Grapple Size ??

[Luke'sScreenName]

I thought an MX has a loader near the L39/L45/L47 capacity, i.e. about 1 ton Lift?
A light duty is great for logs and brush but playing with rocks is rough on grapples and I'd tend toward the 75Hp-600 lb wicked grapple if rock are a concern.

X2 :thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

Breakout force (loader lift at ground level) is 4200# at the pins and 3200# at the bucket edge.
Capacity at max height is 2500# at pins and 1850# at bucket edge.

Not sure what the TLB's are. But unless its poorly made, a 400-500# grapple is not gonna get hurt by the MX loader

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Breakout force (loader lift at ground level) is 4200# at the pins and 3200# at the bucket edge.
Capacity at max height is 2500# at pins and 1850# at bucket edge.

Not sure what the TLB's are. But unless its poorly made, a 400-500# grapple is not gonna get hurt by the MX loader

If used on brush... Probably. IMO.

 

[LD1]

I've use mine on big rocks and slabs of concrete, moving junk, logs, ripping up roots, moving implements, etc. Just about everything you can imagine. Trying to push and pry against a rock or root, with everything she's got, I still stand by my comment. Ain't no mx-sized loader gonna hurt a well made 400-500# grapple. And IMO, an 800# grapple is a waste of money and lift capacity.

Now if I was shopping g for a grapple for my backhoe with 6000-7000# lift capacity with 18k pounds behind it...Then yea, that would justify the added cost and weight for a heavy grapple

 

[Piston]

LD1 is right, I have the same loader as the MX tractors and my WR Long 500lb grapple is more than strong enough for my loader. These loaders really aren't that powerful.

 

[jmoneil]

Here is what I have on my MX5100 And I am happy with it. Loaded alot of logs and pushed alot of brush and no damage or bent tines at all.

Tomahawk Attachments :: Tomahawk 66" One-Cylinder Brush Grapple

I also have one of these grapples. I have been clearing quite a bit of dead ash with no issues.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

My grapple is well over 800lbs. Only ever used on my MX. I don't know what else to say.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Personal opinion is that I would rather tear up a grapple because it was lightweight rather than stress the loader frame with a heavier grapple. I'm pretty careful with my FEL so it's probably a mute point. I can always beef the grapple up if it needs it. It's back to personal preference. No absolute right or wrong answer.

 

[oosik]

Like Luke says - my grapple is the only one I've ever had. Works great with my M6040 and works with anything/everything I've got on my property. It will lift my heavy pine logs and raise the loaded rear tires even with my 800# LPGS on the 3-point. But only once - cut my big logs down to 10 foot chunks.

 

[mike69440]

Breakout force (loader lift at ground level) is 4200# at the pins and 3200# at the bucket edge.
Capacity at max height is 2500# at pins and 1850# at bucket edge.

Not sure what the TLB's are. But unless its poorly made, a 400-500# grapple is not gonna get hurt by the MX loader

This is the OEM Loader Spec Graph. (1 Kg = 2.2 lbs.)

This Sunday we used the L39 to load a steer on the back of the butchers truck, hanging off a chain hung off the front of my snow plow. I was tilted on at most a 5% grade, but at full lift height that poor cow at only 1300-1400 lbs had me nervous swaying around. I've seen too many you tube videos of cranes toppling over.

So always try to carry the load as low as possible.

 

[mike69440]

My bucket is 72" and at times it has been a little wide for the work I wanted to do in and around my big & little pines. So I went with a Land Pride SGC1560.

Its 60" wide and weighs 820#. It would be called a root & rock grapple. Its heavy duty to the extreme - I've never wanted a wider/narrower unit and its great for grubbing out rocks, trees and roots. Its very handy for light grading/leveling in either forward or reverse. Very nice for bunching up limbs from a trimmed up fallen pine.

The beauty of purchasing a grapple is that you DO have such a wide field to select from...... "choose wisely, grasshopper"

View attachment 497768

I like the construction, the gussets, the serrations and the way the claws interlock. Plus it so new! Root and rock grapple is different from root grapple.

 

[LD1]

My grapple is well over 800lbs. Only ever used on my MX. I don't know what else to say.
View attachment 497858

1/2" steel?

Your grapple is of a different design than mine. Looks like yours has several inches of unsupported "tine" there at the end.

Look at tall the pictures of this one at the side and you will see why I dont bend the tips Tomahawk Attachments :: Tomahawk 66" One-Cylinder Brush Grapple

 

[sdef]

I've use mine on big rocks and slabs of concrete, moving junk, logs, ripping up roots, moving implements, etc. Just about everything you can imagine. Trying to push and pry against a rock or root, with everything she's got, I still stand by my comment. Ain't no mx-sized loader gonna hurt a well made 400-500# grapple. And IMO, an 800# grapple is a waste of money and lift capacity.

