Clamshell grapple question

[ErikVann]

Does anyone own one of these type clam shell grapples? I like the extended lower tines and the replaceable teeth are intrigueing. What are your opinions of this type of grapple? They seem like a good hybrid. Heavy though. It is a little under half the fel capacity of my tractor but I like the enhanced raking capabilities.

 

[ErikVann]

Any one have any thoughts?

 

[MossRoad]

Crickets chirping.....

 

[AaronS]

I'm hoping for responses as well because this grapple has caught my attention.

 

[jmc]

It looks reasonable for the kind of jobs I do. (Not root grappling). I'd hope that the lid opens up completely vertical for grabbing a large bite of bush piles. Titan has some fit issues on their ss quick attach specs, although they have promised to do better recently here on TBN.

What do you like about it? Maybe that will get the conversation going. Price? Weight?

 

[EverythingAttachments]

We have thought about this design, not necessarily with the boxed style tines like this particular one has, which is concerning to us because it appears to be vulnerable to bending if something were to put side pressure on the middle of one of those tines. With a weight of over 800 pounds on the 60" model, i'd want a pretty substantial utility tractor to benefit from the longer than normal tines with no crossbar to gauge depth. Without said crossbar, it seems that you'd lose quite a bit due to sifting between the tines.
The design does have a place in the market, mostly for grubbing palmetto in FL or mesquite in TX.

The one shown would be an obvious anchor to the front of about any compact tractor out there, regardless of HP IMO.
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Ted IS still considering a similar design and is anxious to see further discussion about what you like/don't like about this one or others on the market that are similar.
Travis

 

[ErikVann]

I like the full width top for raking purposes. The weight is definitely a concern. I think wildkat will make a 54" version in 3/8 instead of 1/2. The weight is supposed to be about 500lbs. I hadn't really considered problems with the unsupported bottom tines. Are they more susceptible to bending or other damage than other rakes with long individual bottom tines like the rake shop style?

 

[Deerherd]

Does anyone own one of these type clam shell grapples? I like the extended lower tines and the replaceable teeth are intrigueing. What are your opinions of this type of grapple? They seem like a good hybrid. Heavy though. It is a little under half the fel capacity of my tractor but I like the enhanced raking capabilities.

I have the WR Long 84" version and the specs are here: RBG

I handle lots of logs, tops and brush and suits me much better than a flat bottom grapple. It's easier for me to pick a log and hold it firmly in the jaws and place it on a pile or truck with less rolling.

The larger jaw opening makes grabbing larger tops and brush piles and compacting them easier. Also you carry the load close to the pins.

Replaceable teeth are a nice feature and I have ripped up lots of roots and rocks and haven't broken any yet. Not sure how susceptible that style you have linked in your post to bending it's tines would be but with your size tractor I seriously wouldn't see it happening. You bury that grapple 4-6" in the soil I'm sure it would stop your tractor.

You should probably look for a smaller and lighter version. That one was designed for a utility tractor with 3000 lb plus FEL lift. Using up half your capacity on the weight of the grapple isn't a good idea. The 60 inch WR Long version weighs 567 lbs. Not sure who else makes something else similar. Good luck in your search!

 

[SugarPeaFarm]

I have been looking hard for a rake style grapple too. I looked at the one pictured by the OP, but the weight is a factor, as are the boxed tines. They seem like my clay soil would fill the gaps and add a lot of resistance when raking roots. The ETA Root Rake Grapple is my current front runner. It has the replaceable ripper teeth and the lower tines seem a bit longer than the WR Long style. I would prefer narrower tine spacing, 8-9" instead of 12.5". I like the hard stops at open to save the cylinders while back raking. Having a support bar for the bottom tines is great for most roots and if they are deeper I doubt I can push through heavy soil with even six lower tines. Time for pulling a heavy ripper.

There are not a lot of folks using clamshell rake grapples, at least that talk about their uses on TBN. Besides the "standard" creating and moving brush piles, picking up smaller trees and logs under a ton, and moving rocks and firewood, it's hard to find many other real world examples. Since none of us wants to spend $2-3k on an implement until we have some certainty that it will do our jobs, a lot os speculation is involved.

Can I really dig out blackberry roots as well with a flat bottom L-shape grapple?
Will I be able to see the top tines when the claw is completely open to get right up against a stall wall or fence?
Which style is really best for picking up waste hay at the end of roll feeding every spring?
Are sharp teeth really better for digging up roots or will they shear them off and leave a lot under ground?
For pushing out blackberries and other vines is a full track width grapple better than a narrower one?
If bottom tines are more widely spaced will I be able to contain the smaller branches from dead falls after every wind storm, or will I still be picking them up by hand?

Things I do know...
-For my size utility tractor, almost 7300 lbs with FEL, plus filled rear tires, a 900 lb grapple bounces the front end up and down pretty good when empty. I can lift a 275 gal IBC container full of water, so lift capacity is not an issue for me, but safety on uneven terrain is. Lighter is better.
-Once I get a grapple, I will wish it was better at some task I haven't even thought of yet, but I will love all it does do.

 

[SugarPeaFarm]

Ted IS still considering a similar design and is anxious to see further discussion about what you like/don't like about this one or others on the market that are similar.
Travis

Is this possible new design similar to the rake style grapple you are building? Any differences proposed that you can share?

 

[woodchipper]

Does anyone own one of these type clam shell grapples? I like the extended lower tines and the replaceable teeth are intrigueing. What are your opinions of this type of grapple? They seem like a good hybrid. Heavy though. It is a little under half the fel capacity of my tractor but I like the enhanced raking capabilities.

What would be your intended use?
By looking at the design, it seems more oriented at digging out shallow rooted trees. As tine spacing seems wide, and as there is no cross bar, it will make it difficult to pick up rocks. Also, when leveling your disturbed ground (afted uprooting all you needed), it will not perform as well, again, because of the lack of a cross bar. Back dragging is the method of choice for finnish leveling.
For large and compacted debris piles, I would say this grapple will be very good at it.
As for the weight, it is too much for your machine. Implements have to be sized not only to the job ahead, but to your machine capacities.
If you use this grapple for surface roooting (sciming), like when cleaning up after main uprooting, you will miss way too many debris.
A landscape rake works wonders at sciming.
With your machine, I would least be concerned about bending the tines, unless you just ram a rock, or some real hard obstacle.
Again, I will stress to say it is too heavy for your machine, as when you will be in need to lift a heavy tree and/or ball root, you will not be able to do what you intended to do in the first place.
Good luck in your search!

 

[andy1981]

Ted IS still considering a similar design and is anxious to see further discussion about what you like/don't like about this one or others on the market that are similar.
Travis

I would love it if you made your rake style grapple with a dual lid design for grabbing long uneven logs. All of the ones on the market seem to heavy for my tractor