Purchasing a Grapple...Which one??

[Redbug]

Hi Brad...No, I did not specify the hose length. It came with the grapple. I compared the hose length to the hoses on my WR Long 4in1 bucket, and they are the same length. So, I assume that WR Long puts the connector ends in the same place on the buckets as well as their grapples, thus using the same hose lengths and stock for both. Probably cheaper and simpler for them. I'll take some pics and post them in the next day or so. That way, you can get an idea on how the lines are rigged.

RPK...I have my hoses on the 4in1 wrapped for protection with spiral wrap used to hold bundles of wire together. You can get it in different sizes, (and colors), from an electrical supply outlet. This stuff is tough plastic and is like a spring or spiral. You wind it around the outside of the hose. I got the idea when I saw the larger wrap on the hydro lines of some much larger construction equipment. It is designed for hoses and wires and is flexibile and protects. I will wrap the lines on the grapple, too. You can also buy the kevlar sleeving...but it's more expensive.
Here's a link to what I mean so you can see the stuff, (there should be an electrical supply place near you, otherwise mail order it) :

Spiral Wrap, Cable Wrap, Abrasion Protection for Wires and Cables

That's also a good idea on the welding of some angle...I may do the same on mine.

 

[RPK]

RedBug; Thanks for the link and idea for the spiral wrap. I have several lines on my backhoe and grapple that I think need added protection.

RPK

 

[Redbug]

Brad,

Here's a pic of the hose hookup...from the grapple to the tractor. I am guessing the hose length on the grapple is around 4 or 4 1/2 feet. On the grapple end, there are two T's where each hose is threaded onto. Each T goes to a cylinder end. Each cylinder gets the same pressure since it is T'd, thus opening/closing equally. The other end of the hoses have connectors, (male and female), which mate to my tractor connectors. That way you don't get the open/close circuits backward. My 4in1 bucket is exactly the same. Hope this helps.

 

[lincolnvt]

Dave - thanks a lot for taking the time to post that for me. I don't know if you are interested but I posted my bulkhead pictures in hydraulics. Cool set up you have I hope to complete mine by spring.

Brad

 

[justcountry]

Hey Dave the grapple looks great, I just ordered a 48" millonzi LD, it should be here in another week, It shipped out yesterday. I got it for $1,048 including shipping to FL. I mentioned TBN. Jackie Luster helped me out a bunch and is even sending me a free t_shirt. I pieced together a 3rd function valve from Surplus center after a lot of help from Larrry Guglio on here. He did the same. I've got $360 into the whole valve and all hoses and fittings and wiring. I ended up using a trim/tilt handle off a boating controls for my control switch. It fits tightly over my loader joystick AND is WEATHERPROOF! I was going to go with the Long 3rd function, but they wanted 650. locally. I'll post some pics after I get everything together.

 

[Eagleview]

I use a "Quick Attach" 84" grapple on my TL100A 4X4 . It is the best made attachment i have seen . Im sure you can buy a smaller version to suit your tractor size . It is great for every job you can imagine . But keep in mind that a grapple with forward facing tynes does not stickrake as well as a verticle tyne rake does . If you run along the ground with the tynes nearly flat they will take any oppertunity to dig in and nose dive the tractor as the tyres flatten out . If you use it with the tynes at say 45 degrees to stop this from happening , they will force the dump valve to open and swing under as the leverage on the crowd rams becomes to great as your pile of rubbish grows or you hit a tough root . Im sure "Quick Attach" makes a verticle tyne rake with a hydraulic top clamp for this reason . It all depends on what your requirements are which type you need . You welcome to look at the 3 photos of mine in my gallery .

 

[GinNB]

Iron Horse, nice looking grapple. Awesome in fact. $5700??? Holy smokes! Skid Steer Attachments - Attachments Direct, Inc. I didn't see a vertical tooth model in their catalog though.

I looked through your gallery. Hope the highway patrol doesn't give you trouble at the scales hauling three tractors with that little Isuzu...

 

[Eagleview]

G'day GinNB . "Quick Attach" call them the "Quick Claw" in the brochure . Yes they command a high price , but the quality is without question . I guess im just used to the prices for attachments here in OZ . That rake in my gallery owes me around $10,000 with our weak Ozzie $ , trucking to the harbour and then by boat to OZ then from the Brisbane port to me then the GST added . Its probably the best 10 grand ive spent . The main point i was trying to make was the comparison between vertical tynes and horizontal tynes for raking regardless of the brand or cost . The tip of the tyne on my rake to the pivot point is about 700mm , the pivot point to the top crowd ram link is about 230mm giving a ratio of around 3to1. A mere 1000kg of force on the tynes at 45 degrees whilst raking will exert 3000kg's on the ram . Depending on the forces imposed and the relief valve pressure setting it is easy to have the rake fold under . The vertical tyne rake such as the "Quick Claw" have a ratio of around 1to1 and do not have this problem making them better for raking . Re. the Nissan truck , it has a 32,000kg gcm with the load of tractors in the photo im still 11,000kg's under my legal weight .

 

[Redbug]

JustCountry...Welcome to TBN! That's a great idea using the waterproof trim rocker switch from a boat control. When you get your grapple...show us how you got things rigged up. That ought to be an interesting setup. Where in Fl. are you? I used to live in Orlando way back before it became like Los Angeles, and at Waycross...just northwest of Jacksonville.

Iron Horse...I also looked at your pics. That's some equipment you have. Good tip on the tooth angle. That's some stump puller. That would be good over in this country to use to reclaim fatlighter stumps. When I was looking at your pics, I was thinking that were in Florida or California...but did not recognize the flora. Then in your post you said OZ! Wow!

 

[GinNB]

Redbug, check his location by his avatar- he's from Orstraya mate! Cute, I didn't get it at first and was trying to figure out why his measurements were metric and the vegetation was almost tropical.

Good measurements, ratios, and things to look for in a rake/grapple Iron Horse. Those're good things to look for when picking a rake. As far as the hauling goes, it's hard to tell without looking up the weights, axle capacities, etc, but it looks like the rear axle of the truck is holding the weight of two tractors plus the front of the float. What's the gross rear axle capacity? Weights of the tractors? Ever had it scaled? I'm not dogging you- it just looks like it might be overweight. I've certainly been guilty a time or three.