Looking for bucket reinforcement advice for grapple

Firefighter Kubota · Apr 2, 2009

Hill Farmer said:
Thanks. The one I have coming will detach from the bracket by pulling 3 pins. Then again, weight is not really on issue on a 75 horse cab tractor, but I guess it could get in the way at times. I'll have to be sure and put a QD for my hose up front. Do I want my grapple to hang past the lip of the bucket? Basically use the bucket as a stop or try to back it up some if I can? Love to see some pics of your set up.

Completed Grapple pics.. Very much like Trusts install except I welded the nuts to the angle iron, rather than cut out access notches, and angled my center chain hook, Didn't like the verticle hook he installed. Other than that...

Oh yeah, Hoses are a bit long, just what I had around. Now I know exact length will order new ones..

TRUST · Apr 2, 2009

Hill Farmer said:
Looks great. I have one (different brand) on the way. Will be cleaning up after our ice storm with it. I have a couple questions.

Why did you bolt it on instead of welding it after you did all that renforcement?

The hoses look vulnerable where they hook onto the cylinder. Any problems yet with the brush snagging them?

Great thread, thanks for posting.

I like to keep my options as open as possible. Bolting it on allows me to remove it in its entirety, if for example I wanted to sell it or the base needs repair at some point. It's just the route I wanted to use first as it can be welded later if I choose, hard to go the other way!

From what I can tell there has not been an issue with the hose fittings at the cylinder. Not much you can do other than keep some fittings and a spare length of hose on hand (which I do)

Up to this point the grapple has been invaluable. It is allowing me to do stuff that otherwise I could not do with the tractor. I'm moving a lot of brush and logs. I can grab a second log with the thumb on the BH, but it is much more limited than the grapple on the diameter and weight of the log.

The top edge of the bucket definitely needed reinforcing on my bucket. The stress from "grabbing" is the obvious reason, but less obvious is when the grapple is fully open and your shaking out any debris or dirt that extra 100lbs plus pounds standing two feet off the bucket is a lot of force as well.

Mine has a slight underbite, like firefighters. At first I thought it may be an issue but has not seemed to cause me any grief. Anything I have tried to pickup has been successful. However If a option were avail for it to be a slight overbite I would probably choose that route. The next size up in my case jumped 6 or 8 inches which would have been to much IMO.

Firefighter Kubota · Apr 3, 2009

TRUST said:
I like to keep my options as open as possible. Bolting it on allows me to remove it in its entirety, if for example I wanted to sell it or the base needs repair at some point. It's just the route I wanted to use first as it can be welded later if I choose, hard to go the other way!

Although I welded my mounting nuts inside the channel, I am still able to completely remove the rapple and base, Like trust..

Up to this point the grapple has been invaluable. It is allowing me to do stuff that otherwise I could not do with the tractor. I'm moving a lot of brush and logs. I can grab a second log with the thumb on the BH, but it is much more limited than the grapple on the diameter and weight of the log.

I quite agree, loaded brush, logs and even used the grapple with wood chips. it allowed the over filled bucket to hold the chips in place with out spilling out...

I find that the cutting edge distorts with a good "clamp" on a log or so..Thinking about a removeable flat bottom tooth bar to stiffen the cutting edge...

BTW, Thanks trust for posting your pics, made my install easier!

Hill Farmer · Apr 6, 2009

Thanks for the great pics and replies. Still waiting on mine to come in, it has supposedly been shipped now. Also trying to figure out what route to go on the hydro connection. It would be much easier if the tractor was not setting 75 miles away. Turkey season comes in soon, so I will be in the same place as the tractor much more often then.