Grapple Grapples Galore

[Turbys_1700]

I been looking at loaders and grapples for my tractor. A grapple that I am impressed with is from Westendorf. I've attached a link. The two arms work independently of each other. For brush I think that this is a great option.

In the link go to attachments and then click on brush crusher. A unique design that I think excellent.

Front-End Loaders by Westendorf: loader for tractor, shade canopy, wagons, manure & landscaping equipment.

 

[IslandTractor]

A grapple that I am impressed with is from Westendorf. I've attached a link. The two arms work independently of each other. For brush I think that this is a great option.

Two grapple arms make no difference at all for brush. If you are picking up conical object or construction debris maybe but for brush it really is zero advantage and just adds weight and expense.

 

[DocHeb]

The advantage of the Westendorf "Brush Crusher" is that the jaws operate on the FELs curl hydraulic circuit, and don't require additional hydraulics.

 

[IslandTractor]

The advantage of the Westendorf "Brush Crusher" is that the jaws operate on the FELs curl hydraulic circuit, and don't require additional hydraulics.

Then how does one curl the "Brush Crusher"? You need to be able to curl/uncurl a grapple in order to pivot the jaws over the top of a pile or stump before closing the jaws. Otherwise you are limited to a passive straight forward scooping motion (e.g. float position) which would certainly work for some things but would be pretty limiting.

If you cannot curl you cannot pick up things like this:

 

[KentT]

Then how does one curl the "Brush Crusher"? You need to be able to curl/uncurl a grapple in order to pivot the jaws over the top of a pile or stump before closing the jaws. Otherwise you are limited to a passive straight forward scooping motion (e.g. float position) which would certainly work for some things but would be pretty limiting.

If you cannot curl you cannot pick up things like this:

Absolutely... you can pick about twice as much brush if you come down on it from the top. If it is a tall pile, use downpressure with your bucket to crush the brush down, then close the grapple to pinch a big bite...

If it is looser stuff, like slash from treetops, I like to tilt the front of the bucket (and toothbar) down about 30 degrees, then push into the pile until I've filled the entire bucket and grapple (with the grapple open) and then curl the bucket trapping the brush underneath it. Finally, close the grapple and pinch all this together into the bucket. Then lift straight up, with the grapple still pointed toward the ground. I can get about twice as much brush into the bucket using this technique. Plus, with the grapple pointed down to the ground, it moves the whole load back closer to the tractor (and lift cylinders and pivot points) and I can pick up noticeably more weight...

 

[IslandTractor]

If it is looser stuff, like slash from treetops, I like to tilt the front of the bucket (and toothbar) down about 30 degrees, then push into the pile until I've filled the entire bucket and grapple (with the grapple open) and then curl the bucket trapping the brush underneath it. Finally, close the grapple and pinch all this together into the bucket. Then lift straight up, with the grapple still pointed toward the ground. .

That is exactly what I do. The only tricky part, which really just requires practice, is rolling the top of the grapple over the pile as you slowly move forward. That manuver helps to crush the brush into the grapple. Just driving forward without rolling the grapple over the top will just push the pile along the ground rather than trap it in the grapple.

 

[Glowplug]

Nice techniques guys.

It appears as though the Westendorf "Brush Crusher" is a totally different sort of beast. It looks like it works like two grappling hooks. You just come straight down on the pile with the hooks open, then close them, and lift the pile up. Very much like those little games where you try to use a hook crane to grab prizes, stuffed animals, etc. We all know how well that works. Of course, the "Brush Crusher" is designed to actually work instead of frustrate, tease, and amuse. I don't know if I'd like that type of setup though.

 

[IslandTractor]

I've looked at the photos of the "brush crusher" and it is very much a specialty device optomized for picking up whole logs. It has only two teeth each on upper and lower jaws separated by 5 feet so it can easily pick up a log but smaller brush would fall right through. You can order "finishing teeth" for the bottom jaw which would accomplish not much as there is still no way to hold the brush in place with the top teeth. This thing is very much purpose built to handle full trees or large sized slash and is nowhere near as versatile as a regular root grapple. Additionally, it costs way more than equivalent sized root grapples and four to five times as much as the sort of light duty grapple I have. The Westendorf "Brush Crusher" may have a legitimate role in a full time logging operation but would be next to worthless as a general purpose grapple.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Island, out of curiosity, what is your loader capacity. My TC40 DA with 17LA rated about 1500 # I think. It seems from the stuff you can grapple, yours might be higher!!

 

[thunderworks]

Westendorf makes several versions of the Brush Crusher. The simplest, (I don't remember model numbers) uses the "dump" function of your loader to open and close the claws of the implement. You lose the ability to both curl and open and close. They also make though, a version that requires a 3rd hydraulic function similar to the grapples made by Anbo, Bodozer, etc. . .These models have their own cylinders and require a 3rd function. I considered the Brush Crusher before eventually buying the BoDozer. I have a large Ford tractor with Westendorf's "Quick Attach" system that could have used their most basic Brush Crusher. I wanted to use the grapple however on my Kubota L5030 that has the Skidster Style quick attach system. The only model in Westendorf's line that was set up for the skidster system is the BC7000 which has its own cyclinders and requires the 3rd hydraulic function. After using the BoDozer grapple, I agree that the ability to open the grapple and come down on brush from above is a valuable option. The most basic Westendorf won't do that.