TATRO GRAPPLES WITH WR LONG VALVES

[3RRL]

I wanted to start a new thread about installing the Andy Tatro Bucket Grapple Attachment as a follow up on this thread: JOYSTICK & HYDRAULIC QUESTIONS
I received a lot of help from members but especially from MadReferee who gave me excellent advice and instructions leading to the purchase of a WR Long true third function electric solenoid valve and also an Andy Tatro Grapple. Andy was very good to work with and gave me instructions how to mount the grapples.
I'll start off by showing a few pictures of how it turned out and also a video of it working.
After much thought, and considering the size of my bucket and FEL lifting capacity, I decided to go with 2 grapples. This picture is late at night after assembling everything and still some tools left in the bucket.




This one shows the jaws opened up wide.



This one shows how the 2 grapples can work together and separately by hooking the hydraulic cylinders in parallel. Therefore, as the jaws go down together to close on an oddball shaped object, the jaw that finds resistance stops and the jaw that has not hit anything yet will keep closing until it does.

 

[PineRidge]

Rob nice looking installation. I think you're going to really like your grapples. We're always finding new uses for ours. Sure beats jumping off the tractor with a chain to pick up a downed tree.

I also thought Andy was a pleasure to work with and have recommended his grapple many times.

 

[3RRL]

There was a lot of preparation for this project and I found myself stretched to the limit of my limited learning curve...hydraulic valves and electronics are not my strong suit. I made a lot of brackets to hold the valves, quick disconnects and hose so they could rotate during movement.

This one shows how the bucket QD's are attached to the FEL brace. That way I can take the entire system off leaving only the QD's behind that spacer bar on top of the bucket.




This one shows a view of the new valve (from driver's seat) located on the left side FEL frame. Also the Loader mounted QD's. there was more room to work with on this side.

 

[3RRL]

Thanks Mike,
You were one of the people who helped me make my mind up to do this. I am only going to show a couple more pictures and the video. Then refer you to a thread where I started this from the very beginning...all the prep work involved with a project like this.

This is the WR LONG joystick handle with the electric switch in it and the wiring (covered in corregated plastic protection).



This is another close-up of the solenoid diverter valve. I was happy with how neat and clean all the hydraulics and electical wiring came out.




This is the video of the contraption working. It is a true third function that allows ALL the movements by bucket, loader arms and grapples to work at the same time. You guys can't believe how happy I am to finish this project and that it WORKS.
GRAPPLE IN ACTION

After getting all that good information in the first thread, I got up the guts to try doing it. I then started another thread that details all the machining, welding, hose fitting, measuring and pre-fitting these things to make it all work...prior to these photos. I'd like very much if you check out that thread. It is a long thread, but then again, it has all the details for anybody interested in adding a grapple...or a couple of them.
DETAILED GRAPPLE THREAD

Thanks for your interest....

 

[3RRL]

Thought to update the thread on the use of the grapples.
Among other things this weekend, I got to use my new dual grapples at the rural property. I had mostly brush and logs to get cleaned up so I could rotary cut the meadow and adjacent areas near the campsite. First I had to clear an area next to the tractor tent that had a buch of buckbrush growing on it. I was able to do it in one pass and haul the brush away to the burn pile.



Then it was out to the meadow to get rid of some logs and tree cuttings. Again I pushed into the pile, closed the grapple jaws and grabbed a mouthfull of logs and branches. Notice how the logs are sticking straght out of the bucket. Without the grapple, they would just fall on the ground and I'd have to manuever the bucket to get them up...if I could at all. As it turned out, one scoop was good enough to clear it all.



Man, I gotta tell ya how much easier it is to grab stuff that ordinarily does not fit into the bucket. If you've ever had to struggle trying to pick up a big boulder or stump like this, you know how many tries it takes sometimes....and sometimes you never get it in.

 

[Ductape]

Rob,
Again i'll have to say....... you are a mad man !!! I checked out your thread on the prep work for your grapples. You are way overboard !! If only you lived here in New Hampshire.... i'd be hanging around your house conning you into helping me modify my tractor. Once again your brain has been working overtime...... and again your workmanship is second to none !!! Nice, nice, nice job !! I'm jealous of guys with your talent (and matching equipment)... everything you do looks completely professional, as compared to my work, which looks crude.... with bird poo for welds !

AAA+++ JOB ! You must feel a great sense of accomplishment !

 

[MadReferee]

Dcctape, you need help? I helped 3RRL and maybe I can help you too, and I am local.

