CT235 & EA Grapple

[762MM]

I got to break in the new grapple and put 14 more hours on the tractor. For those interested or considering, here are a few informative comments about my order and installation.

Application: Bobcat CT235 with 7TL loader and 7TB backhoe; dual rear remotes

As beneficiary of some of EAs educational videos and as a customer who likes their stuff, I had been considering one of their root grapples and have read several threads on TBN and elsewhere.

About 2 months ago I was in the Charlotte area. I decided to make a quick drive up to Newton. As I pulled up, I saw Ted working in the yard. We talked grapples and I got to see the little Bobcat CT122 as seen in several videos. Also, I got to meet Rick and Travis...as I left I think I caught a glimpse of Peanut. It was kinda fun to meet folks in person with whom I have seen or corresponded with online.

Anyway, after some conversation, I ordered a 50" Compact Wicked Root Grapple. Since I was paying for home delivery, I thew in 66" XTreme Duty Box Blade. Being a weekend hack, I also ordered the WR Long 3rd Function Kit specifically for my tractor to make things 'easy'.

A few observations in no particular order:

* EA was a couple weeks behind with certain inventory (my stuff included). No problem. To their credit, they cranked out my order and it shipped early via YRC as planned. I was told that YRC would call and schedule the home delivery part based on our mutual schedules - which they did. However they are prepared to deliver the day of arrival into your city...and begin charging storage...which was a little surprise. The only issue was that I wasn't home for another 5-6 days. Not that big of a deal...another $200 on top of the home delivery fee. Upon final delivery, the driver was very nice and and got to watch me get drenched as it poured down rain. But hey, I got to use my EA pallet forks to unload my grapple and box blade. The 3rd Function kit shipped from WR Long and arrived a couple weeks earlier, as expected.

* The grapple and box blade arrived undamaged and palleted/strapped very well.

* The 3rd Function kit is supposed to be tractor specific (as are the summary instructions). Installation space in general was tight - very very tight. The kit has a nice valve mount that attaches to the left rear of the tractor. So basically, you route from PB on the loader valve (which is underneath my right foot floorboard area) to the left rear of the tractor, then route back up to the loader valve area for your hose disconnects. Then another set of hoses route from this disconnect area along your loader frame to ultimately connect to your implement. No surprises there and this set up allows for you to remove the loader along with the hoses in an orderly fashion. The ag connectors leak like a sieve. Continuous drips and trickles. In two days of grapple/tree work at my home, I probably lost 1/2 gallon or more. I have spots all over the driveway, drips all over a trailer (tree guy's trailer), and all over the tractor. I am a bit frustrated with how bad the leaks are at the connectors. I know, I know - ag connectors leak some. But my loader and rear remote connectors don't leak?r at least non-detectible leaks. I may just order and buy new hoses. Visually, I can see fluid coming out all day long.

The grapple itself has been great.

Various pics below for your pleasure.


_________________________________________

3rd-function valve and WRL mounting plate:





Mounting bracket location on tractor:





Valve mounted on tractor:





First test grapple loads:





Couple random pics:

 

[k0ua]

Good Ag' should not leak. I have one that did . up front on my torque tube. It was the male. And it dripped all the time when the grapple female was not connected. It leaked from the ball. About one drip a minute when disconnected. I replace it with a new Parker brand, and nary a drip since. I suppose you could try penicillin or maybe tetracycline? The ags sent with EA grapple have never leaked. Nor the original ones on the Kioti.

 

[Xfaxman]

The grapple looks good on the CT265. :thumbsup:

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Good Ag' should not leak. I have one that did . up front on my torque tube. It was the male. And it dripped all the time when the grapple female was not connected. It leaked from the ball. About one drip a minute when disconnected. I replace it with a new Parker brand, and nary a drip since. I suppose you could try penicillin or maybe tetracycline? The ags sent with EA grapple have never leaked. Nor the original ones on the Kioti.

I agree. They shouldn't leak. I PMed 762MM already, but since you guys are here, we can troubleshoot together!
Travis

 

[762MM]

Thanks for the quick replies. I sure had fun using the grapple this past week. I moved over 100 bushels of branches into a trailer for haul-away.

Here is a quick video of the leaking connections. https://youtu.be/4WDHAbgVHno

Travis - when I get home this weekend I'll recheck the connections. I did disconnect several times and inspect the inside of the female couplers?'ll also recheck the hose threads.


-Palmer

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for the quick replies. I sure had fun using the grapple this past week. I moved over 100 bushels of branches into a trailer for haul-away.

Here is a quick video of the leaking connections. https://youtu.be/4WDHAbgVHno

Travis - when I get home this weekend I'll recheck the connections. I did disconnect several times and inspect the inside of the female couplers?'ll also recheck the hose threads.


