Heavy Duty Mechanical Grapple on little tractor

[fxrupr]

Here's a pic of the grapple I designed which uses the position of the bucket to grasp objects.

The grapple essentially stays in position relative to the loader arms while the bucket rotates.
It has a tremendous grip.
The ability to lift large diameter logs would be improved if I added some teeth to the edge of the bucket.

Earlier version which succumbed to destructive testing

The limiting factor on what it will lift now is the size of the loader arm cylinders.
The orange version could probably loose 50 lbs with a design change which started from
scratch but hey it works just fine the way it is now.
One great thing we do with it is back-drag like a rake. It clears out briers incredibly
well as well as mashing smaller brush. You have to be careful picking stuff up because it will snap 3 inch limbs.
I like the fact that closes tight so you could carry 1/2 inch rebar if need be and it wouldn't fall out.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm so geometrically inadequate.

Can you post some pics of it open?? Or maybe with the bucket sitting flat on the ground as if trying to fill it??

I've never saw anything like this before!!! Very interesting!!!

 

[hr3]

Sweet.. I've been thinking on the same lines,,nice job.

 

[pappy60]

That is a great design... Thanks...

 

[Mendonsy]

I've been planning to make one since I saw your original yellow one, but I do have a couple of questions.
1) Do yo have any idea how much your orange version weighs??
2) Do you have any dimensions for the center distances??

 

[TSO]

Cool idea

 

[Diggernut]

I like the way you think Great Idea :thumbsup:

 

[herringchoker]

Brilliant! Can I copy?

 

[bcp]

About halfway down this page are photos of another mechanical grapple, with different linkage.

Forks for loader - Yesterday's Tractors

Bruce

 

[2458n]

Thank you for sharing. Been all over the net- this is a first for me. And not hard to copy.