Botazilla is Born!!

Glowplug · Feb 24, 2007

KubZilla said:
"botazilla" I feel so used, and yet so inadaquate all at the same time! ( mine isn't big enough for a grapple yet...)

Uh oh.

Didn't mean to steal your idea and use you. Sorry 'bout that.

IslandTractor · Feb 25, 2007

Glowplug said:
I'd like to try and see if I can pull a small tree (2-3") out of the ground. Sounds like something to look into tomorrow!

I can pull an intact 4-5 inch tree out of the ground with my Kioti CK20 and Millonzi grapple so I am sure you can get even bigger game. My technique for the ones I cannot just directly "lift" out of the ground is to start to push the tree over then use the grapple teeth to soften up the roots around the base then push it over a bit more so I can get under the roots at the base. Then just curl or push ahead to finish popping it out. Works well for me with a 2000lb tractor and the equivalent of a 352/402 loader so you should certainly be able to get even bigger trees.

Jw5875 · Feb 25, 2007

Hey!

Let's team up for a "Tag Team" for brush clearing!!!

SmugMug - skopix : L3400 Tractor with new grapple - Feb 2006

jw5875

IslandTractor · Feb 25, 2007

Jw5875 said:
Hey!

Let's team up for a "Tag Team" for brush clearing!!!jw5875

OK, but to be a member of the tag team you need to add an avatar photo with your grapple!

I think grapples are quickly becoming the "new" toothbars....once you've experienced tractor life with a grapple you cannot go back.

Glowplug · Feb 25, 2007

IslandTractor said:
I think grapples are quickly becoming the "new" toothbars....once you've experienced tractor life with a grapple you cannot go back.

I'll second that!!

Although today I actually took my grapple off!!

I'm getting ready to bolt on my toothbar, which I've had for three weeks and haven't even installed it yet.

That shows the alluring seducing power of the grapple!!

KubZilla · Feb 25, 2007

Chuck, have you heard of a grapple for a BX ? You have started me to wondering if I could put one on my 2200. I have a 5 acre lot in the mountains and this may be just what I need...

Mike

Glowplug · Feb 25, 2007

Well, I finally got my toothbar bolted on this evening. It wasn't complicated at all but it took seemingly forever to drill 1/2" holes in that steel. Whew. Well it was already pitch dark when I got it installed but I had to at least try it out. So I turned on all my lights and ventured out. Let me tell you, that thing is amazing. I'll bet it improved the digging capability by a factor of 15!!! I scooped up a couple of loads of heavy wet packed sandy soil in no time. It's like the difference between cutting with a butter knife versus a new scalpel!! I scooped up close to the lifting limit of my bucket within seconds. That's something like 2,000lbs of dirt!! Well worth the money. I can't wait to get to REALLY use it!!

Glowplug · Feb 25, 2007

KubZilla said:
Chuck, have you heard of a grapple for a BX ? You have started me to wondering if I could put one on my 2200. I have a 5 acre lot in the mountains and this may be just what I need... Mike

Oh yeah, plenty of guys have grapples for subcompacts. You would definately want to go with a light duty due to lifting capacity. What is your loader lifting capacity? I could have really gotten a light duty but my lifting capacity wouldn't likely have been maxed out with the extra weight and Markham's heavy duty grapple has a one year warranty. You could check out Markham welding's light duty bucket. It is not listed on their website. Send them an e-mail and ask them. Melissa will respond very quickly, she'll hook you up. I had looked at it. Their 66" with one cylinder is $1100. I don't know all the sizes but I was looking at 66" and 72". You would need something in the 48" range. Millonzi light-duty grapple is also an excellent choice. I KNOW they make a 48" model. Send IslandTractor a PM and he could tell you more about it than you could ever imagine. He does some amazing moving of brush with that little thing. Good luck!! Hope to see you as a member of the grapple club soon!! If you have any other questions please ask. I'll look around and see if I can find any other information for you.

KubZilla · Feb 25, 2007

Thanks for the reply Chuck...I believe my max loader capacity is about 425 lbs. I didn't have any problem (power wise) moving downed trees with the bucket, so hopefully it would grapple a mid sized tree. I may have to give this some serious thought! Oh man...I just spent $5 G's for a woods bh, I'm not sure how I'll tell my wife I need to spend another $1100 ! I guess I'd better make another trip to Victoria's Secret..

...Mike

IslandTractor · Feb 25, 2007

With the subcompacts I think the best thing to do is add a grapple arm to the existing loader. The lifting power of the small FELs is just not big enough to lift even a light duty 300lb grapple and still have any capacity left over for work. There was at least one company that was offering a kit for adding a grapple arm to the BX but I vaguely recall they are no longer shipping. There is one BX owner on TBN who has posted photos of that grapple kit. You could pretty easily add a grapple arm yourself if you are willing to either drill holes or weld to mount one of the ebay arms. You'd also have to install a diverter valve but there are a bunch of guys on TBN (Mad Referee comes immediately to mind) who can help walk you through that.