Need hydraulic lines for Grapple (advice)

[pharmvet]

Just purchased a grapple (Shop made locally). Im planning to use it on my TB 110 which has a 46LB loader. The grapple did not come with hydraulic lines. I need to have some made at my local hardware store. I will be using my rear remotes to operate the grapple jaw. Later, when I have time, I will try to mount a quick attach on the loader front, but for now, Im just planning on disconnecting the lines from the rear and rolling them up and letting them stay with the grapple when I take it off. My question is:

How long do these lines need to be?

The obvious answer is for me to measure my tractor, and thats what Im planning to do this weekend. I just thought someone might have that measurement because they had done the very thing Im planning and I could have them made this week, and actually use my grapple this weekend.

I realize it would be ok if they were a bit too long, especially since I could use the same lines (cut shorter) for the quick attach FEL install later.

thanks in advance.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Just purchased a grapple (Shop made locally). Im planning to use it on my TB 110 which has a 46LB loader. The grapple did not come with hydraulic lines. I need to have some made at my local hardware store. I will be using my rear remotes to operate the grapple jaw. Later, when I have time, I will try to mount a quick attach on the loader front, but for now, Im just planning on disconnecting the lines from the rear and rolling them up and letting them stay with the grapple when I take it off. My question is:

How long do these lines need to be?

The obvious answer is for me to measure my tractor, and thats what Im planning to do this weekend. I just thought someone might have that measurement because they had done the very thing Im planning and I could have them made this week, and actually use my grapple this weekend.

I realize it would be ok if they were a bit too long, especially since I could use the same lines (cut shorter) for the quick attach FEL install later.


thanks in advance.

If the grapple is mounted, move the loader and the bucket through their full range of motion and select the largest measurement required for those loader motions. if you used some bulkhead fittings and located them in the area of the loader main frame pivot point, you'd only have to deal the the motion of the loader bucket since the pivot point is fixed to the tractor and doesn't move. That's how the mid valve on my NH 820TL loader is located.

 

[nickel plate]

I recently posted a four part grapple install on my TC40. It took me over a month of work to finally pull the lever and see it in action-and that was today! The grapple is as yours, running off of the rear remotes and I too had no other example to fall back on and duplicate. There might be some helpful info for you in that read which is posted in the ATTACHMENTS section.
"FEL Bucket Grapple Installation" 4/22/2011
Part 2 4/23/2011
Part 3 4/24/2011
Part 4 4/24/2011
Good luck with your install.

 

[Zebrafive]

You will find that the lines will need to be the longest with the grapple in the dumped postion.

I would mount quick couplers to my loader mast near the bucket pivot and run lines from them to your rear SCV. Then make separate lines from the couplers to the grapple. Lot easier to remove the grapple and these will be the lines that get damaged and need to be replaced. I'd rather replace a 4' line than a 16' line.

 

[nickel plate]

You're probably done with the project but if not, use an air hose line (or garden hose) threaded where you want and mark the end with a marking pen, unravel it, lay it flat on the floor and measure. Add a foot or so for last minute mind changes. Go to the hydraulic shop and have ONE end of each new hose crimped with your fitting of choice. Take it home, thread it through the tractor and final mark it by wrapping each hose in tape and strike a final/final marking pen line on them. Back to the hydraulic shop for the last set if crimped fittings. They will not be of equal length due to the staggered connections on the hydraulic cylinder.