Root Rake/Grapple For Kubota B2910

[PineRidge]

Thanks for sending me the TBN link Randy. Your project looks great my friend, you'll be crushing junk autos in no time.

 

[rswyan]

Mike,

LOL ... thanks ... I think ...

 

[rswyan]

From a post I made in another thread:

... Got all final welds to the (4) pipes on the upper grapple jaw done earlier ... also bent the 1/4" x 2" flats that are on the inside of the grapple arms and got them tacked into place. I'm pretty pleased with how the bent flats turned out ... it was only my second time using the bender and I was able to make two pieces that were nearly identical. Plus the bender's capacity is only 1/4" x 1 15/16"" ...

After hefting this thing around and it getting heavier and heavier as I added parts I got a little concerned about the weight, so after finishing up for the day I came down to the house and ran some numbers on the total lengths of the materials I used ...

I think I may have a problem ...

Just based on my estimates (which doesn't include the wire used to make the welds) it appears that the upper jaw (including the hydraulic cylinders) will weigh around 185 lbs.

I can reduce that somewhat (11 lbs) by removing one (out of 4) of the pipes (an 1 1/2" Schedule 80) ... but will pick some of that weight back up in 1/4" x 2" flat stock that will needed to be added to "capture and contain" the load.

The 48" W. R. Long root rake/grapple I patterned this after has a listed weight of 325 lbs. Some of the discrepancy may be due to using heavier pipe than what Long uses (Schedule 80 vs. Schedule 40)

So I ran some numbers for the lower rake portion based on the materials I intend to use and I come up with a weight of at least 232 lbs ... and that doesn't include all of the components (probably another 50 lbs) ... I'm thinking that I'm probably in the neighborhood of 475 - 500 lbs as currently designed.

So I may have to put this thing on a diet.

A good chunk of that 232 lbs for the lower rake portion is the SSQA plate (49 lbs)

I have no idea whether W. R. Long includes the attachment points in their listed weights, as they offer both pin-on and SSQA attachment ... and they probably don't weigh the same.

The Titan SSQA plate I'm going to use is an "open" plate (not solid, or full) ... and it has a 3/8" (by 1 1/2" ?) bar that runs the entire length across the top ... part of that could be eliminated (cut off), once I have the two ends of the plate welded into place.

One other possibility to reduce the weight would be to drill out some holes in the arms for the upper jaw in the drill press with Lennox bi-metal holesaws. From what I've read on TBN, this can be done without sacrificing much in the way of strength.

Needless to say, this probably should have been confronted a little better in the design phase ...

Another day in paradise ... :laughing:

 

[rswyan]

1/4" x 2" flats all stitch welded and tops of cylinder guards welded:

But the underside of the cylinder guards need stitched ... do that in a bit after I eat dinner:

Got the bracket for diverter valve finished a bit ago ... will paint that and the bracket for front aux quick-connects tonight after I finish welding.

 

[rswyan]

Well, I sort of got distracted into a few other things/projects (SSQA, shrub bucket) ... so updates to this thread have been slow ... but I've been busy ... pushing it forward a little bit at a time ...

Since I couldn't get the plasma cuter running, my neighbor brought down his O/A torch and tanks so we could cut some pieces for the grapple out of the plate we're using for the welding table ... while we were at it we used the torches to scarf out the welds on the brackets on the loader bucket.

"Uncle Buck" running the torch on the bucket brackets:

Bucket cleaned up:

SSQA attachment plate tacked on:

The SSQA plate is fully welded on the loader bucket at this point ... I drilled three 1" holes into each side of the plate for plug welds.

I'm thinking of cutting off the middle of the 3/8" bar that goes across the top of the SSQA plate to reduce weight ... it seems unnecessary, assuming I tie the points where I make the cut to the bucket ... and I can always find a use for the steel.

Need to add a (re)paint job on the bucket to the winter project list ...

 

[rswyan]

UB cutting the pieces for the grapple and shrub bucket out of the 4' x 8' plate with the torch:

UB marked out the layout ... I watched and learned. (Actually I tried my hand with the torch too ... didn't do too bad I guess ... need more time driving it tho'. UB sez he's gonna give me the 4-1-1 the next time he's down)

 

[rswyan]

Had planned to clean up the shop last night but I didn't get much cleaning done ... ended up doing a whole bunch of grinding though: the tractor-side SSQA brackets, side plates for the shrub bucket, and parts for the grapple.

