compact tractor bucket with removable grapple and other accessories

[amhicks21]

Hi all. This spring i made some modifications to a kubota tractor bucket that turned out to work pretty well. The grapple was just scrap steel and cylinders that were sitting around because i didnt want to spend any money on it. Im probably going to build an expanded metal spill guard for snow removal and ive got a few other style hooks and rings laying around. The bucket i used was originally off a L3540 that i extended the cutting edge on but when we traded up to an L6060 i kept it. i just figured i'd share the idea.

 

[k0ua]

We need one more photo in the series.. The one showing how far can the grapple arm open.

 

[amhicks21]

I'll try to take one monday. It opens about 90 degrees.

 

[k0ua]

I'll try to take one monday. It opens about 90 degrees.

That should work.. I like your ingenuity and execution also.:thumbsup:

 

[amhicks21]

Turns out i had one.

 

[amhicks21]

And, thanks!

 

[k0ua]

Turns out i had one.
View attachment 485596

There you go.. looks good

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Well done. Not your first build.

 

[Stomper]

Bump. Been looking through some old "build it yourself" projects and thought this one was worth bringing back. This is such a simple, effective bucket mod for a light weight grapple. Great thinking out of the box.

 

[Langanobob]

Agreed, very good idea using a receiver hitch.

 

[amhicks21]

Hey, thanks guys. Its been really nice to have the grapple tucked away in my truck toolbox since I dont usually know when or where i'll need it. I actually figured i would have broke it by now with the l6060 since i built it for the weak little loader that was on the old l3540 but despite a bunch of abuse its still going strong.

 

[Stomper]

Glad to see you're still hanging around here and happy to hear it's still working good for you. I really like the fact that it is removeable with a simple pin when not needed. I am big on modular multi use stuff. I have been wanting a dedicated grapple ever since I got my tractor in june. I would use it mostly for getting firewood, which would be only 8 cords a year but I think the main reason is just because I think they are soo cool. A grapple arm on my pallet forks or one like yours for my bucket would be all I would actualy need for what I would be doing with it. Looks like it is working good for you. Thats quite the brush pile you have going there.

 

[amhicks21]

Glad to see you're still hanging around here and happy to hear it's still working good for you. I really like the fact that it is removeable with a simple pin when not needed. I am big on modular multi use stuff. I have been wanting a dedicated grapple ever since I got my tractor in june. I would use it mostly for getting firewood, which would be only 8 cords a year but I think the main reason is just because I think they are soo cool. A grapple arm on my pallet forks or one like yours for my bucket would be all I would actualy need for what I would be doing with it. Looks like it is working good for you. Thats quite the brush pile you have going there.

Some day I hope to build a bigger one that mounts to a set of pallet forks to use with our skid steers and wheel loader. the only thing i think would be an issue is how heavy and big it would end up having to be. it certainly wouldnt be able to be carried around like the little one i made. Either way, it would be cool to have. for now though, most of the work i do is grading and working on new construction so i just havent had enough of the the type of work to justify building something for pallet forks.