My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment

   / My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment #72  
Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead but I just got my brush grabber attachment done today. I thought updating this thread would give credit where credit is due because I basically copy your second version K0ua.

I will post pics later but unfortunately I am having a grip problem. I will check the pressure in the third function later tonight but I did put a weld on the top plate and a weld on the bottom plate but my first tree was maybe 3/4 of an inch in dia but the attachment just stripped the bark all the way up the tree on the first lift.

I was able to get it out eventually but it should work better than that. I may have to double up the bead to make it higher.

thanks again for the research and development. It saved me a lot of time.
 
   / My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment
  • Thread Starter
#73  
Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead but I just got my brush grabber attachment done today. I thought updating this thread would give credit where credit is due because I basically copy your second version K0ua.

I will post pics later but unfortunately I am having a grip problem. I will check the pressure in the third function later tonight but I did put a weld on the top plate and a weld on the bottom plate but my first tree was maybe 3/4 of an inch in dia but the attachment just stripped the bark all the way up the tree on the first lift.

I was able to get it out eventually but it should work better than that. I may have to double up the bead to make it higher.

thanks again for the research and development. It saved me a lot of time.

Try two beads on the bottom, and one that goes in the middle of them on the top, and make the beads high and "ragged". Long arc it, try NOT to make good beads. Use 6011, usually a rougher bead than 7018 or 6013. Also, don't pull straight up, pull with "breakout" in other words, curl and lift at the same time so the small sapling will be "caught in a cramp" not just a smooth pull up.
 
   / My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment #74  
thanks for the quick reply, I had two beads at the bottom but I had to grind it down when I fit the top piece on to get the clamping right. I'm using a miller 211 mig so it is hard to lay a crappy bead. Plus I'm just a weekend welder, self taught, thank god for autoset on the 211 or else I probably could have welded as much as I have all ready.

thats how I finally got the sapling out I curled and moved forward as I lifted. I will try it tomorrow on a bigger sapling.
 
   / My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment #75  
here is a pic showing the problem.

third function pressure was full system so no problem there. the problem is that the grapple doesn't actually crush anything that small. the cylinder fully extended still leaves a gap of approximately 3/4 of an inch when you lift on the lid so no crushing pressure on the last inch or so

I just welded that 1 inch angle iron on the top plate. the bonus is that it acts like a sharp edge. works great right down to the really small stuff now that I modified it.

the pic is just to show the size of the gap. I actually welded the angle iron on the top plate with the pointy end down.

thumbnail.jpg
 
   / My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment
  • Thread Starter
#76  
here is a pic showing the problem.

third function pressure was full system so no problem there. the problem is that the grapple doesn't actually crush anything that small. the cylinder fully extended still leaves a gap of approximately 3/4 of an inch when you lift on the lid so no crushing pressure on the last inch or so

I just welded that 1 inch angle iron on the top plate. the bonus is that it acts like a sharp edge. works great right down to the really small stuff now that I modified it.

the pic is just to show the size of the gap. I actually welded the angle iron on the top plate with the pointy end down.

View attachment 652047


The full size pic won't open up for some reason, but from what I can see of the thumbnail and your description, I see your problem. If you have it whipped, good deal. It is extremely useful for grabbing onto grape vines we have down here growing in trees, and you can back up and yank then out of the tree. Not something I could do before as I didn't have the strength/weight to do it by hand, but no problem for the tractor/grapple. But all sorts of little sprouts and saplings can be yanked out whole "by the roots" so they don't grow back like when you just cut them off either manually or with your rotary cutter. it is a useful little tool, and didn't cost much to build.
 
   / My Wicked Grapple bush grabber attachment #79  
Aha... wonder why I couldn't get the thumbnail to open up?

I did get it to "open in a new tab".. probably what you did. :)

Right, then resized and posted it "Large".

Second try:

thumbnail.jpg
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

Great Plaines 2400 Tt (A50514)
Great Plaines 2400...
2017 AUTOCAR YARD SPOTTER (A51222)
2017 AUTOCAR YARD...
2017 FREIGHTLINER M2 S/A SWEEPER TRUCK (A51406)
2017 FREIGHTLINER...
2006 Chevy Trailblazer (A47384)
2006 Chevy...
(4) Texas Built 25' Stand Alone Panels (A50515)
(4) Texas Built...
2025 Swict 84in Bucket Skid Steer Attachment (A50322)
2025 Swict 84in...
 
Top