Grapple Grapples Galore

[Glowplug]

I think that manufacturers are likely to recommend heavier duty (more expensive) options especially since they make the sale anyway and don't need to worry that you'll find a way to damage the goods.

All good points. I agree with you. The only one I don't agree with in this specific context is that Markham would try to sell the larger grapple just to make the sale. They seem to be extremely honest and are looking out for the best interest of their customers. They don't warranty their light-duty grapples, just the hydraulics. They have a 1-year warranty on the heavy-duty grapple. By the way, the lift capacity of the M7040 is over 2,500 lbs.

So, all of your points are valid. I just wanted to put in a good word for Markham specifically.

By the way, momentum = mass x velocity. If I recall correctly. So it is a linear function.

 

[DocHeb]

Momentum = mass x velocity(squared)

linear for mass, geometric for velocity.

 

[LogChain]

What's up Doc?

High school Physics teaches us otherwise.

momentum = mass x velocity

kinetic energy = 1/2 x mass x velocity x velocity


Respectfully,

LogChain

 

[DocHeb]

Of course you're right - that's why I got all "C"s in Physics!

 

[shaley]

Doc, don't feel bad, I flunked every class first semester until I found out I was highlighting with a black magic marker.

 

[IslandTractor]

The only one I don't agree with in this specific context is that Markham would try to sell the larger grapple just to make the sale. They seem to be extremely honest and are looking out for the best interest of their customers.

I did not mean the comment as a slam on Markham. I have one of their toothbars and they are a great company. My point is more that if a customer shows that he is "wondering" about the adequacy of a light duty implement it would be natural for a sales person to simply bow to the customers perceived need for something bigger. I betcha that Markham sells the vast majority of their grapples to skid steer owners and that they have relatively little experience with CUTs (for grapples). That could be a factor as a 68hp skid steer would be quite a brute compared to an M7040 at least with regard to FEL power. I haven't looked up the lift capacity of skid steers but I imagine that 2500lbs of lift would be a smaller (HP wise) skid steer, maybe something in the 30-40hp diesel range. If the Markham sales people are more familiar with skid steers they might well advocate the heavier duty grapple based on such a (mistaken) belief that tractor FELs are equivalent to skid steers and would therefore require similar duty implements.

 

[KentT]

With some designs of light-duty grapples it is possible to bend them if you don't apply the force in a straight line -- so be careful of pulling sideways with the teeth, or carrying heavy loads pinched with only one tooth...

I bent one of the outside teeth (or fingers or whatever you call them) on my PT's grapple bucket trying to move a big log sideways by articulating the tractor. Note that these teeth have no lateral reinforcement in the last 12" - 14" or so...

http://loonlanding.info/2_IMG_0053.JPG

 

[IslandTractor]

I bent one of the outside teeth (or fingers or whatever you call them) on my PT's grapple bucket trying to move a big log sideways by articulating the tractor. Note that these teeth have no lateral reinforcement in the last 12" - 14" or so...

No lateral reinforcement for the last foot or so will certainly cause problems when you do put a lateral force on the teeth. Most grapples seem to have more reinforcement than yours. I think mine has reinforcement up to about 5 inches or so. Still, the type of operation you describe is exactly the kind of lateral stress that no grapple is really designed for. They are engineered strictly for up and down, forwards and backwards forces, not lateral. Then again, that is exactly the same as an FEL so almost anything that could damage a grapple could also damage or torque FEL arms.

 

[Glowplug]

I did not mean the comment as a slam on Markham. I have one of their toothbars and they are a great company. My point is more that if a customer shows that he is "wondering" about the adequacy of a light duty implement it would be natural for a sales person to simply bow to the customers perceived need for something bigger. I betcha that Markham sells the vast majority of their grapples to skid steer owners and that they have relatively little experience with CUTs (for grapples). That could be a factor as a 68hp skid steer would be quite a brute compared to an M7040 at least with regard to FEL power. I haven't looked up the lift capacity of skid steers but I imagine that 2500lbs of lift would be a smaller (HP wise) skid steer, maybe something in the 30-40hp diesel range. If the Markham sales people are more familiar with skid steers they might well advocate the heavier duty grapple based on such a (mistaken) belief that tractor FELs are equivalent to skid steers and would therefore require similar duty implements.

I think you are completely right on target there.

They initially steered me toward the light-duty grapple when they found out I would be using it on a tractor, but then told me I'd likely be better off with a heavy-duty based on my tractor specs. But yesterday, when I was ordering it, Melissa said, "Now you're planning on putting this on a tractor, right?" She was wanting to make sure the universal skid steer attachment would work without an adaptor and that I had the hydraulics to run a third function. But that did give me the impression that the vast majority of their business goes towards skid steers owners.

I don't know. It's all a moot point to me now anyway. I'm glad I ordered what I did and I'll be glad when it gets here.

 

[IslandTractor]

It's all a moot point to me now anyway.

Exactly, now you will be a GRAPPLE owner and really start to have fun. I expect you to get that silly bucket off your avatar photo and replace it with a photo of a real tool soon.

Just to double check, make sure that either Markham equips you with the appropriate hoses/couplers or that your dealer gets you the correct stuff to hook it up. Nothing is more frustrating than a brand new grapple with no way to make the hydraulic connections.