Grapple Failure

[Red Horse]

Since everyone here knows about it I don't think they would buy it now. I sure won't.

Ok, just out of curiosity, its 1000 bucks. What are you going to buy instead and what does it cost?

 

[murphy1244]

Ok, just out of curiosity, its 1000 bucks. What are you going to buy instead and what does it cost?

Its still a piece of junk...

 

[blueriver]

Its still a piece of junk...

I disagree .. It's the ECONOMY model.

 

[murphy1244]

I disagree .. It's the ECONOMY model.

You disagree on what? The price or its a piece of junk?

 

[Red Horse]

Its still a piece of junk...

And the basis for your statement is??? Do you own one? Have you seen one?

My statements are based on the fact that I own one. that I'm using it on a bigger, heavier, more powerful tractor than it is probably intended for, and that I damaged mine through my own negligence. And by the way, I was probably abusing it in the worst possible way-using the grapple to pull on a large buried bolder. And by the way, the tube really did not fail-rather the weld on the back side of the tower cracked.

Last point, if you truly believe that all items, machines whatever, should perform the same, and have the same degree of durability regardless of price, I guess for sure you don't believe in the old adage..."you get what you pay for". I knew I was buying an "economy" grapple. I was more than satisfied with the value I got. Agsin, show me something else for the same money.

another shot of my junk Econo wildkat in action

 

[CalG]

Since everyone here knows about it I don't think they would buy it now. I sure won't.

I would buy one without hesitation. The weakness is well explained, the cause (Banging the top jaws into stuff) is made clear. I can't touch the price point even with DIY efforts.

What's not to like?

Unless you just happen to have $3k burning a hole in your pocket and want to pick up some brush piles ...and even then, Kitty Kat has the pro models covered!

Hat's OFF to bhh and his recent post #137! 'Explains exactly all the good reasons to consider this grapple as a useful tool!

cheers

 

[murphy1244]

And the basis for your statement is??? Do you own one? Have you seen one?

My statements are based on the fact that I own one. that I'm using it on a bigger, heavier, more powerful tractor than it is probably intended for, and that I damaged mine through my own negligence. And by the way, I was probably abusing it in the worst possible way-using the grapple to pull on a large buried bolder. And by the way, the tube really did not fail-rather the weld on the back side of the tower cracked.

Last point, if you truly believe that all items, machines whatever, should perform the same, and have the same degree of durability regardless of price, I guess for sure you don't believe in the old adage..."you get what you pay for". I knew I was buying an "economy" grapple. I was more than satisfied with the value I got. Agsin, show me something else for the same money.

another shot of my junk Econo wildkat in action

Don't get excited. My basis is it failed and has failed many times before. This was broken header was posted two years ago. That's why I did not buy one. You like yours? That's great!!!!

 

[k0ua]

It is the economy model, It has some, well what some might call design flaws well in fact I would call them design flaws. BUT it can be fixed up and beefed up to be much stronger. Yes is should have been built with 1/4 in. tubing, but it wasn't. But I still believe it can be made stronger without a whole lot of effort or cost. That's what I really think.

 

[CalG]

Red Horse.

You have that Yankee common sense! For living in such a liberal State, you seem to take pride in in-de-vidual responsibility.

Thats a Good thing! ;-)

 

[TomSeller]

If 2 out of 100 fail, is that bad? 1 out of 100? 5? Everyone is going to have a different number and I'm sure they could achieve a zero fail rate but what would be the weight penalty we would have to endure as a result? As long as the company stands behind these failures and does right by the customers, a 1-2% failure rate might actually mean that the grapples are designed appropriately for their use. Just a thought.

I would say opening and closing a grapple lid structurally (the hinge) should be as reliable as opening and losing the door on my pickup. That is what a grapple is intended to do. I would expect 0 out of 100 failures on my pickup door and on a grapple within your stated hours of use.

