Grapple for the Kubota BX25-D

4shorts · Feb 19, 2014

Green Power said:
Nice grapple. I am sure the thumb will turn out amazing like everything else you make. How many hours have you put on this tractor?

Thank you. I appreciate it. Hours on the tractor. Well honestly, I put about three hundred hours working on the mods and exactly 72 hours operating it :laughing:

lowellw2 · Feb 19, 2014

Congrats 4shorts. Here's a pic from way down south of me picking up a cedar log last week. These things are great. A neighbor cut down a lot of low hanging limbs and I was able to clean them up in very short order. I plan on using it too place a lot of rocks in a wall I've been planning.

2458n · Feb 19, 2014

I have a old L245DT. I have wanted a grapple for this little tractor for some time. When I saw your thread I did not know it was going to turn into me reading a 38 page thread on the Everthing Attachments 50 inch grapple. After reading with interest their ;"build it yourself kit" does not exist. I have also watched the 30 minute You Tube video. I still want a grapple and hope you enjoy yours- my time would have been better spent stacking several cord of firewood out of the rain/snow.

Bob77064 · Feb 19, 2014

Congrats Paul very nice.

lowellw2 · Feb 19, 2014

4shorts,
One of the changes I made when installing the grapple was to reverse the 3rd function valve as I felt it kept the floorboard area cleaner. I also modified the method LP used to mount the joystick knob by removing the locknuts and cutting the Allen set screws so they would be flush with the mount (chose blue Loctite to hold them). I'm also debating whether to shorten the joystick a little but need more time in the seat before that irrevocable decision is made.

4shorts · Feb 19, 2014

lowellw2 said:
Congrats 4shorts. Here's a pic from way down south of me picking up a cedar log last week. These things are great. A neighbor cut down a lot of low hanging limbs and I was able to clean them up in very short order. I plan on using it too place a lot of rocks in a wall I've been planning.

Wow great photo. Nice looking set up. I bet it's sure handy. I really like the BX models. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

2458n said:
I have a old L245DT. I have wanted a grapple for this little tractor for some time. When I saw your thread I did not know it was going to turn into me reading a 38 page thread on the Everthing Attachments 50 inch grapple. After reading with interest their ;"build it yourself kit" does not exist. I have also watched the 30 minute You Tube video. I still want a grapple and hope you enjoy yours- my time would have been better spent stacking several cord of firewood out of the rain/snow.

I know what you mean. I built a grapple for our 5740 but never had the time to build it for the BX so we just bought it. I don't usually do that but this time I said the heck with it and bought it. I'm pleased with it.
Hope you get yours soon.

Bob77064 said:
Congrats Paul very nice.

Thanks Bob :thumbsup:

4shorts · Feb 19, 2014

lowellw2 said:
4shorts,
One of the changes I made when installing the grapple was to reverse the 3rd function valve as I felt it kept the floorboard area cleaner. I also modified the method LP used to mount the joystick knob by removing the locknuts and cutting the Allen set screws so they would be flush with the mount (chose blue Loctite to hold them). I'm also debating whether to shorten the joystick a little but need more time in the seat before that irrevocable decision is made.

You have the BX24 and your brake is on the right side so you did good doing it that way. My brake is on the left side so I have a little more room for the 3rd function valve. I also did a little bit of an unconventional install when it came to the hoses. I got a video up today on it. I did shorten the joystick shaft by 2". It feels better that way. I'll be making an aluminum cover for the valve as well to "clean up" that area.

lowellw2 · Feb 19, 2014

4shorts
Super video on the install. That will help a lot of new LP grapple owners with their installations. I at least got all the parts except my bracket for the 3rd function valve reused the carriage bolt. I sure could have used your video as the LP instructions were less than stellar and not illustrated very well. One thing that really surprised me were the LEDs on the valve. Since I put mine in reversed I never even noticed them. Duh. I really like what you did with the long hose as I am less than enthused with the normal setup. I've had to tie the loop away from the rear tire and there is very little to securely connect to under that plastic fender. Reversing the hose bracket looks like something I will do as I think the extra hose down low will help although it has not been a problem. I did a direct pin installation as I have not yet committed to the Kubota QA. Now that I have the grapple I think I will get one as I see other attachments in my future. I also see a certain hydraulic thumb for my backhoe. Hmm... With the 3rd function valve already there one only needs a couple of hoses and buttons.

4shorts · Feb 20, 2014

lowellw2 said:
4shorts
Super video on the install. That will help a lot of new LP grapple owners with their installations. I at least got all the parts except my bracket for the 3rd function valve reused the carriage bolt. I sure could have used your video as the LP instructions were less than stellar and not illustrated very well. One thing that really surprised me were the LEDs on the valve. Since I put mine in reversed I never even noticed them. Duh. I really like what you did with the long hose as I am less than enthused with the normal setup. I've had to tie the loop away from the rear tire and there is very little to securely connect to under that plastic fender. Reversing the hose bracket looks like something I will do as I think the extra hose down low will help although it has not been a problem. I did a direct pin installation as I have not yet committed to the Kubota QA. Now that I have the grapple I think I will get one as I see other attachments in my future. I also see a certain hydraulic thumb for my backhoe. Hmm... With the 3rd function valve already there one only needs a couple of hoses and buttons.

Thanks Lowell. It's a long video and really only intended for someone who's about to purchase and install the Land Pride kit but I do hope it helps others out. Doing videos is a bit of a pain in the butt for me because I'm the type that likes to start the job and dig into it and the video thing sort of inturpts that but I hope it do help others out.

I looked at those instructions and they were vague at best plus I really wanted those hoses up under my skid plate so that's why I went that way. I'm happy with it and I'm comfortable there won't be any problems with it. The one thing I will be doing is fabricating a aluminum cover for the valve set up. One reason for doing it is for a cleaner looking install and the other reason is protection of the valve.

Ya that's right! You reversed the valve so you didn't see the LEDs light up. Hey that's no big deal, I won't see them either when I put the cover over the valve :laughing:

Oh you need the FEL quick attach my friend. Great item and well built. Fast to change over from grapple to bucket.

As for the back hoe thumb. I'm just about there. I just launched Part #1 of it on YouTube. Hope this gives you an idea or two.

Thanks for posting. Nice to get opinions from someone who's been there. :thumbsup:

Cheers. Paul