my new Kubota L3130 setup

[OrangeAlex]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 11 teeth give you 10 spaces and at 6 inches per space it would give you a 60 inch width, but Skypup says it's a 66", so I guess the brochure isn't accurate. )</font>

10 spaces * 6" gap = 60" plus
9 teeth * 1/2" = 4.5" plus
2 teeth * 5/8" = 1.25"

so I guess this added up to roughly 66"

My Borgford has one less tooth, both top and bottom.
However the outer tines are 1" thick, inside tines are 3/4". The bottom rake actually has four 1" thick tines. 2 on each side. Top only has the 1" on the outsides. Spacing is 5-1/2" between these 1" think tines on the bottom, spacing between one of the 3/4" tine sets is 6", the remaining spacing is 5-7/8".


4 teeth * 1" = 4"
6 teeth * 3/4" = 4.5"
2 spaces between 1" teeth * 5-1/2 = 11"
2 spaces between a set of 3/4" to 3/4" teeth * 6" = 12"
5 remaining spaces betwen 3/4" teeth * 5-7/8" =29 3/8"
total = 60-7/8"

I put a tape on it outside tooth to outside and I get roughy 61".
So what do we know. The Borgfords tines are roughly 50% thicker then the ANBO. The BG-5 is actually 61" not 60". Someone is doing some funny weight calculations. Not sure if Borgford's stated 600# weight includes the skid steer backplate. I would say it doesn't because they show a photo of a grapple on a John Deere loader. My dealer thought the weight was closer to 800#, not sure how he derived at this number.

Something does not add up here.

Skypup,
Have you ever bent one of your tines? One of mine bent slightly when I was trying to roll a very large tree back closer to me to get it into position with the top teeth. Wonder if AR400 really does not bend. I don't suppose you have noticed any cracks in the material due to it being harder/more brittle.

 

[SkyPup]

So far so good, but I only have about 30-40 hours of hard work on mine, including large tree trunks and large heavy boulders, both of which I particularly enjoy lifting with the ANBO Grapple! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

No noticble bent tines or cracked ones, and I go at it pretty hard too knowing that my Miller 210 MIG is in the barn if I do manage to mangle anything.

One thing I will say for certain is the two hydraulic cylinders that operate on the Grapple are awesome, they are about four inches in diameter and have the power to chip or crush a boulder into pieces, in fact, you've got to be careful picking up logs so you do not crush them in 1/2..... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The L39 TL1000 FEL is at least another 30% stronger than the L3130 LA723 FEL and it handles the Grapple very well, the Grapple being about 2X the weight of the OEM FEL bucket.

 

[Rolando]

I see what you're saying. I come from a construction background, so when the AnBo brochure says "Tooth Spacing" is 6 inches, I assumed it meant 6 inches on center, not 6 inches in the clear.

 

[SkyPup]

OrangeAlex, maybe my custom Grapple heat treatment reinforced the steel hardness even more! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[OrangeAlex]

Skypup,

Yes.. sometimes I have to becareful how much I close the grapple on smaller logs. I end up breaking them in half and have to do twice the amount of work. argh. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I would say the L-39 TL1000 loader is much more then 30% stronger then the LA723 on L3130. That thing is a beast!

TL1000 has 2767# lift capacity at pivot pin on the L-39. The LA723 on the L3130 is only 1870#. That is almost 50% more!!

With the ANBO grapple on yours you have about 2767-850 = 1917# left over. You have more left over then I have to begin with!! With mine 1870#- 700#(I am guessing it is probably more like 700# instead of 600#). I have about 1170# left over. If you believe the web pages and mine is actually only 600# then 1870-600# = 1270#. That would put your setup about 51-64% more lifting power then mine. Of course, the actual numbers are probably much less because our QA are way past the pivot pins. However, I think your L-39 has an even bigger advantage in the real world use because of the total amount of flow to the loader. I dont know about you, but to get something really heavy off the ground I have found it is best to approach the object with the grapple slightly inverted in the dump position. Clamp down and then curl back. This seems to get if off the ground easier then clamping down head on and then trying to use the loader to lift. It is definately easier to lift when you get the weight curled back closer to the pivot pin. But there was not way I could afford the L-39. Without the backhoe it was still about $7-8k more then the L3130 if I recall correctly. Hey... there is the magic 50% number again.. just goes to prove, you get what you pay for.


