My Grapple Just stopped working!!!! Advise Please

[MossflowerWoods]

OK,

I was just moving logs and the grapple would not open.

I have an electronic 3rd position switch on the loader stick and yesterday it was occasionally not responding, but today it just stopped.

There are NO hydraulic leaks.

Formerly with the key in run (tractor not running) when I would click the switch for open/close to equalize hydraulic pressure, I could hear the solenoid click each direction. Now I am only hearing one click and it sounds odd. The grapple would not open/close.

I suspect this means there is a problem with the WR Long 3rd position switch.

Is there anything I am forgetting? Is there anything I can try to further troubleshoot this?

Thanks in advance.

I'm seriously in a jam. Big bonfire party is Saturday, and today until 3pm or so was supposed to be my time to finish the pile...

Be well all,
David

 

[oosik]

Sounds like a loose wire, broken wire, mouse chewed wire - in-any-case - poor contact either at the switch on the loader stick or down at the WR Long electro-hydraulic switch. I would imagine its an easy fix - - once you run it down.

 

[1010]

Can you run a jumper wire just to get it open again, you might have to finish the pile like that.

 

[RichM752]

relay switch

 

[Rustyiron]

OK,


Formerly ......... I could hear the solenoid click each direction.

Now I am only hearing one click and it sounds odd. The grapple would not open/close.

I suspect this means there is a problem with the WR Long 3rd position switch.


David

Hopefully the switch, but don't eliminate the sol. valve itself. You need both "sides" of the valve to react for double acting cylinders to operate. Happy 4th!

 

[RichM752]

Relay switch. I've had this very issue twice. Reverse the relays, if it opens and does not close then the problem is solved. I found a relay at auto parts store that worked, then bought two extras the next time I visited the Kubota dealer.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

OK, I will check the relay. This is a great suggestion.

I did a cursory look for wire damage (got too much work to do to stop and troubleshoot, will do that tomorrow, LOL)

Also,

Typically when I disconnect the hydraulics, I cross connect the hoses off the grapple and the good & bad part is there is NO pressure and if you knock it over etc. it flops around (opens/closes). Well this time I placed it carefully against some logs and even cross connected it is locked in position. That part has me stumped.

Thanks again!.
Lunch is over, back to work!

be well all,
David

 

[Gordon Gould]

Do you have a pressure gauge you can plug into your grapple Quick Connects on the tractor ?



Seems odd your grapple should open and closed when cross connected in storage. Even though there is a fluid path between the two ends of the cylinders. The fact that the volume is smaller on the ram end than the dead end should prevent free movement. One way trys to pull a vacuum the other way there is to much fluid to go into the smaller space. But maybe it is because you have two independent lids ??? It is even stranger that it acts different now than before. Suggests something happened to the grapple ??? But an electrical problem seems more likely if it was intermittant then quit

gg

 

[papa4fofox]

When I had this problem I contacted WR Long and they said to replace the rocker-switch-for-electric-over-hydraulic-valve-kit. That solved the problem for me.

 

[flyerdan]

The fact that the grapple appears locked when disconnected from the tractor hydraulics indicates that it may be a mechanical problem. Do a quick check and see if there is a rock jammed somewhere that's keeping it from opening.
That could account for the odd sound; if the sound of the aux. deadheading with nothing attached is the same as with the grapple, it further would point to a mechanical issue.