Grapple millonzi grapple?

[hunt2771]

Called John Millonzi on the morning of 7/5, he returned my call later that day and I ordered the LD-60 from him. I was going to take care of the shipping, so he gave me an address and said it would be ready for pickup on 7/8. I contacted the freight company I was using and gave them the information, they called me back on 7/9 and said when they went to the location and nobody knew anything about my order. I then called the location and they said they had the grapples but John Millonzi had not told them anything about my order. I have been trying to contact John Millonzi for nearly 2 weeks to see whats going on. This is bad business in my book, so I would say to look at other manufacturers to all the guys wanting a Millonzi product.

 

[irwin]

Called John Millonzi on the morning of 7/5, he returned my call later that day and I ordered the LD-60 from him. I was going to take care of the shipping, so he gave me an address and said it would be ready for pickup on 7/8. I contacted the freight company I was using and gave them the information, they called me back on 7/9 and said when they went to the location and nobody knew anything about my order. I then called the location and they said they had the grapples but John Millonzi had not told them anything about my order. I have been trying to contact John Millonzi for nearly 2 weeks to see whats going on. This is bad business in my book, so I would say to look at other manufacturers to all the guys wanting a Millonzi product.

ouch!! that s..ks, sorry to hear that. Was seriously considering Millonzi, glad I bought the WR Long OBG-2 64", had no problem and it took less time than they estimated.

 

[pitt_md]

Thanks Island Tractor. I guess that I will give up on them and go instead with the W.R. Long 48" open bucket grapple. It weights a little more (357 lbs), and cost slightly more ($1200). However they are within driving distance, and I can save the shipping, so the total cost would probably not be that much different.

Just an FYI...WRLong does not sell retail. You have to get one via a dealer.

 

[IslandTractor]

Just an FYI...WRLong does not sell retail. You have to get one via a dealer.

That is correct but WRLong will make just about any business a dealer (presumably without any big buy in by the dealer) in order to sell you one of their implements. So you could go to your normal dealer and ask them to do it for you.

 

[RollTideRam]

It is ashamed that Millonzi seems to be out of business. They have a great product. If Markham could sell a light duty grapple they would make a killing with their service. JC

 

[Cyberroc]

I know someone who should be able to fab up a light duty grapple. Does anyone have good, upclose pics of the LD 48?

Also, what was the price of the grapple system offered by Millonzi?

I was going the route of the load bar/bucket attach type so I do not currently have a lot of info on the full grapple pricing...

 

[IslandTractor]

Does anyone have good, upclose pics of the LD 48?

Only about two or three hundred photos.

I don't know what the current economics of grapple building are but it is clear that there is about 300lbs of mild steel and one hydraulic ram in the latest version of the LD48. The Millonzi price kept changing but I think they were going for under $1000 plus shipping.

I'm hoping they just went Chapter 11 and will be back but who knows.

 

[Cyberroc]

Only about two or three hundred photos.

LOL I will check your photos, thanks and I hope your right about them being back, it sounds like they were a great supplier...

I will see if I can't get some pics of the ones I was looking at.

 

[buyerjohn]

It was not my experience either. Even though they did not get the grapple to fit they were always willing to work with me. John even gave me his personal cell # to cantact him with any other issues. They gave me my money back when they got their grapple back.

can you PM me john's cell number so I can try to get an answer for all on the biz status?

 

[IslandTractor]

LOL I will check your photos, thanks and I hope your right about them being back, it sounds like they were a great supplier...

I will see if I can't get some pics of the ones I was looking at.

The Millonzi LD48 was a pretty basic grapple similar in most ways to other simple (ie not clamshell) single arm grapples. The main difference that I have always noted and liked is that the lower tines were curved rather than straight. Curved tines allowed a bit more leverage when digging out stumps or roots as you could pivot the grapple using the ground as a fulcrum whereas with a straight bottom grapple, like the new WRLong, you could only use loader lift or curl.

The other feature I like is the low weight. 280lbs is the lightest grapple I know of and yet it was strong enough that I have used it aggressively on my 40+hp tractor with 2700lb loader lift capacity and not damaged the grapple. I've managed to splay the very tips of the upper jaw tines by an inch or so outwards but that has absolutely no bearing on grapple function so I consider it a battle wound rather than breakage.

Millonzi modified the design slightly over the last couple of years so it weighs a bit more and has 1/2 instead of 3/8 inch steel in the outside tines and has better hose protection and better reinforced tips on the upper jaw tines but basically it is still the same versatile and reliable tool.

 

[kenmachtley]

I came up to post a review on the Millonzi LD-48 grapple that I've now had for a few months. Bummer to see they are gone. In the hopes that the LD-48 design is made available again, here's my feedback:

Pros:
1) Feels about the same as my HD loader bucket - wouldn't want a heavier grapple on my JD 3520. And IMHO built solid enough for the size of tractor it is on.
2) Great for moving brush and logs.
3) Price was unbeatable!

Cons:
1) JD loader mount was poorly executed and grapple needed grinding and drilling to get it mounted. I appeared that either their jig was wrong or their welder wasn't careful. 3 hours of work plus getting tools to the island where my tractor is = PITA.
2) Hoses supplied were way too large for my tractor. Instead of converting using fittings (four per hose from JD dealer), I had new hoses made. Add $75.
3) Poor communications with Millonzi. Was to have shipped in two weeks, took five weeks plus several calls. Sent e-mail feedback after I had the grapple working and John e-mailed back apologizing and wanting to discuss in person. Arranged time to talk twice via e-mail and he never called.

And lastly, probably not a "con" as much as a misunderstanding. I bought this to aid in removing brush (mainly blackberries and ocean spray). However, it is rather poor at that. I've found that a tooth bar and bucket are great at ripping into the brush and then the grapple is great at picking it up and moving it to a burn pile. For my purposes, a 4-in-1 might have been a better choice, though the grapple sure looks cool.

I went with the Millonzi based on reviews on this site plus the $1k price tag, a third of what the JD dealer quoted. Doing it over again, I'd probaby buy from my local dealer next time. It would be great to see the LD-48 design available from the dealer - even at $500-1000 more.

I appreciate all of the great posts that I've read over the past six months! And IslandTractor, your posts on this grapple were perhaps the most influential - thx for taking the time to share.

 

[IslandTractor]

And lastly, probably not a "con" as much as a misunderstanding. I bought this to aid in removing brush (mainly blackberries and ocean spray). However, it is rather poor at that. I've found that a tooth bar and bucket are great at ripping into the brush and then the grapple is great at picking it up and moving it to a burn pile. For my purposes, a 4-in-1 might have been a better choice, though the grapple sure looks cool. .

When I go after light cane type plants like a blackberry, I don't try to grapple the exposed plant but rather dig the root grapple lower tines under the bush and pop it out whole. I agree that if you are trying to get the upper part of the plant then a 4n1 might be better but I found that with a 4n1 I was just cutting the tops off too often when I tried to clamp. Using the grapple, I just open the jaw, dig the lower tines into the ground about six inches, put the tractor in low HST and just drive forward. Pops the plants out and crushes them into a mangle that I can then easily clamp. I usually stop moving forward after about six feet if I am in a really thick area of blackberry because otherwise the thorns from adjacent plants start getting pulled towards the tractor operator station. I then clamp and drag the mess out.

I find that using the root grapple technique (as compared to straight grappling from above), is a great way to deal with both thorny and not so thorny small bushes.

Sometimes I find the bushes come up with a lot of soil attached to the roots but it comes off pretty well with shaking so long as the soil isn't too wet. If it is wet then I just put the whole mess into a pile and come back a couple of weeks later and move the pile so the dirt falls out.