PT425 Grapple Build Project

[bubenberg]

here is a version of how i would like to convert my pt grappler with the exception of putting the pistons on the back: http://www.budgetforklift.com/skid-steer-grapple-pallet-forks.html

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, that was a long post, wasn't it! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I don't blame them for closing it. It's still there and I refer to it often.

Thanks for the link to the grapple. That really show a good example. And it show me how they connected the hydraulic ram.

 

[MossRoad]

Gathered some materials today!

Went to the scrap yard and found some 2" thick wall steel tubing. It was brand new cut offs in 2 and 4 foot sections, so I grabbed up about 4 of each. These will be for the cross bars.

Remember how I wanted to build the fingers out of 2" by 1/2" bar stock in the shape of a carpenter's square? Well... I found a steel ring that is about 4 feet in diameter. It is a little over 2" wide and over 1/2 inch thick! I think I can cut it into 1/4 circles. That will make four fingers. All of the grapples that I have seen have curved fingers. This should work out well./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif The ring weighs 75 pounds, so I'll probably have less than 100 total, excluding the cylinger and hoses. So that won't cut down my lifting capacity by more than about 150 pounds. I also found a second ring exactly like the first and I couldn't pass it up/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I ended leaving with 218 pounds of steel. Grand total... $20.00. So, including the stuff I already bought I have about $60.00 in it.

Now all I need is some time to cut, grind and weld /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

After I get the grapple part done, I'll figure out the geometry for the cylinder.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PT425 Grapple Build Project Picture

Here's a picture of the ring that I found at the scrap yard that I plan to cut up for the fingers. See attached.

 

[bubenberg]

Re: PT425 Grapple Build Project Picture

the original teeth are a little bit rounder... in my opinion they will do quite well

good luck ... juding from the post and the light in the picture you are burning close to midnight oil!?!?!?!?

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PT425 Grapple Build Project Picture

I might try to find some backhoe bucket teeth to weld onto the tips at a slight angle. This might get more of an arc to the fingers.

That photo was taken about 7:00pm tonight. It is really starting to get dark earlier now.

 

[bubenberg]

Re: PT425 Grapple Build Project Picture

i was sitting here looking at my grappler and could not come up with as good of an explanation as you just made. that will do well. you do need that fine point to get a hold of some of your larger logs etc

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PT425 Grapple Build Project Picture

You think I should make the fingers land right on my bucket teeth like pinchers or between them with a little overlap like scissors? I'm thinking right against the teeth.

 

[bubenberg]

Re: PT425 Grapple Build Project Picture

my teeth don't touch the metal, ... a few "teens" (tenth) of an inch gap exist. i don't think you want all that banging going on all the time.

 

[bubenberg]

Re: PT425 Grapple Build Project Picture

since i already have a grapple bucket i am looking to build a grapple onto the extended lackender baby boomer, here are the types i would like:
http://www.u-forest.ca/eng/products_UF.htm