Grapple Millonzi Grapple

[3RRL]

3RRL, How long did it take you to complete the installation of the electric solenoid kit? It looks from your posts that it took a while to first map out the hydraulic schema but how long did the installation take after you got that sorted out?

Island,
I took me quite a while to get everything I wanted mapped out. Then it took quite a while making everything I needed. Then it took me quite a while installing everything. I worked between doing stuff at my home and then bringing it to the property to mount.

The actual installation of the WR long valve itself might be a couple hours at the most. (for me) That is welding the mounting bracket and plumbing the hydraulics and the little electrical work. Considering I had never done anything like that before. With your set up, it should be faster and easier than mine. I had to make all the front end fittings etc. from scratch and I did not get a "kit", just the electric solenoid valve and button. The rest I had to figure out with help from Mad here.

 

[IslandTractor]

I took me quite a while ..... I had to make all the front end fittings etc. from scratch and I did not get a "kit", just the electric solenoid valve and button. The rest I had to figure out with help from Mad here.

Actually I would be in the same situation as I'd need to fabricate mounts/brackets etc too. That was one reason why I went the quick and dirty route of just using the rear remote to run the grapple. While that has been perfectly satisfactory to run the grapple, I will eventually get around to installing a diverter as I am increasingly finding myself using both the grapple and BH as a useful combination (e.g. digging out and removing stumps) and therefore I need them operational together.

 

[3RRL]

Actually I would be in the same situation as I'd need to fabricate mounts/brackets etc too. That was one reason why I went the quick and dirty route of just using the rear remote to run the grapple. While that has been perfectly satisfactory to run the grapple, I will eventually get around to installing a diverter as I am increasingly finding myself using both the grapple and BH as a useful combination (e.g. digging out and removing stumps) and therefore I need them operational together.

I hear you man, there's some work involved in that front plumbing set up. I didn't realize you ran your grapple off the rears. Probably missed your post about it. If it works for you, that's OK too. but like you said, if you need the rears to run the backhoe, like I do for my hydraulic boxblade, then it makes sense to go the diverter or even electric solenoid valve route. Especially with all the grapple work you do, from the photos you've posted. Also for anything else hydraulic you might consider on the front.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm clearing about 4 acres of overgrown field of trees and brush. In the beginning I was ripping out the brush with the grapple or bush hogging it. Then I cut trees and carted them off with the grapple. No need for two sets of remotes for either of those activities. Now however I am going back to dig out stumps and obviously I need to move them after digging. I've mostly just been digging them out and leaving them for later collection but there is no doubt it would be more convenient to be able to use grapple and BH on the same task without getting off the tractor to switch lines around.

 

[3RRL]

..... but there is no doubt it would be more convenient to be able to use grapple and BH on the same task without getting off the tractor to switch lines around
Man, are you right.
LOL ... I would go as far to say ANYTIME you have to get off the tractor is too many times. Several of my mods were exactly for that purpose ... to make adjustments from the seat. It's safer, more accurate and easier.

 

[IslandTractor]

..... but there is no doubt it would be more convenient to be able to use grapple and BH on the same task without getting off the tractor to switch lines around
Man, are you right.
LOL ... I would go as far to say ANYTIME you have to get off the tractor is too many times. Several of my mods were exactly for that purpose ... to make adjustments from the seat. It's safer, more accurate and easier.

Agree. Of course by the time I get around to actually installing a diverter valve I'll probably be finished with the land clearing project. In any case, there is no question that to run both the grapple and BH it would be far better to not need to leave the seat to switch the hydraulics. However, as a case in point, I have found it is possible to get a lot of work done simply by sequencing the tasks to minimize getting off the tractor. Dig six stumps, go to lunch, switch to grapple, clean up, switch back, dig more stumps etc. In a full day, I end up switching over only a couple of times and most switches are at convenient break times anyway. Still.....(what did you say WR Long's phone number was... )

 

[3RRL]

I agree as well ... where there is a will, there's a way.
What one man can ... another can do.

Still.....(what did you say WR Long's phone number was... )
He will ask what dealer you go through, as they don't sell direct to the public. I had my local Kubota dealer get it from him. They did not tack anything extra on the price.
Nelson V. Long
W.R.Long Inc.
Tarboro, NC
Office (252) 823-4570
Cell (252) 813-7825
NLong@wrlonginc.com

 

[flINTLOCK]

I have a good number of small trees up to 6 inches or so to remove to make food plot. If cut foot or so above the ground by chainsaw, will grapple likely allow me to come down over stump and rip it out?? Obviously, my TC40 with grapple is no track excavator, but thought it might be up to that task!!

 

[IslandTractor]

I have a good number of small trees up to 6 inches or so to remove to make food plot. If cut foot or so above the ground by chainsaw, will grapple likely allow me to come down over stump and rip it out?? Obviously, my TC40 with grapple is no track excavator, but thought it might be up to that task!!

