Grapple Bucket Modifications

[BobRip]

I saw a post a few months back where someone was welding a piece of metal between the arms on the grapple bucket. I cannot find that post and would like to know the results of that modification. How well did it work? Was the bucket more effective? Were there any negative consequences to the modification?

I noticed on the newer buckets that there is already a bar connecting the arms back about one foot from the ends. My guess is that Power Trac found that arms were getting bent.

Bob Rip

 

[DonStillwagon]

Did not see that one, but I made a temporary arrangement with some 4x6 angle to give a blade on tips of grapple fingers for the purpose of being able to load dirt piled on top of a bank - did not want to push most of it over. I cut square holes in the 4" side of the angle, and slid it over the fingers, clamped it in place with u-bolts and some threaded rod up to the center rod on the fingers to hold it all on. It worked very well - I could load the bucket easily by starting into the pile with the bucket angled down and then drop the blade to the dirt and then both rotate the bucket up and the fingers down at the same time - I could load all the tractor would carry.

I plan to make a real one out of a piece of curved steel (perhaps a slice out of an old heavy tank so it will touch the bucket teeth when closed), that will be removable also. The blade was a liability when grabbing brush or logs, so it needs to be easy to take off.

 

[smartguyz]

I'm afraid I am having trouble visualizing what you're talking about here. Can you give us a photo? By the way, welcome to the forum!

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Marks481]

kind of sounds to me like he modified the grapple bucket to perform the function of a 4in1 bucket ince that would be how you load the 4in1 bucket).

 

[BobRip]

Sounds like a good concept. Might sway the argument of which is more useful - Grapple or 4 in 1 Bucket. A picture would be nice.

Did you try using your set up as a grapple bucket and if so were there any tradeoffs as far as useability.

Bob Rip