My Grapple Project (part 1)

[kubotabilly]

Mike,
I think you jinxed me /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Stay tuned for part 2.

Bill

 

[kubotabilly]

Part 2)

Boy, I could hardly wait until I was home from work today to continue my project. It was a beautiful evening in central PA or at least it started out to be.

 

[kubotabilly]

Part 2)

My intention was to have the “L” shaped arms to open all the way into an upside down “L”. In order to achieve this I had to move my rear cylinder mount 18” behind the top rail. Boy, it worked great, until I rolled the bucket back all the way. The mount hit the grill guard on the front of the tractor /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. I did not take into consideration the amount of bucket rollback that I had /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Major setback!!! I just spent $60 for the arms and ¼” plate and no matter how I moved the cylinder mounts, it just wouldn’t work /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. Believe me, I tried for hours moving the cylinder mounts every which way and it was still a no go. I even tried a different length cylinder, nada. Back to the drawing board. This isn't going to stop an old Snyder County dutchman like myself. I gotta sleep on this.
Sorry, no photos tonight, but I promise there will be some tomorrow night /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Bill

 

[PineRidge]

Bill getting the correct cylinder and making it work correctly with the mounts is probably the toughest part of a grapple project.

I had some problems there too and had to do a modification to the rear cylinder mount.

Hang in there, don't give up, it will come to you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RedRocker]

Man I'm lusting for a CNC plasma cutter, I've been looking for an old pantograph type but they seem to have vanished from the face of the earth. I'll look into the Miller though, thanks.

 

[notamustang]

YOU SAID PICS TODAY !!!!!

Bill, it happens to all of us well some of us more than others but I keep trying anyway /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Looking forward to you getting this worked out /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Steven

 

[WhiteRock]

Kubotabilly, Nice project. I am glad you pointed out this problem. I am also designing a grapple/rake bucket for my tractor. I am currently working on the rake/bucket portion and doing the grapple arm and hydraulics design in my spare time (near 0). I did not think of this problem and will be taking some measurements.

I have done some work on the geometry of the grapple arm and cylinder pivot locations. I wrote a simple spreadsheet to allow me to plug in placement values and it will compute my cylinder stroke.

I did not see where you specified the number of cylinders of if you already had them. If you have two, seems like you could put them on the outside of your arms?

If you are using one, What distances do you have to work with? I will try to upload my spread sheet if you think it would be of any interest.

I also have some questions. I started a "Grapple Design Ideas" thread so I don't hijack your thread.

 

[DanR67]

kubotabilly -

Really nice work so far - sorry to hear about the setback. I bought 2 hydraulic cylinders from Northern Tool last year - one's running my 3PH top link tilt - the others' planned for a grapple cylinder.

I'm still in "active planning" - my *stumbling blocks* are also partly where to affix cylinder to avoid clearance issues when the bucket is fully curled - as well as geometry / hinge offsets to get maximum jaw opening. Additionally- I'm concerned about grapple hose routing for A) freedom of movement of bucket and B) protecting hoses / lines from getting caught and torn. I would prefer to be able to have full bucket curl with minimum or no interference from the grapple cylimder when it is fully opened, but my *choice* of hydraulic cylinder from last year may limit the opening.

I've been saving a "scrapbook" of pics from both commercial and homebuilt designs - trying to find the right combination of "simple execution" (for those of us w/o access to CNC plasma cutters /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) and durability. I like your use of the tubular member across the top of bucket - because I have three bucket hooks that I'm working around, too...

Looking forward to your (and WhiteRocks') progress to help us else along.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[WhiteRock]

Thinking more about your cylinder mount. Why is it so high and far back?

I was sort of visualizing something like this....

Is this similiar to what your planning?

 

[kubotabilly]

Part 3 - Back on track)

I need a vacation day and a vacation day I took /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. I had a restless sleep last night and awoke early (4:30AM) and headed to the tractor shed. Good morning guys, (BX2200 & L3430) time to get our thinking caps on. They weren’t much help so I came up with an idea, while sleeping, to change the design of the arms from an “L” shape, to what I call, a “boomerang” shape. I took a pattern to the local welding shop and asked them if they could cut them out this morning and I would pick them up after lunch. They said they could so I went back to the shed and started to grind the weld tacks off of the old arms (now do you see why you only tack weld). I picked up the arms and reattached the bushings to the new arms. I always considered myself as a fairly knowledgeable guy when it came to fabricating something but I have to tell you this cylinder thing really got to me /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. The way I solved the problem may seem to some people as the easy way out, but I very happy with my decision /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. (pic 12)

Bill