 

[IslandTractor]

And the basis for your statement is??? Do you own one? Have you seen one? My statements are based on the fact that I own one. that I'm using it on a bigger, heavier, more powerful tractor than it is probably intended for, and that I damaged mine through my own negligence. And by the way, I was probably abusing it in the worst possible way-using the grapple to pull on a large buried bolder. And by the way, the tube really did not fail-rather the weld on the back side of the tower cracked. Last point, if you truly believe that all items, machines whatever, should perform the same, and have the same degree of durability regardless of price, I guess for sure you don't believe in the old adage..."you get what you pay for". I knew I was buying an "economy" grapple. I was more than satisfied with the value I got. Agsin, show me something else for the same money. another shot of my junk Econo wildkat in action

I have frequently posted photos of my economy model 48" Millonzi, made with 1/4" tube and 3/8 mild steel, pulling a one+ton boulder out of the ground. My tractor is a ?5000 lb DK40 and I had a BH mounted which was barely enough ballast. I could only lift the rock about three feet off the ground to transport it and the tractor was so light in the rear that I was concerned about tipping forward as I moved. Absolute limit of my loader which is rated to 2700lbs to full height. Grapple didn't break even though the upper jaw was compressing the rock against the lower jaws to hold it. The rock was not resting on the lower tines. Grapple damage: The very tip of the upper jaw tine splayed out an inch or two. Easily heated and straightened.

Remember, we are talking about chump change to upgrade from 1/8" to 1/4" for the top tube. I cannot believe that an intelligent engineer or business owner would cut that type of corner and ruin a perfectly good grapple. And, having made the initial mistake, I cannot even begin to come up with an excuse for why they didn't fix the issue two years ago when it was made very clear that 1/8" top tube doesn't cut it.

 

[cfw3]

I find this kind of wining from the OP so typical of our failing modern society. Unfortunately, its prevalent on this site. The guy bought the economy grapple because he was too cheap to buy the beefy one. That's fine, I do the same thing all the time. He then latches onto something a little too big or heavy for the grapple and it bends a little bit. Sure, it happens, you bought the cheap one, you should expect it. The rest of the unit is working fine. Fix it yourself and move on. Instead of blaming himself for misusing it, he publicly shames the manufacturer of the grapple and guilt's them into giving him a new one to save face. Isn't that just great. I really hope you feel good about yourself. You know what, some people like me like a lighter weight grapple to work with. I'd rather use it carefully and have the extra lift capacity.

 

[IslandTractor]

I find this kind of wining from the OP so typical of our failing modern society. Unfortunately, its prevalent on this site. The guy bought the economy grapple because he was too cheap to buy the beefy one. That's fine, I do the same thing all the time. He then latches onto something a little too big or heavy for the grapple and it bends a little bit. Sure, it happens, you bought the cheap one, you should expect it. The rest of the unit is working fine. Fix it yourself and move on. Instead of blaming himself for misusing it, he publicly shames the manufacturer of the grapple and guilt's them into giving him a new one to save face. Isn't that just great. I really hope you feel good about yourself. You know what, some people like me like a lighter weight grapple to work with. I'd rather use it carefully and have the extra lift capacity.

You think ten extra pounds for a 1/4" top tube upgrade is going to make a difference in what you can do with your grapple? We are not exactly talking about Tour de France racing bikes. The difference in weight and cost are trivial compared to the strength considerations.

Yes, Wildkat and others who decide to cheapen a product should be called out. First as a warning to the unsuspecting and second as a reminder to the manufacturer of the consequences of squeezing a few more bucks of profit out of the grapple. If Wildkat wants to be known as the Harbor Freight of grapple manufacturers then they are doing a good job with their marketing plan.

 

[TomSeller]

I find this kind of wining from the OP so typical of our failing modern society. Unfortunately, its prevalent on this site. The guy bought the economy grapple because he was too cheap to buy the beefy one. That's fine, I do the same thing all the time. He then latches onto something a little too big or heavy for the grapple and it bends a little bit. Sure, it happens, you bought the cheap one, you should expect it. The rest of the unit is working fine. Fix it yourself and move on. Instead of blaming himself for misusing it, he publicly shames the manufacturer of the grapple and guilt's them into giving him a new one to save face. Isn't that just great. I really hope you feel good about yourself. You know what, some people like me like a lighter weight grapple to work with. I'd rather use it carefully and have the extra lift capacity.

