Grappling fun - A Picture Thread....

[k0ua]

It's not the size of the army but the fury of the attack that counts.

"A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week"

George Patton

 

[Jim Timber]

A plan is only good until the first encounter with the enemy. - unknown

 

[4570Man]

Yep, mini ex can eat a grapple for breakfast when it comes to digging. I don't think the little dk40 would lift this thing. Made the back of my 5065e light as it was.

A mini excavator of equal weight will eat a backhoes lunch. A backhoe will still eat a grapples lunch for grubbing stumps.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'll show you the superior stump grubbing of a backhoe. How is it any more maneuverable than a double lid? The bottom of the grapple is the same size. The weight difference is like 50 pounds.

I was only comparing single lid narrow grapple to wider double lid. Please show me how a 60-72" double lid grapple weighs only 50lbs more than a 48-50" single lid.

Of course a backhoe will grub a stump even faster. That's why I have one. Ripper head too which is way faster and less mess than using a bucket. I don't bother cutting down most trees less than 12-15" diameter trunk anymore, just rip the roots and push them over. No muss no fuss.

 

[IslandTractor]

Yep, mini ex can eat a grapple for breakfast when it comes to digging.

I don't think the little dk40 would lift this thing.

Made the back of my 5065e light as it was.

Not sure how big that stump is. I can get good size stumps out with my grapple/BH/ripper though.

 

[4570Man]

I was only comparing single lid narrow grapple to wider double lid. Please show me how a 60-72" double lid grapple weighs only 50lbs more than a 48-50" single lid. Of course a backhoe will grub a stump even faster. That's why I have one. Ripper head too which is way faster and less mess than using a bucket. I don't bother cutting down most trees less than 12-15" diameter trunk anymore, just rip the roots and push them over. No muss no fuss.

That is a ridiculous comparison. Something big enough to justify putting a 72 grapple on it is still going to lift more than a machine with a 48" grapple. Since we both have backhoes why does it matter what grapple is better at doing backhoe work?

 

[Jim Timber]

That was a 18" DBH red oak. That root ball was heavy and big.

 

[IslandTractor]

That is a ridiculous comparison. Something big enough to justify putting a 72 grapple on it is still going to lift more than a machine with a 48" grapple. Since we both have backhoes why does it matter what grapple is better at doing backhoe work?

You would be surprised how many people select grapples the same width as their standard bucket. Indeed, I think dealers who don't know much about grapples often recommend as much. Read through the threads on grapples here. LOTS of people with 40 or even lower HP tractors have 72" grapples with double lids.

And no, a tractor with 3000lb lift capacity with an 800lb grapple is not going to lift more than a tractor with 2700lb lift and a 350lb grapple. Do the math.

 

[IslandTractor]

That was a 18" DBH red oak. That root ball was heavy and big.

The photos I posted were also oak and about as wide.

 

[TomSeller]

A mini excavator of equal weight will eat a backhoes lunch..

Unless you are gong to dig a moderate sized hole on the other end of a large piece of property. Then the Backhoe can be done and back in the barn before the Mini EX could get half way there. Or half way onto the trailer. Mini EXs are great for certain properties or certain uses. Backhoes are more all around useful in my opinion as long as you aren't doing serious digging. Then the EX is the way to go.

 

[Xfaxman]

Getting the thread back on topic, a grapple project from last year. The cedar trees range from 2" to 4" diameter.

A pile of 8, pulled a week earlier.

View from the seat, first 8 in the grapple.

Adding #9 and #10.

Picking up # 11.

A pile of 7 small trees will be added to the 11 in the grapple.

18 in the grapple and 6 on the ground.

Put the 18 on the 6 and now have 24 in the grapple.

24 trees in the grapple and 6 on the ground.

Put the 24 on the 6 and now have 30 in the grapple.

30 cedar trees headed to the burn pile.

Made it without dropping any. :thumbsup:

 

[4570Man]

Unless you are gong to dig a moderate sized hole on the other end of a large piece of property. Then the Backhoe can be done and back in the barn before the Mini EX could get half way there. Or half way onto the trailer. Mini EXs are great for certain properties or certain uses. Backhoes are more all around useful in my opinion as long as you aren't doing serious digging. Then the EX is the way to go.

I completely agree. That's why I own a backhoe. A TLB is probably the most versatile tool out there. If the contest was digging a hole, and grubbing a few stumps, the excavator is going to win. If the contest was digging a hole, loading a dump truck, spreading a load of dirt 100 yards away from the dump site, unloading a couple pallets off a truck, skidding firewood out of the woods, driving 2 miles on public roads to the jobsite, and plowing snow. Well, I think we can agree on who wins that.

 

[Piston]

View attachment 453831

Dennis,
I haven't noticed this before, but what is the second hydraulic cylinder for your boom lift? It looks considerably smaller than the main boom lift, is it an assist cylinder, or safety backup? Something else?
-Matt

 

[Xfaxman]

Dennis,
I haven't noticed this before, but what is the second hydraulic cylinder for your boom lift? It looks considerably smaller than the main boom lift, is it an assist cylinder, or safety backup? Something else?
-Matt

It is the self leveling cylinder, seen here on this view of the right side.

The curl cylinder shown from this under the boom shot.

Side view of where the curl cylinder is located.

Full dump.

 

[JRL305]

Went down into the woods today and harvested some dead Oaks that had fallen. Took them up to the shop, cut 'em up and spit 'em. That should last a day or two. They check out at 14% too.

 

[Industrial Toys]

This is not what this particular grapple was built for, but it was fun anyway. I now have a JD 640 to SS adapter and would use a more suitable grapple.

 

[TomSeller]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=453981"/>

This is not what this particular grapple was built for, but it was fun anyway. I now have a JD 640 to SS adapter and would use a more suitable grapple.

Yes but it shows how little the lid is used to haul a load since you have a nice load without any appreciable lid contact. Lids just hold the load down and one will usually do.

 

[4570Man]

Yes but it shows how little the lid is used to haul a load since you have a nice load without any appreciable lid contact. Lids just hold the load down and one will usually do.

I could have hauled the same load just as good on pallet forks without any lid.

 

[TomSeller]

I could have hauled the same load just as good on pallet forks without any lid.

Yep, and you certainly would not need two lids.

 

[4570Man]

Yep, and you certainly would not need two lids.

You have two eyes, two arms, two legs, two loader arms, two head lights, and everyone needs at least two tractors. Two is obviously better than one.