grapple hoses

ch1ch2 · Feb 9, 2018

I have done some searching and have not found any previous posts on handling grapple hoses. How to keep them up out of the way and not hanging on anything.

I have the hoses coming from the rear remotes. They are secured along the tractor to the lift arms to the arms with weld on hose clams. From the arm to the grapple is a lot of unsupported hose. Due to the range of movement in the curl there is a lot of loose hose that can fall anywhere.

How are some of the ways to restrict where the hoses go and at the same time allow the movement needed for the full range of movement of the curl?

Redlands Okie · Feb 9, 2018

Rubber bungee cord on mine. Keeps em tucked out of the way and plenty of flex.

oosik · Feb 10, 2018

Yes - big 'ol tough & stretchy bungee cords. And checking my "vast" array of pics - don't have a good one of that. I've LONG since taken the bucket level indicator rod off the FEL. The "bracket" that the rod went thru serves as a good attachment point for the bungees that hold up the long loopy hydraulic hoses.

ch1ch2 · Feb 10, 2018

I thought about bungee cords before asking. I just could not visualize how. Pic would help.

powerscol · Feb 10, 2018

I have this spring on my hay grapple - works well. Hose saving spring kit
Everything Attachments | Skid Steer Attachments, Tractor Attachments, 3 Point Hitch Attachments, and Farm Tractor Implements.
Tractor hose reroute kit

oosik · Feb 10, 2018

OK - its gonna take a few minutes but I'll get a couple.View attachment 539362 View attachment 539363 View attachment 539364 View attachment 539365

3Ts · Feb 10, 2018

I use the nylon zip ties to hold them to the frame or other hydraulic hoses.

ch1ch2 · Feb 10, 2018

oosik said:
OK - its gonna take a few minutes but I'll get a couple.View attachment 539362 View attachment 539363 View attachment 539364 View attachment 539365

Thanks that helps
I will see what I can get to work.
I see you still have slack on the hoses.
If I can control just the 20% of hose of the curl I rarely use that might be enough.

oosik · Feb 10, 2018

Slack in the hoses - yes. Actually the hoses, with the attached bungee holding them up off the ground, are still long enough that I don't think the bungee is stretched even in the most radical position. Which would be with the grapple rotated all the way down.

It became obvious, right away, that I had to do something to keep all the hose up and off the ground. Not so much worried about the hoses dragging - didn't want those extra long hoses to catch on something. So far, after three years, no problems.

ch1ch2 · Feb 10, 2018

I have had my grapple for 3 or 4 years with only one time that I recall when the hoses hung up and I saw it before anything got damaged.

The lift and curl functions of the FEL went to a manifold in the center of the FEL. The hoses kept coming unplugged and over time I had 2 hoses I replaced.
The manifold was some strange proprietary POS. There were hose ends that looked like male ends of air hoses that plugged into the manifold. I was told that our government would not let the hose ends into the country because they were used in bomb making, but they could be imported as a hose assembly from Canada. After buying the assembly twice and issues with them unplugging, I decided to get rid of all of it.

I ordered new hoses and JIC fitting form several places and made what I needed. I just got around to making it pretty like I should have to start with. Now with it cleaned up the grapple hoses have room to fall to the ground or to hang up on things.

I will get back out to the farm hopefully this week if the weather turns nice. Thanks for helping me decide which way to go.