-Alex

 

[SkyPup]

I do believe that one of the KEY benefits in the design of these Grapples that you and I each have is that the center of gravity of the tines is placed right over the pivot pins. I know what you mean as to the best way to handle extremely heavy items is by keeping the weight of the Grapple and the object right over the pins. I too can grab a tree stump rootball and rotate it out of the ground with a simple curl back.

I also have a L-3130 GST with LA723 that has about 850 hours on the clock now, it is an outstanding economical to operate machine and now I am able to utilize it more specifically since I have the L-39 setup for different job parameters.

 

[OrangeAlex]

yes.. I need to get myself a spare L-39. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[OrangeAlex]

...but seriously, it would be nice to have another tractor just so I don't have to switch between the grapple and bucket. I find that I need to knock down brush so I can see and discover stumps/logs with the bucket.. then go back and switch out the bucket for the grapple to pull the stuff out. When that is done I have to switch back to continue driving further into the woods with the bucket.

Do you use the L3130 as the search and explorer tractor with it's higher ground clearance and R1 with the bucket and then come in with the L-39 to pull out what you find?
Is there someone you won't attempt with the L-39 with its lower ground clearance and R4s before you "find the lay of the land with the L3130"?

 

[SkyPup]

I normally have the FEL and rear TNT 84" BoxBlade on the L-3130 for counterbalance and finishing work to clean up after I get finished with the L39. The R4's and the low ground clearance on the L-39 restricts its use in boggy soil, mud, etc. out in the woods, so the L-3130 with the AG R1s is more suited for heavy woods work. Most of them time though, I use the L-3130 to clean up and smooth off the ground mess I create with the L-39.

Your right though, with two machines, there is a totally different mindset of attacking a job! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[mike69440]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yeah, I got the 66" with 11 tines instead of the 72" due to the lower weight of the unit and the fact that you can still grab a heck of a large load with the 66" unit, I'm really glad I got it.

"The GR-66 features 11 raker teeth with 10 top grapple teeth. The main tine width is 1/2" while the top outer grapple teeth are 5/8" thick. All tines are made from AR-400. The maximum opening of this grapple is 51" and closed it measures 32" high. Weight is 850 lbs. "

I have been using it to remove large tree trunk sections and bust out stumps and also to remove and carry huge boulders.

It excels in every application for which I've put it to work and I am really happy with it as it has saved me allot of time and effort compared to using the 72" bucket with toothbar and chains for similar work (ohhh my aching back NO MORE /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

I am planning to install a HD Root Grapple on my Kubota L39 TLB to Clear +acres of logged and partially stumped land on a rocky, muddy hillside.
The two brands of root grapples I am looking at are the AnBo 55" and Borford BG-5. There is also a locally made grapple by http://www.addingtonequipment.com/grapplerakes.html made from T-1 steel.

I want the grapple controls part of the joystick. I also want this setup=up to work with a snowblade.

See Links below for Info

http://www.borgford.com/

http://www.borgford.com/grapple.htm

bodozer@borgford.com

http://www.anbomanufacturing.com/

http://www.skidsteersolutions.com/Skid_Steer_Grapples_Root_s/32.htm

http://www.wrlonginc.com/valve_kits.htm

http://www.fasse.com/

Alloy grades are described on the site below:
http://www.chapelsteel.com/ar500-ar500f.html

Even though AR-400 Steel is 40% stronger than A-514 Steel I wonder if the 1/2" plate on the AnBo is anywhere as bend resistant and the Bogford,

Question to Skypup? Have you sufficiently satisfied yourself that the AnBo Root Grapple is a good Rock grapple also?

Thanks,

Mike69440