Question about a grapple

[Junkman]

I would have expected both ears to brake off, rather than one. Could it be that the pin started to come out and that the cylinder clevis was loaded on only one side? That is a strange type of break and I don't believe that the cylinder is an inferior product. Glad to hear that a replacement is on the way. Did you send him a picture of the broken piece? Junk....

 

[DaNag]

Nope, pin and clip was still intact and in place through the grapple mount when it broke.

And yup...sent Andy pics, and as mentioned before, he's treating me right. He's standing behind his product, and is replacing the cylinder without hesitation.

 

[PineRidge]

Never heard anything bad said about Lion cylinders before. Quite possibly a fluke of sorts.

Here is the info that Northern supplies on the Lion cylinder:

Lion 2500 PSI Heavy-Duty Tie Rod Hydraulic Cylinder — 2in. Bore, 6in. Stroke
Built tough for agricultural and industrial applications. 2500 PSI model is designed to withstand shock loads of up to 5000 PSI. Durable ductile iron cast components. 90 durometer O-ring seals with antiextrusion rings for positive sealing throughout the cylinder. High tensile steel shaft is precision ground, polished and hard chrome-plated. 30-month limited warranty.

I'm thinking even if you didn't have a 30-month limited warranty on the cylinder that Andy would still help you out of a bad spot. He has worked diligently with me on my grapple project and I thank him for the assistance.

 

[Defective]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...and a photo of the cylinder showing where it broke. )</font>

I'd bet on a manufacturing defect rather than a material issue. If it were simply weak material, I'd have expected to see both sides broken off. Only way I've ever seen a break like that is after the pin came loose. (I take it that didn't happen here...)

I'd be after the manufacturer for a free replacement.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Nope, pin and clip was still intact and in place through the grapple mount when it broke.
)</font>

Okay, everyone else has given their best guess, so here is mine. If you are putting the pin through the clevis and there is a little tension, sometimes the pin will go through one side and then hit the other side. You can either wiggle the joint to get the pin to slip through freely, or you can pick up a hammer and smack the pin to drive it through. I'd bet that somewhere in the life of that clevis, someone did exactly that. That could have caused a crack, and by the time it was in use, it was only a matter of time until the weakened half of the clevis broke off.

...not saying this is what happened, just thinking of how it could have occurred.

 

[DaNag]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...or you can pick up a hammer and smack the pin to drive it through. I'd bet that somewhere in the life of that clevis, someone did exactly that.)</font>

That's certainly a possibility - I didn't install the ram so can't say. I know the shop that did the install had it on/off a number of times for fitting.

In thinking about this some more, perhaps it's a good thing the clevis is the weak link. If the pin does fall out down the road, I guess it's better that the clevis breaks rather than the support frame or grapple arm getting bent - the clyinder with tie-rod ends is pretty cheap and readily available.

 

[kubotabilly]

PR, Great job on the grapple attachment. Here's a little something that I think will make it work alot better.

Bill

 

[PineRidge]

Wow Kubota orange on the front of a New Holland. Naw that won't work... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Junkman]

I believe that yellow and green would be a better combination with the blue..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif He will probably paint it boring black.....

 

[kubotabilly]

Junkman,
Not only will he paint it black, It'll have to be satin black /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. I thought satin was the sheen you put on your living room walls, not your tractor /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Is black really a color /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. I think orange, yellow and green would be great!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill