Grapple Grapple Hoses on Skid Steer

AlanB · Dec 1, 2011

Hi folks, just mounted my new grapple on the Skidsteer this evening :thumbsup: and the Aux hydraulics worked. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Anyway, got looking and thought Gee those hoses are really long and all over the place, I will measure and put on shorter ones.........

So I had my son climb in and cycle through the travels to see what length I would need and man, they are going to have to be what they are as the amount of travel they need is pretty substantial. I know, pictures required.

I think the skid steer gives it more range of motion than the tractors do but wondering what others have done to keep the hoses out of the way, yet keep them long enough to have full range of motion.

Thanks

jbooth · Dec 1, 2011

My aux hydraulics are on the loader boom. A short hose/s (flexible) is required at the back boom pivot point. Hard pipe/tubing is routed down the boom and at the front hoses just long enough to allow full curl of the bucket. The hi flow is routed the same way on the opposite boom.

DT86 · Dec 1, 2011

If your hoses are in a protective sleeve then I would recommend poking a small hole in said sleeve about middle way. Now using one end of a black rubber bungee cord in that hole find a place on the loader arm - like the metal handle used to get in and out of the machine or a clamp for metal hydro lines on the loader arm - to pull the slack up towards the operator. This leaves your hoses in a S shape. We did this on a friends skidsteer/grapple and on my tractor/grapple. It works pretty good and we didn't need to shorten the hoses any. IMO If you shorten them it gives them less room to get out of a sticks way before they break. I wish I had a pic as this would better explain what I'm getting at.

SSdoxie · Dec 1, 2011

Most skid loader companies make a hose retaining ring that bolts to the lift arm to run the hoses through to keep them out out of harms way and allow full dump travel. You can ask your dealer about buying one or make the "poor mans version". Take a trap strap, black bungy cord, and warp it around the hose and the lfit arm down close to the bucket pivot, wrap the strap around once or twice and hook the hooks together.