FEL Grapple for NH TB110 tractor

[pharmvet]

I have a real hankering for a brush grapple for my tractor. Ive been reading all the posts on the subject that I can. Seems that most of the posts about grapples are on small CUT tractors. I have some specific questions regarding a grapple for my tractor (100 hp). Im planning on using it mostly to pile and burn brush and logs etc. I am trying to implement many wildlife habitat improvement projects and seem constantly to be trimming limbs and cutting trails, burning brush, etc. It seems that one of these grapples would be one of the handiest implements I could have.

1) What is the heaviest (actual wt. of grapple) grapple I should consider?

2) What width would you recommend?

3) Would you recommend 2 jaws (each operated by separate cylinder) or 1 large jaw (1 cylinder in the middle)

4) Are there specific brands I should consider?

5) Will I need to have special hydraulic plumbing installed or can I use the rear remote valves to open and close grapple jaws?

thanks in advance

 

[jcliburn]

I'm no expert, and my tractor isn't nearly as large as yours, but I recently bought a Gator Attachments Light Duty 60" grapple for my 50hp Kubota, so I can offer my early experience.

1. The weight of your grapple would, I think, be constrained by the lift capacity of your FEL and the way your tractor handles with the added weight out front. My grapple weighs about 425 pounds, and my FEL lift capacity is 2400 pounds. My tractor handles fine on my hilly terrain with the grapple attached. If it were 800 pounds, maybe not so much.

2. If you want to run along fence lines, the grapple width should extend beyond the wheel width of your tractor. I chose to buy a grapple narrower than my wheel width, because most of my work is in the woods, not along fences, and it's easier to move around in the woods with a narrower grapple. I didn't get the 48" model though, which is the narrowest grapple offered by Gator.

3. To keep weight down, I chose a grapple with one jaw. There are probably benefits for either single or double jaws, but so far my single jaw works fine for what I do. Most of my work is uprooting and piling privet and smallish hardwood and pines (up to, say, about 6 inches diameter), and the single jaw works well for that. Maybe handling logs would call for double jaws.

4. I went with the Gator because of its size, weight, and price. There are many brands, as you've probably discovered by now, but there seemed to be a significant price jump from the Gator light duty to the other brands I looked at, probably related to the quality and duty of the implement. The Gator I bought cost about $1200 shipped, and it's plenty beefy for the work I do with it.

5. I added a 3rd function valve to my tractor (I have no rear remotes), but I've read several TBN threads from posters who plumbed a rear remote to operate the grapple. The W.R. Long electric-over-hydraulic 3rd function is the kit I bought.

This thread shows my typical use for my grapple.

This thread documents my hydraulics and grapple installation experience.

Good luck. It's a great tool.

Jay

 

[jimmysisson]

My grapple is a Millonzi and is 5' wide due to the Ford quick-attach system. I like having the grapple where I can look out the side of the Curtis (doorless) cab and see the edge. Others like narrower. Mine runs off the rear remote with long hoses. Downside to that is it's hard to reach the lever if you're leaning over left.
I also have the pair of arms. You can't control which moves first, which may be annoying but it doesn't really hamper moving brush or logs. I like having the wide grip, but haven't tried one with one arm.
You will use the thing a lot, so a quick-connect is a big plus.
Jim

 

[Zebrafive]

I bought a grapple made for a skid steer used because the price was right. It's very heavy, lower tines are 1" thick, uppers are 3/4" it has two top grapples. Sorry I have not weighed it. I made mounts to fit it to my tractor's loader. I used it on a 60HP JD 2030. You want enough width to see the edges from the seat, I think mines 66" For picking up brush and logs I like the wider width. If you plan to dig out roots or brush narrower might be better.

The only limit to picking up brush is volume. If the lower tines were longer I could pickup more. I like having two grapples for brush.

I have picked up a log (cherry about 3 1/2' dia x 10') that was so heavy it over came my bucket cylinders (caused them to completely extend). I could only lift it about 3' before the lift cylinder would not lift any more, but the grapple cylinders had no trouble holding the log.

Since my loader has a mid valve I hooked the grapple up to one of the rear SCVs, you just have to watch you don't move the lever too far into "float"

I did buy hard lines for the loader boom with couplers at the bucket end. I could have run one piece hoses to the rear SCVs, but put quick couplers in at the same place as the loaders mid mount couplers.