My new grapple version

blueriver · Jun 5, 2012

I've been building the 10 bale grapple and accumulators ... I had a customer ask for a compact unit for his 40 hp tractor .... so I made it 14" shorter to bring it closer to the tractor and 7" lower to make it a a low profile unit.

The first unit has the under basket to keep it away from the skid steer while loading and because the tractor FEL's extend further I was able to shorten it.

Thus the same 10 bale capacity, shorter to carry the load closer to the tractor and 250 lbs lighter ... I've been using it on my Little Montana an it works great .... here's a picture.

I'll paint it soon and put my logo's on it .. "Haybuddy GII" I'm waiting to paint it because I trying to break it !!! Fiqure best for me to do that and then I'll know if its customer ready!!!

nickel plate · Jun 5, 2012

blueriver said:
I've been building the 10 bale grapple and accumulators ... I had a customer ask for a compact unit for his 40 hp tractor .... so I made it 14" shorter to bring it closer to the tractor and 7" lower to make it a a low profile unit.

The first unit has the under basket to keep it away from the skid steer while loading and because the tractor FEL's extend further I was able to shorten it.

Thus the same 10 bale capacity, shorter to carry the load closer to the tractor and 250 lbs lighter ... I've been using it on my Little Montana an it works great .... here's a picture.

I'll paint it soon and put my logo's on it .. "Haybuddy GII" I'm waiting to paint it because I trying to break it !!! Fiqure best for me to do that and then I'll know if its customer ready!!!

You understand the concept, your welds look good and best of all you're trying to break it before it leaves the shop with your brand on it. good job.

blueriver · Jun 6, 2012

nickel plate said:
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You understand the concept, your welds look good and best of all you're trying to break it before it leaves the shop with your brand on it. good job.

Thank you ... this back woods shop needs more tools!! My biggest issue is the side and middle bars where the pipe ends go into the larger pipe ends ... I have to clamp them down with a 3/4" spacer in the middle before I cut the center holes and weld those in otherwise I get a "bow" ... I thinking about a wire feed welder and a drill press. All holes are cut with the torch.

The grapple pipes need to move freely by hand before assembly ... just a fraction off and they will bind to much ... so if they don't turn by hand they don't get welded !!

pacerron · Jun 6, 2012

blueriver said:
Thank you ... this back woods shop needs more tools!! My biggest issue is the side and middle bars where the pipe ends go into the larger pipe ends ... I have to clamp them down with a 3/4" spacer in the middle before I cut the center holes and weld those in otherwise I get a "bow" ... I thinking about a wire feed welder and a drill press. All holes are cut with the torch.

The grapple pipes need to move freely by hand before assembly ... just a fraction off and they will bind to much ... so if they don't turn by hand they don't get welded !!

Lookin good!
I wonder how the visibility compares having one on a FEL versus a skid steer loader when your driving into the individual bales to accumulate them?
Some of your competitors use square tubing with bolt on tooth hooks and bolt on hubs on the side rails for the tubing to rotate in.
I wonder if that wouldn't be easier and work just as well?
How would you get yours apart, other than a chop saw, if a tube got bent and stuck and needed replacing?
Just questions from the arm chair mechanic, not meant to be critical

Ron

jinman · Jun 6, 2012

Todd, when I first looked at the grapple, I figured the hyd cylinder was too small, but with the sharp hay hooks, it probably is just fine. As you get down to the last row of hay bales, does that cylinder have to work pretty hard to push all the hooks at once?