The grapple can do it, the question is more whether your loader can do it. I've done this with smaller trees but never a six incher. I usually need to soften up the roots with the grapple before coming down over the stump to grasp it then curl to rip it free. It really depends on the size (power) of your loader.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Island tractor, that stump looks close to 6 inches. No? That is the "light" duty 48 inch grapple right?? I guess "light" duty is a relative term!!

 

[IslandTractor]

Island tractor, that stump looks close to 6 inches. No? That is the "light" duty 48 inch grapple right?? I guess "light" duty is a relative term!!

I guess you are right. On second look it is about six inches but it was a weed tree not an oak!

Millonzi uses the "light duty" name to distinguish these grapples from their much heavier skid steer grapples intended for demolition work. I don't see how the "light duty" grapple could be injured by any wood/brush work and it can certainly pick up big rocks without any problem.

Again, the limiting factor with this "light duty" grapple is clearly the curl/lift capacity of your loader. I have to dig around a bit with my loader before I can pop out a stump like the one I posted. I free up the sides to six inches or so below grade then grab the stump and "wiggle" it until I can free it up enough to pull it up. With a stronger loader I presumably could pop it out without as much prep work. I would not worry at all about hurting the grapple on these stumps. I cannot imagine a loader with less than 3000lbs of lift could possibly damage the grapple on wood/brush/roots.

 

[flINTLOCK]

That looks like the one for me. I have a buddy with a backhoe who can loosen em up first. Island, you run yours off rear remote. Do you route the hydraulics permanently some how and just hook up when needed or take hoses off each time you change out the grapple??

 

[flINTLOCK]

Island, you mentioned digging with the grapple to loosen stumps. How does that go??

 

[IslandTractor]

I do use the rear remotes to control the grapple and have it set up with quick connects so I just leave the hoses attached to the front torque tube when I remove the grapple. When I disconnect the rear remotes I just use a bungee cord to keep those lines out of the way. The only time I disconnect the rears is when I need to hook up the backhoe, otherwise they stay connected even if the grapple is off the tractor. The description might be confusing but it is really a very simple operation.

Regarding digging with the grapple to loosen roots etc: Root grapples are designed with "teeth" that can be forced into the ground much like a toothbar. Rather than digging up dirt however then just cut or snag any roots within reach (probably up to 6-9 inches below grade). By doing that from different quadrants around a bigger stump (we are talking the type of 6 inch or so stump that was shown in the photos posted earlier) it makes it possible to then grab the stump and wiggle it loose and finally to grab it and curl it out.

A very small stump (rare as I would mostly just take out the whole sapling intact with the grapple rather than cutting the tree down) you can just use the grapple directly to get under the stump and pull it out. The medium stumps (medium will be determined by the size of your FEL) I handle as described in this thread. Large stumps require really digging up with a backhoe before finally lifting out with the grapple.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Island, what is the capacity of your loader?. My NH TC40 has 17LA with capacity about 1500#.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have the Kioti KL120 which has a lift capacity to full height of 1070lbs at the pivot pins. I don't know how that compares to the NH line but it is roughly between the Kubota LA352 and LA402.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Island:

Do the teeth mesh such that you can close the grapple down tightly around one branch? I have some ice busted branches that I have to pull out of my trees, and a grapple that can handle one branch, as well as a pile of branches is what I am looking for.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Island, does your grapple let you grasp a single log of say 10-12 inches??
I guess it would if the jaws are offset top and bottom a bit, rather than meeting at their tips.

 

[IslandTractor]

Island:

Do the teeth mesh such that you can close the grapple down tightly around one branch?

I guess it depends on what size branch you are referring to. The grapple can pick up a single 2x4 without too much trouble (manuvering the tractor to do that is a bit fussy but can be done) but in general I would not try to pick up a single branch. Instead I would scoop it up and if it was too small to grasp easily with the jaws, I would just curl the grapple into a cupping position which would hold it in place.

The grapple does not have a big "underbite" so that the upper jaw will continue to close until it hits the back of the grapple. It will close until it almost hits the front part of the lower jaw. See photo. This is the fully closed position.

 

[IslandTractor]

Island, does your grapple let you grasp a single log of say 10-12 inches??
I guess it would if the jaws are offset top and bottom a bit, rather than meeting at their tips.

No. I don't know of any grapples that do that except those specifically designed for logging applications. See anwser to jeffinsgf above.

I don't have any trouble carrying 12 inch logs securely however. See photo, I have a solid grip on that log. You can always use gravity to help you by either keeping the closed grapple pointing down so the log rests in the valley created by the upper and lower jaws or alternatively you can curl the grapple up. Most of the time the grapple manages to get a solid grip on whatever log I put in however so I resort to that sort of trickery only occasionally.