Grapple Home made bucket grapple

Dana Warner · Jul 22, 2012

After looking at all the posts about bucket grapples I decided to put one together. The valve is from surplus center and is plumbed to the power beyond port on the FEL valve. The new valve also having power beyond then feeds the 3pt. The grapple arms are made from flame cut 3/4" plate powered from a 1 1/2" ram. I reinforced the top of the bucket with 3 x 4 x 3/8 angle. Also added removable bucket teeth to the bucket.

Deerherd · Jul 22, 2012

Nice job!

J_J · Jul 22, 2012

Very well done. Nice, clean installation.

CBW1999 · Jul 22, 2012

Very nice set up. good work on the flame cutting- i wouldn't be able to do as well with a plasma cutter........

Freakingstang · Jul 22, 2012

nice job! I am looking to make one for my home made FEL and brush/hayforks. I too have the surplus loader valve and just got my PB valve. why did you make the grapple arms out of 3/8? do you think 1/4" would work? I"m trying to minimize extra front end weight on my midget tractor. also, it looks like the pins on the grapple cylinder have no clips? and what kind of stroke did you end up going with for the grapple cylinder?

Gordon Gould · Jul 22, 2012

Very nice job. :thumbsup:
How do you like your valve set up ? I like being able to use both valves at once. You did your hydraulics the same way I did mine. But I bought an ATI grapple because I am not handy with a torch like you are.

hank193 · Jul 22, 2012

Looks like that will do the job. I'm planning on something very similar for my bucket. I like the looks of it. Nice work.

Dana Warner · Jul 22, 2012

The grapple arms are 3/4" thick. I think 1/2" would have worked but the thinner the steel the more need for reinforcement. The cylinder stroke is 8". All the cylinder and grapple arms have the circular locking hitch pins so brush and branches won't push them off. The top of my bucket needed to be reinforced so there 3/8 angle iron was used. Stacking the valve worked well and easy to operate but only one valve at a time. Using a diverter would have worked as others have done but with electronics more problems can occur.

cmore · Jul 22, 2012

Looks good

Gordon Gould · Jul 23, 2012

Dana Warner said:
The grapple arms are 3/4" thick. I think 1/2" would have worked but the thinner the steel the more need for reinforcement. The cylinder stroke is 8". All the cylinder and grapple arms have the circular locking hitch pins so brush and branches won't push them off. The top of my bucket needed to be reinforced so there 3/8 angle iron was used. Stacking the valve worked well and easy to operate but only one valve at a time. Using a diverter would have worked as others have done but with electronics more problems can occur.

I think you will find that you can run your bucket and grapple at the same time as long as you don't exceed the pressure relief setting on the bucket. Try it you will be pleasantly surprised. It is another advantage over the diverter valve system.
I put my controls so I could work them both with one hand.