Grapple Brush Crusher grapple?

[aarontriton]

I stopped by my local Kioti dealer to look over a ck2610 and he was delivering a new ck2610 with a brush crusher mechanical grapple no third function needed. it appeared pretty well built but i did not get to see it function . I am wondering if there is any real world experience with this . it looks like the manufacture is westendorf brush crusher and it looks like it has recently been made to fit quick attach loader. I was not able to get a price on the grapple as the guy i was speaking with was a delivery guy.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

On line it looks like about $1850 USD. Not bad. But, the mechanical function limits utility.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not sure what they mean by Brush Crusher. I don't see it. It's like any other grapple. I have pallet forks for the JD with a large Bale type grapple. It enables us to load the forks up by hand, and then when no more can fit on, I crush it and it makes more room like a garbage truck. Saves many trips back to the brush pile for pretty light stuff and you never loose anything enroute.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Buddy of mine has had a set for his Kubota L4310 with westendorf loader for nearly 10 years. He is very hard on them, I made some repairs and modifications to his over the years, but he is happy with them.

 

[aarontriton]

i would mostly be using it for fire wood . grabbing logs and piling brush. Just didnt find much on them other than from the manufacture.

 

[onionfmr]

I looked at these grapples at a regional farm show last fall. Guy selling them didn't know much about them. Here are some reviews that I found:

westendorf brush crusher reviews - Google Search

 

[aarontriton]

Thanks for the replies. I will be buying a new tractor in about a month or so and really would like a grapple but not sure i can swing it with all the other implements that are a must have. I will see how it all prices out.

 

[wcampbell47]

I have a set I have used on two Kubotas - a 32 and a 39 hp. They really do crush brush. Typically when brush is piled or pushed up there is a lot of empty space between limbs. With the brush crusher fully extended it is lowered onto the pile then closed. Picks up way more brush than my grapple bucket, probably twice as much. Great for picking up any thing round. Works great on anything longer than the width of your lift arms. Well made just a lot of grease points. I found this to be way cheaper than a grapple bucket and having to plumb for a 3rd function on the loader.

 

[aarontriton]

I have a set I have used on two Kubotas - a 32 and a 39 hp. They really do crush brush. Typically when brush is piled or pushed up there is a lot of empty space between limbs. With the brush crusher fully extended it is lowered onto the pile then closed. Picks up way more brush than my grapple bucket, probably twice as much. Great for picking up any thing round. Works great on anything longer than the width of your lift arms. Well made just a lot of grease points. I found this to be way cheaper than a grapple bucket and having to plumb for a 3rd function on the loader.

This is what im after. Clearing off invasive brush off of my hunting land and getting logs for firewood

 

[John_Mc]

i would mostly be using it for fire wood . grabbing logs and piling brush. Just didnt find much on them other than from the manufacture.

If that's your use, I'd be looking at a Forestry Grapple like a Frost Bite, a Sundown GR40, or an Igland GR20. They all run about $1500 - $1600. You do have to run hydraulics to control it, running a 3rd function from your joystick is nice, but I already had rear remotes, so just ran hoses up from the rear to run my grapple. I own the Sundown GR40, and love it. It's the brand my tractor dealer happened to carry. I do think the Frost Bite is a little better constructed, but the difference is not all that significant.

 

[Xfaxman]

Not sure what they mean by Brush Crusher. I don't see it..

Probably just a marketing name, but it will pick up a lot of brush: Brush Crusher™ | Westendorf

It's like any other grapple. --------------------------------

No this one doesn't require any added hydraulics. It uses the curl cylinders:

They have been around awhile, here is an old thread: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/112434-westendorf-brush-crusher.html

 

[dieselcrawler]

One advantage of the Brush Crushers is they will clamp down on tapered or uneven items, one side is able to close further than the other until even pressure is attained.

If you'd be intrested in speaking to my friend about his, I'm sure he's willing to talk to you, I can PM you his contact info.

 

[Blue Mule]

Does anybody know of an alternative to the Brush Crusher that works the same way? I don't mind buying a Brush Crusher but I'm having NO LUCK finding a way to get one shipped to me in Kentucky.

 

[Xfaxman]

Try this or call them: FIND A DEALER | Westendorf

 

[Blue Mule]

I tried that a few days ago. Got no response from them. Sent another email a couple hours ago for a quote, no response so far.

 

[John_Mc]

Does anybody know of an alternative to the Brush Crusher that works the same way? I don't mind buying a Brush Crusher but I'm having NO LUCK finding a way to get one shipped to me in Kentucky.

Trucking in general is a serious problem these days. Some of this is pandemic related, and some it has to do with increased regulations on trucks regarding on-duty time and the requirement to have a permanently installed recording device in the trucks. Lots of the old-timers just quit/retired rather than mess with the new rules. It created a shortage of drivers. I know if factories that have had full or partial temporary shut downs because they are out of raw materials. THe good are at their supplier, sometimes just a couple hours drive away, but they can't arrange delivery in a timely manner. So the manufacturer may be faced with two problems: getting materials to make their products, and shipping their products once they are done.

I've had good luck getting things shipped via Fastenal's Blue Lane Freight. The shipper has to get it to a local Fastenal store, and you'll have to pick it up at a store near you, but it's reasonably priced, and a good way to get things shipped when you are too heavy for UPS or other methods and just can't find a trucking company willing to deal with you. They are already running trucks between stores and from warehouses to stores, so this is just helping them fill up unused capacity. I used it to have a pallet weighing several hundred pounds shipped from an individual in Ohio to me in Vermont. Price was reasonable, and the timing was faster than I had expected (I had envisioned it bouncing around between several stores and a couple warehouses, taking weeks to get here. It only ended up taking about 8 or 9 days.)

 

[Blue Mule]

I found a vendor in Michigan who is willing to sell me a Brush Crusher at 5% off and ship it to me in Kentucky for what I think is an extremely fair cost. So now the waiting game begins....

 

[Xfaxman]

Good deal, keep us posted.

 

[mcfarmall]

Good Works Tractors has some videos of the Brush Crusher on YouTube. Looks interesting but I opted for the third function and Precision Mfg. Dual lid rake tine grapple.