Kennyd it’s your fault, and that’s my story

[PineRidge]

Never had an inclination to add a grapple, but then we have never used one either. While helping John, TBN member JASTN70D dig stumps this past summer I got a chance to watch John put his TN through the paces. Watching him pluck stumps out of the ground amazed me at just how easy it was for him to maneuver stumps as well as cut trees to his burn pile with the help of his grapple.

We had been following more than a few posts made by different TBN members that had added grapples to their own tractors. Still we weren’t convinced until we started following a thread posted by Kennyd showing how he professionally added front hydraulics to his John Deere tractor. The wheels immediately started to turn and we were hooked, big time.

Since Kennyd was kind enough to supply the part number for the hydraulic control valve we put our package together using the same valve only we added a twist to the control circuit.

We had been talking with Junkman about using a foot operated switch to control the grapple and Junkman came up with a much better idea that was also simpler in design.

See what you think of the front hydraulics that we are currently adding to our New Holland thanks to ideas from Kennyd and Junkman. click here

 

[surfran]

Nice job, it looks professional.

 

[PineRidge]

Thanks, not finished yet as you can see but we have a nice start. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[SPIKER]

Re: Kennyd it’s your fault, and that’s my story

ok PR: I'm going to have to send you dirrections for getting to my place so you can bring that puppy down and help me move some 3 or 4 BIG brush piles /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif VERY nice job indeed!

Mark M Jeromesville OH.

BTW how much SNOW/ ICE you all get? there was NO power YET (2 pm today) at my farm, since wensday night/thursday Am. I posted a photo of trees down and snow in the china forum regarding starting Jinmas started by soundguy. I don't have good photo editing software here so I won't put on a photo of it here..

 

[Junkman]

Thanks for the credit for the latching solonoid..... Rose called today and gave me heck for spending more of your money. She wanted to know what I thought was wrong with a $3 foot switch that I suggested a $40 latching solenoid. I told her that the more money that I got you to spend, the less you would have to spend on her. She wasn't amused, but I did get a good laugh out of my favorite mother in law... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Wait till you hear my next expensive idea for the grapple itself... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Got to run..... I have to catch a plane for Peru in the morning.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Re: Kennyd it’s your fault, and that’s my story

Mark thanks for the compliment but the projects not finished yet. I just came in from the pole barn where I have the original steel lines now disconnected that normally run from the joystick. Gotta get some measurements for a couple of flexible hydraulic hoses in the morning to replace two of the short steel lines.

We got about 7 to 9 inches of snow which wasn't too bad but even before I could get the snowblower out the ice started. After it was all over there was about 2 to 3 inches of ice on top of the snow.

Because of the mix of snow and ice it was impossible to use the snowblower, it was just too heavy to throw. So it had to be cleaned off the drive with the use of the loader bucket, that made the going real slow.

The weight of the ice as you know first hand was just too much for a lot of trees and power lines. I really feel sorry for folks like yourself that may encounter damage to your home because of the ice storm.

Junk we're still thinking about what you said about the grapple. John also suggested that we find someone local with a plasma cutter that can handle the patterns and just make the thing ourselves. We're giving it some serious consideration.

BTW: I'm not in the doghouse yet, although I came real close today. The wife caught me down at John's today hooking up the grapple circuit on John's TN and she wasn't amused. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I wonder if she can ever forgive me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[jinman]

Re: Kennyd it’s your fault, and that’s my story

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We had been talking with Junkman about using a foot operated switch to control the grapple and Junkman came up with a much better idea that was also simpler in design.
)</font>

The turtle is dead! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. . .
Long live the turtle. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Nice job on the joystick switch, PineRidge. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I'm a little curious about the solenoid. You call it a "latching" solenoid and that makes me think of something that latches-in with power from a momentary switch and stays latched until it gets the next momentary swith input, i.e. a toggle. Looking at your circuit, it just looks like your solenoid works like a common starter solenoid. Can you elaborate on that a little? I guess I'm a little surprised that your solenoid was $30. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Anyway, I'm watching your progress very closely, because my old tractor is really getting jealous of all the front grapples being added. So far, I like what I see. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[kennyd]

Mike, That looks great!
I wish my joystick was made that way! Mine just has a knob on the end of a solid rod, no hope of running wires to it as cleanly as you did.

It is nice to get blamed for things that work out well for a change /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PS.. I see a NAPA part # on that relay, Correct?

 

[sassafraspete]

PineRidge, and KennyD..... I just want to say I have enjoyed your discussion on front remotes. The detail you go into describing and illustrating your work is of great value to the rest of us "dreamers" out here. I have a front plow, and currently just unhook my curl lines. A front grapple.... I can only dream.

Keep up the good work. You add great value to this site.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: Kennyd it&#8217;s your fault, and that&#8217;s my story

Jim, while the solenoid does look like most it's not. You are right the solenoid that we used latches the contacts closed with the first application of 12 vdc and then latches the contacts open with the second application of 12 vdc. The 12 vdc coil voltage only needs to be a momentary application. I figured that way once the button was tapped it wouldn't be as critical to hold the joystick in any special way with my hand while doing the curl, side to side motion. Napa seems to get an arm and a leg for their Cole Hershee parts, this was $41.17 with tax. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

KennyD I was thinking of your setup as well when I first mentioned the pushbutton. Can you use a switch like the picture attached? It looks to me like it just slips over the end of a control lever. WR Long has them.

Sassafraspete that's what we like most about this site. The great ideas keep popping up all over the TBN site. And most of the guys simply keep evolving the basic ideas to fit their own needs. I know we have a folder where we store future projects that we have seen here like snowplow blades. hint hint........ /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif