Grapple Bucket Improvement? Power Trac PT425

[MossRoad]

Hey Fourteen... have you seen the movies of the PT425 in action on my web page yet? Did you see the Big Log video? The pallet forks are great for this kind of stuff.

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="green">Isn't that John's mini-hoe with thumb in that picture?
</font>

Yup. In addition to the posts about it on TBN there is more info & pictures at my PT wiki

Gotta get that thing rebuilt, spring is coming!,
Sedgewood

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red"> spring is coming!, </font>

Sure it is. It's 15 degrees here in the sun at 9:30 A.M.

Explain to me again what's bad about global warming. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MossRoad]

You won't get to make any more snow angels! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

Yes, I used John's Thumb picture in my post. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Please don't start discussing Thumb design again! My scalp hasn't healed from all the Grapple design head scratching!!



Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Tomorrow's forecast is for /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif sunny skies, but with a high of only 54 degrees!!! Darn!! Hope the grass doesn't turn brown!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif



PS: The Attachment is for those of you who may have forgotten what the color green looks like!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

My yard looks like that too..... under the snow! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

No. Videos load death slow on my PC.



I'm getting the Forks, but I'd like to save those for the big big stuff, and use the improved Grapple for everything else.



Attachment is the start of the 12/2 ice storm that uprooted or topped out about 100 of our trees.

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> Please don't start discussing Thumb design again! My scalp hasn't healed from all the Grapple design head scratching!! </font>

My thumb stopped my grapple design head scratching right in it's tracks! The ability to reach up, down, around, between, over, under, into (through?) and grab it and growl is "awesome." Tough on the hoe though - I broke my boom in about 3 hours! But did 3 days work in those 3 hours! If you do go the thumb route (highly recommended) be sure to reinforce the minihoe's boom before you get carried away. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Funny thing - I too went through the grapple design exercise during the PT purchase phase. Is this a common behavior among PT about-to-bes? Anybody else suffer through it too?

Sedgewood

 

[FOURTEEN]

True!

I wanted a compact tractor that could do more than my Power King with Mower and Dozer Blade, and DR Chipper could do. After checking out the name brands plus Jinma, I just couldn't see where the typical FEL with a bucket and forks would be that much help with my forest cleanup. I found some Grapple Buckets which seemed so useful, but they were all way too big for a NH TC21, Kioti CK20, or even the Jinma 428 with 1500# lift! And forget about trying to drag a backhoe through the underbrush!

Then I stumbled across Power Trac!! W/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gifW!! I'm in heaven!! Heading into the woods with not only a bucket and forks, but also a Grapple Bucket, Stump Grinder, and MiniHoe!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Now you come along with the ultra useful Thumb!! I have just one word to say: W/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gifW!!!


Have you talked to Power Trac about offering a factory Thumb with maybe tongs replacing the bucket (for a 3 finger grip), and appropriate reinforcements?? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> Have you talked to Power Trac about offering a factory Thumb with maybe tongs replacing the bucket (for a 3 finger grip), and appropriate reinforcements?? </font>

No but I did mention it to Terry. PT is not very receptive to ideas from outside the fence I'm afraid.

Grapple head scratching seems to lead naturally to a three finger grip. Mine ended up there too and was still there until I dug up my first 700 lb boulder in 10 minutes flat (soft soil). That changed everything. The bucket grips very well as is and with my thumb set up so the bucket curls right around it, it still works as a digging bucket which contributes greatly to digging rocks & stumps. The synergy of the two working together is worth a lot.

Sedgewood