The image below is four pieces of 1/4" plate that were cut with the O/A torch from the 4' x 8' sheet of plate. They will serve as the bottom of the masts/towers for the upper jaw of the grapple and as mounting points for the SSQA attachment plate.

Being cut with the torch, the edges were pretty rough and the size varied a good bit ... so I tack welded them together and then ground them, so that they would be fairly close:

They will provide an additional 20 degrees of roll back (my loader only has 26 degrees of rollback) for a total of 46 degrees.

They still need to have a hole drilled through them for two short (6" ?) pieces of 1 1/2" Schedule 80 pipe. The pipes will tie two plates together (two pairs) and provide some structural reinforcement for the mounting brackets/points for the SSQA plate.

 

[Xfaxman]

:thumbsup: Looking good :thumbsup:

 

[rswyan]

Xfaxman,

Thanks ... expect a lot of updates over the next few days.

I'm enjoying reading about your mods and addition of the FEL to the Toro ... very cool :thumbsup:

I dunno what it is about that type of machine ... but I really like 'em.

 

[Xfaxman]

Xfaxman,

Thanks ... expect a lot of updates over the next few days.

I'm enjoying reading about your mods and addition of the FEL to the Toro ... very cool :thumbsup:
Thanks.

For those that haven't seen it, click the link in my signature for the rest of the story.


I dunno what it is about that type of machine ... but I really like 'em.

Yep, this type is also the best way to mow, IMHO!

The 4 wheel drive traction unit. 28hp 3 cylinder Kubota diesel, hydrostat.



The 6' recycler deck.

 

[rswyan]

Got the pieces/parts for the mast/tower assemblies all ground and ready to tack up:

There are 4 more holes (2", one in each assembly) that have to be drilled right on the weld between the top and middle pieces ... so those will get welded up first, then all tacked together for drilling, then split apart for the weld to the bottom pieces.

So that's what's on the menu for tonight.

 

[rswyan]

Yep, this type is also the best way to mow, IMHO!

The 4 wheel drive traction unit. 28hp 3 cylinder Kubota diesel, hydrostat.
View attachment 395030 View attachment 395031 View attachment 395032 View attachment 395033 View attachment 395034


The 6' recycler deck.
View attachment 395036 View attachment 395035 View attachment 395038 View attachment 395037

Nice ... :thumbsup:

We have a Simplicity CFC 18 (Commercial Front Cut 18) which is kinda similar ... but only one wheel in the rear and not 4WD (obviously), just 2WD ... it has a number of flaws and shortcomings (a double reduction chain final drive - which is PITA to keep adjusted) ... but I still love it.

Very easy to mow with ... especially trimming around obstacles. Unfortunately ours only has the 46" deck ... would have loved to have the one with the 60" deck. We use it mainly for mowing around the house ... and pulling a little wagon.

 

[rswyan]

After better than a year's hiatus from this project, it's time to get back on it ... before another summer goes by ... :laughing:

Finally got around to welding those pieces together the other day:

 

[rswyan]

With welds ground flush:

 

[rswyan]

Yesterday I got all of the lower jaw/frame welded up, except for the two outside mast/upright plates which I did earlier today:

 

[rswyan]

Another angle:

 

[rswyan]

Front side:

 

[rswyan]

Late this afternoon I gave U. B. a call and asked him if could spare a couple of minutes to help me lift the upper jaw up and set it on the table. He was down in five minutes ... and bearing gifts from his wife to boot: turkey paprikash and navy bean and ham soup (both delicious)

We set the upper jaw up and then stuck the pins and bushings in for the jaw hinges and cylinders just to test fit:

 

[rswyan]

A few more, from various angles:

 

[rswyan]

Ran into a couple of issues, both are shown in the image below.

First one is that there is an interference issue with the hydraulic ports on the side of the cylinders ... so I need to cut the mounts on the base end off and rotate them 90 degrees and weld 'em back on, so the ports are on the top of the cylinders, rather than the side.

Second one is there are two pieces of 1/4" x 2" flat stock welded on the top of each arm of the upper jaws to protect the cylinders ... they're mebbe a little longer than they should be ... and might be keeping the upper jaw from closing as far as it should. Won't know for sure until I get the rake placed and welded on to the bottom of the grapple, check cylinder extension, etc.

It's a fairly simple fix if so ... just get out the grinder and trim 'em down a bit.