zip tie the hose to the loader subframe.

How easily would I be able to add extentions onto this to be able to pick up large piles of small brush while using the palletforks attachement? I wouldn't be doing anything with considerable weight using these, but the forks would slide into piles of brush much easier than smashing the pile with the bucket and just grabbing what I can.

 

[srs]

Indy, go to the home page of Greens Machine Shop and give them a call. They will tell you how to measure your bucket and recommend a size. I believe some people here on TBN have used the "thumb" on their forks also.

 

[Indygunworks]

Problem is they are not forks like the typical fork attachement. they are these... Are people using thumbs with these?

Clamp on Pallet Forks 4,000 lbs Capacity

http://www.palletforks.com/media/ca...p_on_pallet_forks_4_000_lbs_capacity_4__1.jpg

 

[srs]

I don't think the thumb will work with the clamp on forks. Maybe somebody else can chime in.

I think you would be very happy with a thumb on your bucket. Certainly a dedicated grapple would be better but it sure beats picking up brush/sticks by hand. Good luck with this project.

 

[Indygunworks]

I don't have a quick disconnect bucket, and don't want to spend the money on it for this tractor, and don't really want the headache of changing the bucket out. If it wont work w/ extensions w/ those pallet forks then I will probably just use it with the bucket. I will be taking down ALOT of trees once we move out there and will have lots of brush to pile up as well as logs to hold while I cut them into firewood length rounds.

 

[JJZ 109]

It's my guess that the clamp on forks will be too far out front for the thumb to be very effective.
I once owned a pair of clamp ons. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Indygunworks]

I don't learn anything if you "leave it at that".

I realize they will be to far out there for the standard thumb. that's why I was asking about drilling some holes and adding a bolt on extension to be able to reach the stuff that would be over the added forks.

 

[srs]

I don't have a quick disconnect bucket

You can take the grapple off of bucket with the removal of several pins. The mounting plate is bolted to the bucket and is not removed. Of course hoses are not supplied. If you should remove the grapple you'll need some type of quick disconnect couplers to take the grapple and cylinder off the bucket.

I copied the following from greens-machine website to assist you:

Have you ever tried to pick up things without using your thumb? It's almost impossible! That is why you should have "The Thumb" on your loader bucket. It will allow you to move hard to handle materials easier. It will work on many different buckets - skidsteer or tractor. The thumb is a real time saver. It works great for picking up just about anything - logs, brush, roots, rocks; and is great for demolition too.

The Thumb is 18" wide and 20" or 24" or 28" long and constructed from 3/8" plate steel and is reinforced with 2 or 3 - 2" square 1/4" wall tube. The points are reinforced with 1/4" triangular guests. The base is 1" x 3" solid steel so it won't twist. It is all mig welded in a jig and they are built tough for reliability and long life. The new agricultural tie-rod cylinder is rated for 2500 psi. with 2" bore x 6" stroke with 3/8" port. Hoses are not supplied.

The Thumb is pre drilled can be bolted or welded to the flat spot on top of your bucket. Some buckets require reinforcing on the top.

The color is black powder coated. Measure from the cutting edge to the top of the bucket to determine the correct size. Other sizes are available so if you want the 20" , 24", or 28" they are all the same price. Just let me know the size in the note: section when you purchase it.

For more information call 618 532 4631 M-F 8:00-4:00 Central time or 618 292 2917 cell or The Thumb

For a limited time we are including free hydraulic flow reducers.

Thanks for looking

David S

 

[Indygunworks]

You can take the grapple off of bucket with the removal of several pins. The mounting plate is bolted to the bucket and is not removed. Of course hoses are not supplied. If you should remove the grapple you'll need some type of quick disconnect couplers to take the grapple and cylinder off the bucket.

I copied the following from greens-machine website to assist you:

Have you ever tried to pick up things without using your thumb? It's almost impossible! That is why you should have "The Thumb" on your loader bucket. It will allow you to move hard to handle materials easier. It will work on many different buckets - skidsteer or tractor. The thumb is a real time saver. It works great for picking up just about anything - logs, brush, roots, rocks; and is great for demolition too.

The Thumb is 18" wide and 20" or 24" or 28" long and constructed from 3/8" plate steel and is reinforced with 2 or 3 - 2" square 1/4" wall tube. The points are reinforced with 1/4" triangular guests. The base is 1" x 3" solid steel so it won't twist. It is all mig welded in a jig and they are built tough for reliability and long life. The new agricultural tie-rod cylinder is rated for 2500 psi. with 2" bore x 6" stroke with 3/8" port. Hoses are not supplied.

The Thumb is pre drilled can be bolted or welded to the flat spot on top of your bucket. Some buckets require reinforcing on the top.

The color is black powder coated. Measure from the cutting edge to the top of the bucket to determine the correct size. Other sizes are available so if you want the 20" , 24", or 28" they are all the same price. Just let me know the size in the note: section when you purchase it.

For more information call 618 532 4631 M-F 8:00-4:00 Central time or 618 292 2917 cell or The Thumb

For a limited time we are including free hydraulic flow reducers.

Thanks for looking

David S

I have read all that... I am pretty sure that's what I would go with. My comment about the QD bucket was mostly because I have no interest in dedicated forks, or having something that can be swapped out for a root grapple.

Are you suggesting that if I drill some holes and add extension claws that it wouldn't work w/ the clamp on forks? Or are the clamp on forks so worthless I shouldn't consider it? Or has it just not been done before so nobody can really comment one way or another?

 

[srs]

Are you suggesting that if I drill some holes and add extension claws that it wouldn't work w/ the clamp on forks? Or are the clamp on forks so worthless I shouldn't consider it? Or has it just not been done before so nobody can really comment one way or another?

I have forks that attach using the skid steer type attachment so I can't help you with the clamp on forks.

 

[JJZ 109]

I don't learn anything if you "leave it at that".

OK. I hated them. Couldn't see through the bucket to get a good view of the "target" and if said target wasn't met squarely they would kick sideways without fail. And with them being so far out front of the pivot pins it decreased lift capacity too much for my liking. The only thing they were better than was no forks at all.
This was a set of Payne's 8 or 9 years ago. Maybe technology his improved on them, but I'll never know because I spent the money on a set of QA forks. First set was an old used set off Craigslist. After buying a skid steer, the current set is Bradco that was purchased new.

 

[Gordon Gould]

This is what I have. Maybe you can see something you can make work. Comes off easy, 4 bolts each side and two hydraulic QDs. I didn't post earlier because the ATI grapple seemed to be above the price range you wanted to work with.





gg

 

[Indygunworks]

Thanks for posting. That is just a little out of my price range. For my purpose I don't think the extra money is worth it. I don't think I would gain enough functionality for the price of going with the ATI.

 

[Xfaxman]

What will be the main use for your forks?

You can move a lot of brush on forks without a grapple lid or thumb to hold them down. (if not too windy) :thumbsup:

Here is the 4' long brush fork that I built for my TORO Loader.

 

[Indygunworks]

main use for the forks? Loading and unloading stuff, firewood stacked on home made pallets, moving telephone poles, lifting logs to buck them into rounds.

Part of the reason for this is a neighbor who works construction brings home full trailer loads of construction scrap all the time, this makes for some free really really nice bonfire wood. However when he dumps it, it ends up in a long narrow pile intertwined together. I am hoping to be able to use the forks and slide under a section, then use the grapple to hole it all together so I can remove just a section at a time and dump it into a larger more bonfire friendly pile.