Homemade Grapple project

[RonMar]

Looks very good so far. If you are going to make a habit of this, you really need to invest in a CAD program It is way quicker and more versitile than cutting and fitting wood scraps(or cardboard like I used to use to try out your ideas. The measuring features of most CAD programs are also great for estimating materials. I use Autocad and love it. for a project like this, I can draw up an arm like you made then select it and rotate it around a set point within the limits of the ram min/max length to see how far the grapple will open and close and how it will match up with the rest of the bucket. I usually get pretty good at building things on the third or forth try as I have usually found all the better ways to do it by then.. Doing the first couple of builds on the CAD sure saves time and materials.

I have been toying with ideas to add a grapple to the fork bucket I made last summer. I like the ram down the back of the bucket. Keeps it protected and the weight closer to the tractor. Need to finish building the flatbed for my project truck first.

Keep the pics comming, and please show us some of it in operation when you get it finished.

 

[Steve_Miller]

Jim,
I am planning on putting the cylinder behind, but not quite sure if it will provide enough down force for my liking. I guess I'll try it and see what happens. There will be three tines on the front part, well thats the plan right now. The multiple holes was part of my design, trying to find out how high up I need to go to get clearance for the pivoting action.

Thanks for the interest
Steve

 

[Steve_Miller]

RonMar,
If CAD is anything like other programs I don't have the patience to sit there and figure out how to use it. I find if you don't use a program enough then you tend to forget how to use all the functions very quickly. Not that it couldn't save me a lot of time in the end, but I find it fun trying things the way I do now, mostly by trial and error, and errors are usually what I don't forget.

P.S. Besides, I'd rather spend that money on something tractor related.

Steve

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Just stick with the wood then - it works for you just fine!

 

[PineRidge]

I'm like you as I have CAD on my puter but never sat down and tried to master it. To busy twisting wrenches to actually get the job done instead of planning on how to do it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Steve_Miller]

Got a little more done yesterday.

Steve

 

[Steve_Miller]

An opened view.

 

[PineRidge]

looks mean, real mean. Are you planning on picking up a house with that monster? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[jinman]

Steve, that's very nice! I was a little surprised to see the pin-on attachment, but on a small grapple or bucket, it should not take long to change out even with pins.

I hope to see pictures of it in use soon. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Steve_Miller]

Was set back for a while as my brother past away suddenly last week at the age of 43. A little more progress. I got the hydraulics geared to my rear remote for now. Hope to gear up a selector valve in the near future for the grapple and my snow wing.

Steve