Grapple - Direct weld onto bucket

KEG · Dec 20, 2006

From a past discussion (I believe on this forum) I found a link to a grapple that welds directly onto the front bucket. I have searched for that dsicussion and can't find it. Anyone have a link or name of a grapple that welds onto the bucket?

I recently purchased a TC40DA and also purchased an Add-A-Grapple. Love 'em both. BUT, I have very hilly ground with lots of trees to dig out. Due to the hilly ground, I need to keep the front weight down and the Add-A-Grapple has extra weight I don't want. I am also looking for a 4' front bucket to further reduce weight and to help dig out the trees. I want the grapple to add teh least amount of weight and the weld on versions seems to offer this feature.

Seems the cost of the weld on units were in the $200 to $300 range. Since the Add-A-Grapple is >$500, I don't want to purchase that model and cut off the tabs to weld onto the bucket.

Any ideas welcome as always. Thanks guys.
KEG

daTeacha · Dec 20, 2006

How big is your tractor? My bucket is 5', but the one on my B7100 was about 42", I think. Anyways, I have hills and an Add-a-Grapple. I have about 900 lb of concrete hanging on the 3 point, another 260 on the wheels, and it's pretty stable feeling.

Have you looked at a rock fork/grapple combination? It's kind of like a narrow bucket that looks like a manure fork on some serious steroids.

Maybe you could google "tractor grapple" or something similar.

dknarnd · Dec 20, 2006

The TC40 will have a 72" bucket on it...I wonder how much the bucket weighs? Another thing that will add weight is quick attach, do you have this?

As dateacha mentioned maybe a 4' rock/root grapple would be the ticket. Narrow and probably less weight then the bucket and grapple even if it is welded on.

I just bought a TC40 last month and can tell you that it is scary light in the rear (live in the hills also). I have two wheel weights on each side which totals 420 lbs and can't hardly do anything with the tractor. I am going to fill each tire with washer fluid which will add 800 lbs total plus make a weight box of some fashion.

Instead of adding a grapple to the bucket I am going to get a 60" light duty grapple which should come in around the 500 lb area.

TwinWillows · Dec 20, 2006

You might want to try some weight on the rear and or load the tires. I used our TC40DA for a while & @ the first service interval had fluid added to the tires. Totally different tractor after that - not @ all tippy. When I'm doing a lot of loader work or forklift stuff I just hang my 7ft box blade on the rear & get after it. No stability problems w/that configuraion.

jinman · Dec 20, 2006

Here is a link that shows the Andy Tatro grapple. This one can be welded or bolted to the top of a bucket or pallet forks as in this thread. It weighs about 100 lb and used to be less than $500 without any hoses. I have one mounted on a rock bucket and love it.

Tatro Grapple

New Holland only makes a 5' QA bucket. I don't know anyone who makes a smaller bucket with the skidsteer QA plates, but there are surely many light duty buckets for sub-compacts that could be modified. I just think they would be pretty weak. I would consider the light weight rock bucket from Virnig or a similar one for your application.

KEG · Dec 20, 2006

Thanks for all the replies. I'll try to respond to all of the helpful comments.

I have a 72" bucket on my TC40DA. It came standard and is a Quck Attach model. But I don't believe the QA adds that much weight, but I have to admit I never really considred it. Anyway, I can't change it now

Based on suggestions from the list I got the rear tires filled when I bought it. And I have a heavy gannon bucket blade that also adds weight. Even so, I still feel a bit uncomfortable on the hilly ground. I also put on a Tilt-O-Meter and find that 15 degrees is way too far to go. But I may just be skittish and no where near turning it over. But let me ask - How do you find the max tilt? - except by turning it over

.

With my current arrangement of the 72" bucket and the Add-A-Grapple, I have come close to a turn over several times. When that rear tire goes up, my reaction is a sudden drop of the bucket and live another day! (PS - I put on my seat belt even when pulling out of the garage and never put down the ROPS)

But the 48" bucket idea is driven by two things. First is front end weight and a desire to reduce it weight as much as possible for obvious reasons. Second is for digging out trees. The 72" bucket just digs too big of an area. I am thinking that a 4' bucket would do the trick.

As for the rock grapple solutions, I have given them some thought and don't believe they will do what I want. (BTW, the Anbo video is pretty cool - get the CD by going to Hydraulic Skid Steer Attachments, Hydraulic Tractor Mounted Attachments - Anbo Manufacturing, Inc.) Generally when I am digging out trees I am also moving dirt and leveling out the area to fill in the deep stump holes. I don't want to set the tractor on its side by driving into a hole while working on the next tree. Hitting a stump hole on a hill at the wrong angle is a real concern.

So .... I am thinking that a 4' bucket would be a compromise that would allow me to dig out trees, move dirt and grab brush (with the addition of a grapple). And the weld on style would further reduce front end weight.

Who knows ... it may just work

KEG

dknarnd · Dec 21, 2006

Keg....Checked your profile out to see wher you are from but it isn't filled in!

Also curious what you loaded your tires with? Sounds like you are doing the right things although you will probably have to loose the back blade for a more substantial weight ballast. My guess that you will only save 200 - 300 lbs over your current configuration by going with the 48" set-up. This is only a guess because I have not been able to find weights of buckets listed anywhere.

wickedinhere · Dec 21, 2006

Do a search on here for ebay grapple.

KEG · Dec 21, 2006

I added some more info to my profile. Thanks for pointing out the omissions.

I live in eastern Missouri and my place is in the St. Peters Sandstone strata. This makes for some very sandy soil. As for the tire fill, I don't know what they put in, but it was not calcium chloride. I think it was the windshield washer fluid. This extra weight is definitely a must have with a FEL. And I probably need to look into a 3PH ballast box to help stabilize the tractor.

I have been doing a lot more searching and reading and am trying to be more open minded about my plans. After looking at my needs, it may be that a rock/root grapple combo would be a good choice. If I give up the desire to move dirt and just stick with tree/brush removal and filling in stump holes, I think I can do most of the work I want without using a bucket. I would also gain the advantage of no bucket sides to get in the way of grabbing trees/brush. I think I'll revisit Anbo and look further into Millonzi (http://www.miproductsgroup.com/attachments.htm). aNy others I should check out?

Again, thanks for everyone's help.
KEG