Now if I was shopping g for a grapple for my backhoe with 6000-7000# lift capacity with 18k pounds behind it...Then yea, that would justify the added cost and weight for a heavy grapple

+1. Here are a few pics of my 500# rock bucket. It has dug out many large rocks from my heavy clay soil and only has scratched paint to show for its efforts. Did have one tooth break off but that was due to a strange metal weak point early on in its life.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Just to be clear, I am not suggesting that the OP needs an 800# grapple. Heck, I'm not positive I do! But the certainty of the statement is misleading:

I still stand by my comment. Ain't no mx-sized loader gonna hurt a well made 400-500# grapple.

It's a Land Pride SGC2072 at 895#. Yes, 1/2 AR400 steel tines. I'm pretty sure I would have destroyed a Tomahawk grapple by now but the extra lift capacity would be nice for sure. Cheers. :thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

Keep in mind guys that all steel is not created equal.. Having thick 36,000 psi steel is nowhere near as good as having a grapple made from 80,000 psi steel that can be made much thinner and be as strong or stronger. 36,000 psi steel is the so called "mild steel" that most farm implements are made from.

 

[LD1]

I'm pretty sure I would have destroyed a Tomahawk grapple by now but the extra lift capacity would be nice for sure. Cheers. :thumbsup:

If all you got to use it on is the MX4800, I dont think you could "destroy it". I have tried.

I have bit down on ~12" diameter logs ~30' long BETWEEN the teeth, to drag backwards out of the edge of the woods and into the field. Sometimes limited on space, it involves backing up while turning. So if you can imagine a 30' long, 12" diameter log, between the teeth like a prybar. Sometimes this log snags on a stump or tree enough that I break traction and it forces the tractor where it wants.

Like I said, look at how the teeth are gusseted. 3/8" mild steel with gussets all the way to the tip is gonna be alot stronger than 1/2" T1 unsupported for several inches.

But its all in the design. I am not saying your grapple is a bad design. It was made for a different purpose. It was made to sink them think tines in the ground and rip out roots, so gussets would hinder its operation.

Mine was designed with scooping and loading logs and brush, rocks, etc in mind. So the teeth are very well gusseted because it aint made to be teeth down in the dirt.

 

[Xfaxman]

I'm looking to get a grapple for my MX5800 with LA1065 FEL and have a question regarding the best width to get. The bucket on the 1065 is 72" and matches the rear tire width. In the past, I've always sized my implement width to be equal to or greater than the tire width. Should the same be true for a grapple? The main use for the grapple is moving logs, large tree branches and brush. Any suggestions?

A narrow grapple will handle long logs just fine.

You will have to decide which basic style will work best for you.

Clam / rake:

L Bottom / root, get the widest opening possible:

Sometimes the brush is small and scattered around. I loaded this by hand, can't do it on a clam / rake style.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

If all you got to use it on is the MX4800, I dont think you could "destroy it". I have tried.

I have bit down on ~12" diameter logs ~30' long BETWEEN the teeth, to drag backwards out of the edge of the woods and into the field. Sometimes limited on space, it involves backing up while turning. So if you can imagine a 30' long, 12" diameter log, between the teeth like a prybar. Sometimes this log snags on a stump or tree enough that I break traction and it forces the tractor where it wants.

Like I said, look at how the teeth are gusseted. 3/8" mild steel with gussets all the way to the tip is gonna be alot stronger than 1/2" T1 unsupported for several inches.

But its all in the design. I am not saying your grapple is a bad design. It was made for a different purpose. It was made to sink them think tines in the ground and rip out roots, so gussets would hinder its operation.

Mine was designed with scooping and loading logs and brush, rocks, etc in mind. So the teeth are very well gusseted because it aint made to be teeth down in the dirt.

That grapple is definitely a good value. I keep toying with the idea of getting one just for brush and loose rock work (but SWMBO would not look kindly on it :confused3.

Back to the OPs question: If it were me, I'd want a 5-700# "flat bottom" grapple... I'd have a slight preference for one lid over two... And I still don't know about the width (which was the point of his post ).

 

[Snapper Head]

FWIW - I put a EA Wicked Root Grapple on my L3940. Bucket was 6 feet, so I went with something slightly narrower, the 60-something-inch width. I have been extremely pleased with it. I like the dual claws and there is no issue with the hydraulic setup (though I did rip a hose early on while I was in 'bulldozer' mode. The grapple is just too handy, it stays on the tractor unless I need the bucket or forks. I feel the weight a bit if I don't have anything on the rear, but I don't work with it in that mode, I always have my weight bucket on it when using it.

When I was shopping for one, I was told here on TBN that a root grapple does not convert your tractor into a bulldozer. That is an accurate statement.


Big Al