Grapple Time

[nebraskasparks]

Sound like there might still be pressure at the connection. The easiest thing to do is take a piece of woods and press the ball in a little or tap it with a RUBBER mallet,to let the pressure out. This will cause a small amount of hydraulic fluid to leak out but you can get the connection made then.

Wedge

Tried that many times...that's why we think we're going nuts. You can get the two completely on and it will not click. Other times it does and many of us have tried many things...some even going to clamps to get it on.

 

[kattywumpus]

The picture show the best way to move a cast iron tub, in my opinion!
Also moved several old log piles. Used the grapple 4 hours this weekend and function perfectly.

 

[foggy1111]

We had a MAJOR windstorm here last week. The high winds pushed about 25 trees and a bunch of branches down over my trails. It was pretty sweet cleaning up with the grapple. It made easy work :thumbsup: out of what could have been a long day....and reduced the time out in my food plots just before the rifle season.

 

[M59 Jim]

I appreciate the concern about brush poking through the back of the grapple. I suppose it can happen but I've been operating a very similar open back grapple (Millonzi 48) for the past five years in brush clearing and I've never seen a piece of wood come out the back in a way that could hit my radiator. Again, I don't doubt it can happen but it must be a pretty rare event.

The most vulnerable time in my experience is not loading the grapple but oddly when unloading especially when packing brush into big piles. Stuff that is already in the pile can sneak under the grapple when you raise the boom to add to the top of the pile.

I must be unlucky or I need to be more careful. I haven't had brush get to my radiator but a tree branch broke my front headlight. One little branch was all it took. Some grapples are more open than others. To reduce the risk of damage I had my dealer weld on some expanded metal (I think that is what it is called) to the grill guard. Gives me a little piece of mind.

 

[kattywumpus]

I must be unlucky or I need to be more careful. I haven't had brush get to my radiator but a tree branch broke my front headlight. One little branch was all it took. Some grapples are more open than others. To reduce the risk of damage I had my dealer weld on some expanded metal (I think that is what it is called) to the grill guard. Gives me a little piece of mind.

Expanded metal is a good idea.

 

[foggy1111]

A VERY good idea. Don't ask me how I know. This is my old tractor...before I 'improved" my grille guard. The brush is also hard on your hydraulic lines and hoses. Guards are good!

 

[kattywumpus]

OUCH!!!! I need to find some expanded metal ASAP!

 

[foggy1111]

Heres the same tractor....after the improved guard. End of problem. :thumbsup: But see how vulnerable those hoses and hydraulic lines are? It all needs protection....Brush can be a bumber.

 

[kattywumpus]

Heres the same tractor....after the improved guard. End of problem. :thumbsup: But see how vulnerable those hoses and hydraulic lines are? It all needs protection....Brush can be a bumber.

Yep, and the under side too.

 

[rd_macgregor]

The first couple of times that I switched bucket and grapple, I had a struggle with the couplings. Now, when I get ready for the switch, I turn off the engine with the FEl still raised a bit (and/or grapple still slightly open). With the engine off, I let everything down so there's no pressure left in the lines. This approach has made the decouple/couple operation go really smoothly for me...I can do the changeover from bucket to grapple rake (or back) in a couple of minutes or less. Often, it takes me longer to get the QA lined up right than it does to do the hydraulic hookup.

BOB