I don't think bhh was at all unreasonable to expect the grapple lid to operate without a structural member failing in 25 hours. Wildkat should expect complaints if someone can't operate the lid without damaging the grapple. Particularly if this is a two year old known issue. If this poor quality is accepted, what is next? Beer bottles where the neck breaks when you try to open the cap?

 

[CalG]

I would say opening and closing a grapple lid structurally (the hinge) should be as reliable as opening and losing the door on my pickup. That is what a grapple is intended to do. I would expect 0 out of 100 failures on my pickup door and on a grapple within your stated hours of use.

And if while that door were opened, You just happened to back it into a tree, and "the door went a bit ajar",

Then "who ya' gonna call?"

We don't "REALLY KNOW" what the mechanism of failure is. IT's just a story and so much "telegraph".

Time to move on. There is a life to live!

 

[CalG]

I have frequently posted photos of my economy model 48" Millonzi, made with 1/4" tube and 3/8 mild steel, pulling a one+ton boulder out of the ground. My tractor is a ?5000 lb DK40 and I had a BH mounted which was barely enough ballast. I could only lift the rock about three feet off the ground to transport it and the tractor was so light in the rear that I was concerned about tipping forward as I moved. Absolute limit of my loader which is rated to 2700lbs to full height. Grapple didn't break even though the upper jaw was compressing the rock against the lower jaws to hold it. The rock was not resting on the lower tines. Grapple damage: The very tip of the upper jaw tine splayed out an inch or two. Easily heated and straightened.

Remember, we are talking about chump change to upgrade from 1/8" to 1/4" for the top tube. I cannot believe that an intelligent engineer or business owner would cut that type of corner and ruin a perfectly good grapple. And, having made the initial mistake, I cannot even begin to come up with an excuse for why they didn't fix the issue two years ago when it was made very clear that 1/8" top tube doesn't cut it.

I guess that brand is no longer an option....

Chump change, I wonder what the cost of the unit would be today?

I here one can purchase grapples of several build qualities and "beefiness" from most of the fabricators. I wonder why they all don't just offer one model and back it with a lifetime guarantee.

Oh, That's not what "everybody" wants...

Hmm... freedom of choice has it's responsibility

 

[TomSeller]

And if while that door were opened, You just happened to back it into a tree, and "the door went a bit ajar",

Then "who ya' gonna call?"

We don't "REALLY KNOW" what the mechanism of failure is. IT's just a story and so much "telegraph".

Time to move on. There is a life to live!

Anyone can move on if they like. I am taking bhh at his word. No reason not to and no reason to degrade this thread.

 

[sd455dan]

I find this kind of wining from the OP so typical of our failing modern society. He then latches onto something a little too big or heavy for the grapple and it bends a little bit.


yeah a little bit -you know- it is only missing by a foot... just a little bit,

If in fact this a attachment can be hooked up to an average tractors hydraulics and then have the cylinder bend the unit out of shape by (using the supplied [Single] hydraulic cylinder)
the units frame is under designed

What can a person get for similar money... the ad just above this thread for Pallet forks - Titan Attachments (lite Duty )(600) lbs. 60" grapple including free shipping for $1075??? with 1/2" side plates and HIGH STRENGTH tube steel cross beams and even greaseable bushings compared to the Wild kat well ...

sounds like a deal to me

 

[CalG]

What can a person get for similar money... the ad just above this thread for Pallet forks - Titan Attachments (lite Duty )(600) lbs. 60" grapple including free shipping for $1075??? with 1/2" side plates and HIGH STRENGTH tube steel cross beams and even greaseable bushings compared to the Wild kat well ...

sounds like a deal to me

Looks to me like "Titan Attattachments is just a distributor.

Could be wrong, but that would be an indirect line to a failure resolution.

Hmm STF,

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/180624-new-titan-grapple-2.html

Read the first post and post #20. 'Guess nothing is perfect.

"Ya's pays ya's moneys and takes ya's chances"

 

[k0ua]

By the way, here is a photo of the tower design of the EA "wicked" 50 inch single lid grapple.