Jim yes Mother Nature finally decided to smile and send us Ohio folks some nice weather. I quickly put the grapple to work and I am thrilled with the results but I'm sure you already know that since you purchased a grapple almost identical in design to mine.
When I first used the grapple it was too fast on open/close to suit me so I purchased an inexpensive fixed orifice restrictor from where else but TSC. I think the thing set me back a whole 4 bucks and some change. Once I installed it the grapple became much more manageable and I can still slow it down further by feathering the joystick some. NEAT! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Speaking of joysticks once you get tired of using your rear remote to open/close your grapple we are going to make a convert out of you. The more you use your grapple the more you will miss not being able to keep your hand on the joystick to open/close it. Just think of it as a pay me now or pay me later thing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Yep, the latching solenoid sounded a lot better than it actually worked. I quickly found out that as I was sneaking up to a brush pile or tree that I had to look down at the LED to determine if the grapple circuit was energized, so there was a loss of productivity, it just wasn't smooth.
Once I removed the latching relay and the LED it all became much more automatic. When sneaking up on the tree and curling the bucket down it was just a matter of depressing the joystick button with my thumb and I immediately knew, even without looking, that at that point I had full control of the grapple. It was smooth and didn't require a visual from the light emitting diode either. And when my thumb released the small joystick button everything reverted back and I again had normal curl function. Sometimes simple is good!
Jim how's your grapple working out for you so far on the
chase lounge rock bucket? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'll just bet the combination of the rock bucket/grapple is saving you lots of time & effort. You have a winning combination there my friend.
SkogenMe the first time that you make a modification to your new tractor is probably the hardest. Then it gets much easier from that point forward until you turn into a junkie like me looking for one new project after another to build and add. There are more than a few of us gadget junkies here at the TBN site. We share ideas and pictures so that others can learn, improve on, and repost their projects.
It's all about members helping other members in my opinion.
EDIT: I had another TBN member contact me today regarding the part number of the electric diverting valve that we purchased from
Surplus Center. I just couldn't put a finger on my old receipt so if any others have added a similar electric valve please post the information here with the correct part number. Thanks!