That's a great piece of work. I'd love to see some action shots.:thumbsup:

blueriver · Jun 6, 2012

pacerron said:
Lookin good!
I wonder how the visibility compares having one on a FEL versus a skid steer loader when your driving into the individual bales to accumulate them?
Some of your competitors use square tubing with bolt on tooth hooks and bolt on hubs on the side rails for the tubing to rotate in.
I wonder if that wouldn't be easier and work just as well?
How would you get yours apart, other than a chop saw, if a tube got bent and stuck and needed replacing?
Just questions from the arm chair mechanic, not meant to be critical
Ron

All great questions ... I have had mine in use for 3 years and have not been able to bend, bust or twist anything. The bolt on hooks are cast iron and I worried about breaking them ... these 3/8" hooks if they do somehow get bent a 3 lb hammer moves them back into place ... you are right if something does go wrong a saw and a welder to make the repairs ... as for visability the grapple and the accumulator are being used on FEL's and visabilty is great probably even better on a skid steer.

This is my 15th unit out of the shop this year and so far everyone is pleased.

blueriver · Jun 6, 2012

jinman said:
Todd, when I first looked at the grapple, I figured the hyd cylinder was too small, but with the sharp hay hooks, it probably is just fine. As you get down to the last row of hay bales, does that cylinder have to work pretty hard to push all the hooks at once?

That's a great piece of work. I'd love to see some action shots.:thumbsup:

Jim the cylinder is a 2x10 and the ease of bale entry puts no stress on the cylinder or the hydraulics on the tractor.

I have a video (keep in mind I'm not a camera man) And I need a new video !!!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUdIDgAvxc8]Haybuddy System - YouTube[/ame]

pacerron · Jun 6, 2012

blueriver said:
All great questions ... I have had mine in use for 3 years and have not been able to bend, bust or twist anything. The bolt on hooks are cast iron and I worried about breaking them ... these 3/8" hooks if they do somehow get bent a 3 lb hammer moves them back into place ... you are right if something does go wrong a saw and a welder to make the repairs ... as for visability the grapple and the accumulator are being used on FEL's and visabilty is great probably even better on a skid steer.

This is my 15th unit out of the shop this year and so far everyone is pleased.

Just looked at your video and website. The impression from it would be that you need the accumulator and grapple as 2 separate pieces of equipment. 1 to accumulate and the second to grapple and load.

Doesn't your grapple function to accumulate and load as 1 attachment?

As you probably know, there is a guy in Oregon using the name "Haybuddy"
Ron

blueriver · Jun 6, 2012

pacerron said:
Just looked at your video and website. The impression from it would be that you need the accumulator and grapple as 2 separate pieces of equipment. 1 to accumulate and the second to grapple and load.

Doesn't your grapple function to accumulate and load as 1 attachment?

As you probably know, there is a guy in Oregon using the name "Haybuddy"
Ron

Yes thats why I had to go Hay Buddy Systems llc ... I studied the so called combo grapple and accumulator ... its a great idea ... However the chambers that collect the bales have to be removed to unload and it leaves a gap between all the bales nothing is packed tight and then you have to put the chambers back in to go accumulate ... to much wasted time taking off and putting back together.

When you accumulate, the bales they all have 1.5 inch cap between them ... the thickness of the metal ... then when you grapple that unit has a sweep arm ... ease up to the pile turn into it as you go forward and that closes the gap ... hit the hydraulics and that really packs them in. Load the entire trailer from the drivers side and interlock the tiers ... tight ... don't even strap my loads...when you go to the barn two set screws remove the sweep arm and you unload and stack in the barn ... with the sweep arm off you can also load buyers trailers. Of course in my case I have 2 grapples and one stays at the barn and one in the field.

Clear as Mud? ... also I looked into all types of pull behind the baler units ... to many springs, gates, latches, hydraulics ... all things that can break and need repair AND if your baler misses a bale the whole thing is plugged up ... downtime ... if my baler misses a bale the accumulator just leaves it and we gather it the next day.

No moving parts on my accumulator. But yes it does require a second tractor ... My grandson rakes and then I start baling ... he'll call me on the radio and say he's going for the accumulator and generally by the time I'm done baling he's on my tale and finishes close to me ... then the grapples go on ... one tractor in the field, one at the barn ... he drives the dually and GN ... I load and unload.