Question about a grapple

PineRidge · Jan 24, 2005

Thanks to Rose the shop is always clean after you mess it up. You work that dear wife like a slave..... 

Yeah right Junk I can hear it now, "Honey bring me a another 6-pack and while you're out here why not clean up that mess I made with the arc welder. Hang all these tools back on the wall and don't you forget to sweep up the shop floor sweetie. I'll be taking you out to dinner later at McDonald's for all your effort"

I would be showing off a lump on the back of my head that said CRAFTSMAN on it from the wording transferred from a sharp rap with my large Crescent wrench. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

jinman · Jan 24, 2005

( ...I also considered the ATI and then thought hey, why not just modify Andy's grapple to fit my need. )

Thanks PineRidge. I did get in touch with Andy by the email link you sent to me. I'm getting a check in the mail to him this morning. He suggested I attach a 3"x3" x 1/4" piece of tubing to my rock bucket to mount the grapple. I'm not certain, but I think both the beam and the grapple can be mounted to the rock bucket with U-bolts.

I'll also need to make measurements and order hoses since I don't intend to build a diverter valve system right away. I'll put short quick-attach hoses on the grapple and run my hoses from my third remote up to the loader crossbeam and mount them there.

When I start this project, I'll take some pictures and start a new thread so nothing will be confused with your project.

Thanks for all the info. I checked ebay again yesterday without using your link and did a search the same as before. Andy's grapple popped right up. I don't know why I had a problem finding it last week. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif ...probably old age. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

BTW: ATI probably has a very nice grapple, but I can't think it could be any easier than working with Andy. It sure cuts out the middle-man. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

PineRidge · Jan 24, 2005

Jim that would be a slick deal if you could use U-bolts to mount the new grapple. That way if and when you need to remove it the U-bolts will make it a snap.

We called ATI when we originally wanted to just purchase a grapple outright and they gave me the number of a local dealer that handled the ATI brand. We called the local guy introduced ourself and told them our needs. The dealer quoted us over 2K. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I said we don't want to purchase a grapple bucket just a bolt on grapple. He was going to get back to ATI for pricing and call us back. That never happened and I'm thinking the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif So now we're doing it our way.

Andy is a great guy to work with. His effort is continuing with our grapple until we are satisfied with the end results and you can't ask for more than that. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

zipp669 · Jan 24, 2005

I could not find anything on Andy's stuff either on EBAY..
I just bought an ATI rock bucket but not sure if I will put a grapple on it as it being 4' deep is much deeper than a regular bucket.

Would the arms you have had constructed reach the edge of an ATI rock bucket?

jinman · Jan 25, 2005

( I could not find anything on Andy's stuff either on EBAY..
I just bought an ATI rock bucket but not sure if I will put a grapple on it as it being 4' deep is much deeper than a regular bucket.

Would the arms you have had constructed reach the edge of an ATI rock bucket?
)
Just do a search for "grapple" and it comes up on the second page of hits. At least that's what worked for me last Sunday.

I'm not sure if the grapple will reach all the way to the end of the bucket, but I'm going to mount a beam inside the bucket at the top of the rear tines. I think the grapple jaws will come close to the end of the front tines by 2" or so. When I receive the grapple, I'll start a post and show some mounting pictures. I'll PM you so you'll know I've posted some pictures.

How do you like your ATI rock bucket? Have you used it yet?

PineRidge · Jan 25, 2005

Guys these lift arms for the grapple are 27-1/2 inches from the center of the pivot pin to the tip of the arm. Hope that measurement helps you. And like Jim says there is also some adjustment that can be achieved by moving the position of the mounting point in relationship to the bucket itself.

CTyler · Jan 25, 2005

( He already spotted a problem with the way that I want to mount the cylinder even before the welding started. It seems that the rear cylinder mount if centered over the center lift arm pivot, will make removal of the center pivot pin impossible )

I'm not quite following the problem. Are you saying the mounting ears the cylinder will be welded to the bucket o either side of the center grapple arm? So this would cover the path to slide the pin out of the grapple?

If so what about leaving a hole in the mounting ear? Or make another grapple arm and move its position. In other words you would have four arms instead of three. This would leave the center open for the cylinder mount.

PineRidge · Jan 25, 2005

Picture the center pivot pin installed and acting as the hinge for the lift arm. Now picture a rear cylinder mount with each side support plate also welded to the support tube right next to the original pivot pin and you will see that there is no way to remove the pin once the cylinder mount has been welded up. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Andy took this into consideration before we started welding and redesigned the center pivot mount to be longer and with a second hole to facilitate the pin for the rear of the cylinder. He also had to make the bushing in the center lift arm longer than the other two a lift arms to compensate for the extra width.

And finally he saw an opportunity to make the connection of the center lift arm and the 2 X 2 tube stronger by making 2 X 2 cutouts in the center arm for both tubes to pass through instead of a butt-joint. We should see the redesigned parts arrive here shortly. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

dummy · Jan 25, 2005

Someone did a nice job cutting out your parts. Two things about the picture though. 1) Wouldn't now be a good time to consider adding bronze bushings to your pivot points? 2) How the heck do you find anything in that shop??

zipp669 · Jan 25, 2005

I just ordered it 2 weeks ago and have not received it yet.

With the snow still on the ground here all I could use it for would be hard melted snow rocks.

I am looking forward to helping me save alot of time.

I would be interested in making the same grapples that started this thread but making them longer than 27.5"

I think I may look into that.