-Palmer

No way that is normal. Have you taken it apart and reassembled? I cannot see if the leak is from the coupler to coupler connection or from the hose to coupler side but it should be easy enough to check with a leak that fast.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Thanks for the quick replies. I sure had fun using the grapple this past week. I moved over 100 bushels of branches into a trailer for haul-away.

Here is a quick video of the leaking connections. https://youtu.be/4WDHAbgVHno

Travis - when I get home this weekend I'll recheck the connections. I did disconnect several times and inspect the inside of the female couplers?'ll also recheck the hose threads.


-Palmer

Yes, please check the threaded connections and try to figure out where it's coming from. If it's the QDs, we'll send you a new Parker male and female for the tractor side.
Travis

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Thanks for the quick replies. I sure had fun using the grapple this past week. I moved over 100 bushels of branches into a trailer for haul-away.

Here is a quick video of the leaking connections. https://youtu.be/4WDHAbgVHno

Travis - when I get home this weekend I'll recheck the connections. I did disconnect several times and inspect the inside of the female couplers?'ll also recheck the hose threads.


-Palmer

Is the leak coming from the male to female coupling or is it coming from the pipe thread fitting?

FWIW, I use Loctite 5452 thread-locker on hydraulic fittings of every stripe.
Amazon.com: Loctite 5452 Threadlocker - Purple Liquid 50 ml Tube - Shear Strength 246 psi, Tensile Strength 31 psi [PRICE is per TUBE]: Home Improvement

Permatex 54540 is a good inexpensive alternative.

 

[k0ua]

That is a really really bad leak... Mine was about 1 drop per minute.. yours is about 1 per second. I could not tell if it was the threads but I suspect it was.

 

[tman1020]

Man that is nice. Looks cool to. That is definitely a leak that needs addressing though. Hard to tell from video but it looked like leak was above coupler to me. Remember be careful NOT to use your hand to check for leaks use a piece of cardboard or stiff paper instead.

 

[762MM]

Thanks again for everyone's input. I've been away from home for while, but here is a status update:

Upon closer review, it appeared that the leak(s) are coming from the WRL hose ends/quick connects. I picked up some Permatex hydraulic/pneumatic thread sealant and separated the quick connect coupler and reducer from the two WRL hose ends at the implement connection. I cleaned the threads and pulled all the thread seal tape off. I used the sealant and put everything back together and left town for a couple days. Upon return yesterday and letting everything cure 4 days, the dripping and streaming of fluid still occurs. It might be coming from the crimp fittings of the hose(s). Also to note, it doesn稚 appear the leak is coming from the attachment. Oh, and as an added bonus I noticed a slow drip from the connections at the other end of the hoses (the ones under the floorboard that allow me to remove the loader and keep the hoses attached).

This has become frustrating in several ways. Time and effort sorry, I enjoy a project like the next person, but this has gone from fun to thorn. There are at least 100 stains on my driveway and it痴 a constant visual reminder that I paid to money for this that痴 on me?t was my choice to use the machine with the known leaks.

Anyway, that痴 the update. I am in contact with Travis to see what he thinks.

Again. Thanks for your input.

 

[IslandTractor]

Take the suspect hose to a hydraulic shop. I imagine they can test it and they can certainly put a new crimp fitting on with a loss of an inch or two of hose length.

 

[k0ua]

The hose leak is bad news.. I got mine from surplus center.

They are cheap, and appear to be good quality.. I like mine.. no leaks..

Surplus Center

 

[IslandTractor]

James is right. The cheapest solution is to just get a new hose from Surplus Supply. Just make sure it has the correct ends.

 

[762MM]

Thanks again for all the input. Just a quick follow-up for conclusion/resolution:

Josh at WR Long and Travis at EA were both great to deal with...they never gave up and communicated with me seeking satisfaction of all parties. After speaking with Josh, he sent me 2 new hoses after my attempts of resealing the quick disconnect threads. In fact, it appears two leaks were from the crimp-on connectors, not the threads. Weird and rare from what I am told.

It's a nice treat not leaving a trail of drops or stream of hydraulic all over the place and all over the hood.

Issue resolved and dry!

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Thanks again for all the input. Just a quick follow-up for conclusion/resolution:

Josh at WR Long and Travis at EA were both great to deal with...they never gave up and communicated with me seeking satisfaction of all parties. After speaking with Josh, he sent me 2 new hoses after my attempts of resealing the quick disconnect threads. In fact, it appears two leaks were from the crimp-on connectors, not the threads. Weird and rare from what I am told.

It's a nice treat not leaving a trail of drops or stream of hydraulic all over the place and all over the hood.

Issue resolved and dry!

EA uses Parker hoses and it is a quality product.

Even so, bad crimps can happen and you don't really know until a bad crimp is hit with pressure.

This is from a different vender on a brand new hose.