Grapple rake for the 422/425?

[pequeajim]

Hey guys... It looks like Steve is working on a grapple rake design right now which might be worth looking into. He's looking for comments.

Click here for link

Jim!


EDIT: Shortened long link.

 

[JohninCT]

Charlie

Another fabricator you might want to take a look at that has a rake very similar to the ANBO (in fact they call it the ANB grapple). Skid Steer Solutions. They offer a standard and light weight series for smaller/non skid steer machines. They also offer custom widths down to 36 inch for mini skid steers which may interest the PT 425 owners. Lots of pictures and lots of cool videos too for those looking for design/construction ideas.

John

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Thanks. I've sent Skidsteer Solutions and several others requests about weight, cost, etc.

 

[pequeajim]

Charlie:

Have you spoken with this guy Steve who is working on a grapple rake design? I know that he is focusing on the 425 sized PT right now, but the design might be applicable to the larger PT like yours?

Jim!

 

[J_J]

This is a picture of PT-1445 tilt arm with extra hole.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Jim:
I'm following Steve's thread with interest. As my "plans" now stand, I'm not looking to to undertake fabrication of the whole assembly. I hope Steve's designs will lead to an attachment that really fits the 422-425, however, since most of the ones I've seen specs on are too heavy. A few are within my target for the 1845.

 

[stray]

Guys if I thought I would need a grapple fork I would build one. But now that I have a grapple bucket built out of the small rock bucket I don't see the need of one. Kind of wish I did need one so I could get more interested in the project with you all. Good luck and I am very much looking forward as to what you all come up with.

 

[Rip]

Thanks for the pic JJ,.... definitely adds versitility to handle a wider range of attachments. PT is not doing this on current models however.

I had thought of cutting the top link and rewelding it a bit shorter, but on my 1845 it would have hit the cross pivot of the rocker arm if it came back another inch, so would have given me only another 5 to 8 degrees of tilt back which was less than I wanted to gain from any modification. I guess I could have bent it instead, which would have shortened it and cleared the pivot but also weakened it in push mode.

Do you have the QA plate system or just the Three Point that I believe was standard in those days? While it looks like PT uses a similar design across the model line, there are still differences in the geometry and motion range between models. Most do not appear to want vertical attachment points like skid steer equipment though.

 

[J_J]

I just switched my solid tilt arm with an adjustable top link for 3PH.
They are designed to take the weight of anything that is on the back side. Closed down, it is a little shorter than my tilt arm which is about 24 in. With the turnbuckle turned out about 3/4 of the threads, it gives me another 8 in of bucket travel . It just might work for you if you need adjustability.

 

[Rip]

Now that is something I never thought of JJ. I have a couple of top links around...I'll have to measure and see what they could do for me. May have been a real simple way of solving my forks problem. Oh well.... perhaps it will come in handy for something else or someone else here on the fourm. Good idea.