 

[Ductape]

Mad,
I know your local...... cuz i was at your house when i picked up the welder ! I'm definitely looking for hydraulics help. I'll PM you with a few questions !

Thanks !!

 

[3RRL]

Ductape,
Thanks for great compliment but Mad is right...he helped me a lot intsructing me about the electric/hydraulic valve questions and how it all worked. I might be able to build just about anything, but I would not have attemped it without Mad's critical input for the project.
I think we should start calling him "Dr. Mad" LOL

 

[jinman]

I was able to do it in one pass and haul the brush away to the burn pile.

Rob, I don't know how I missed your thread before, but I did...

Your grapple(s) turned out great. It's amazing how productive the grapple can be for working with brush. I used to have to push brush along the ground and then go back and clean up what I'd lost in transit. With the grapple, I just get a bucketfull, lift, drive, and dump. Productivity goes through the roof.

Nice job! I know you will love it. Just be careful when the grapple is all the way open. If you hit something with a Tatro grapple when it's open all the way, it can make the hydraulic cylinder go over-center. I just open mine all the way and then run it back so the cylinder ram is out 1". That way it can't go over-center. I guess you could also weld a stop in the grapple hinge, but it's not a big deal really. It's only happened to me one time.

 

[turbo36]

It looks like you used common black iron pipe fittings on the pressure side of the hydraulics, I don't know what system pressure you are working with but I would have expected to see forged fittings not cast ones.

 

[cyberknight]

Hi Rob,
You did a great job on your Grapple. I just got one but not as big as yours is. The way you got it to work is very interesting to me with the dual setup. A grapple sure saves alot of time and I am always using mine for the brush and tree clean up. Makes life a bit easier with that. Nice work.
Glenn

 

[3RRL]

Jinman,
Thanks for the tip on the grapple flipping over the top. I hadn't even given it a thought. I'll check it out this weekend to see how close the ones he made for me are to doing that. Has anyone else had that happen?

Turbo36,
You are right about the fittings. I can order the proper fittings from Surplus center (after seeing their selection) and replace them if you guys think it is mandatory. My system operates at 2300psi. Do you think they will blow? The steel hydraulic tubes for my loader are a lot thinner wall than the black pipe and I thought it might be Ok to use. Of course, they appear seamless extruded. What do you think?

The dual grapple set-up works really cool. It works just as I thought it would, clamping at different levels depending on the shape of the material being handled. It has that extra clamp to keep stuff from falling out when a single grapple arm would not make contact. Yes, it makes a HUGE difference in ease and speed cleaning up the property.

 

[LC Brewing]

Sweet looking setup. Definitely on my "wish list" (which also includes simply having a tractor. )

The standard "black iron" threaded fittings from your average plumbing store will be 150# malleable iron - rated for only 150 psi operating pressure. You may not be having trouble with leakage, but you are also probably asking for trouble. The pipe itself is not the weak point, but rather the strength of the fitting socket itself - which is already under stress due to the wedge action of the tapered pipe threads. It is possible to actually crack the fitting down the socket by tightening the pipe too much. Where you will likely see a failure is one of the fitting sockets actually bursting - possibly in the event of a pressure surge caused by hitting resistance fast and hard?

A good industrial piping supply company can get 3000# forged steel fittings, but they are substantially thicker and may not fit where you have the standard fittings now.

You are right, the steel tubing is thinner wall than the iron pipe you are using. BUT, the tubing, as you guessed, is annealed seamless tubing, whereas your pipe is most likely A53B carbon, which is rolled and welded. The strength of the pipe, however, is less likely to be an issue than the strength of the fitting and the joint. The hydraulic tubing is connected with one of four joints typically, which are rated at much higher pressures:
1) SAE threads (straight threads with an o-ring seal at the shoulder of the fitting).
2) Orbital butt-welded fittings (almost impossible to see because they are precisely welded with a special machine).
3) Swage-style compression fittings (i.e. Parker A-Lok, SwageLok, LettLok, etc).
4) SAE flange (funny looking oval-shaped four-bolt flanges, welded to the tube and using a recessed o-ring seal on the face - usually used in larger sizes).

The easiest of those to use is the compression style, and they can be ordered, along with the tubing and any tools to bend/work with them, through most industrial machine or mechanic supply shops. I believe McMaster-Carr and Grainger carry the Parker line of hydraulic fittings and parts (albeit probably not cheap).

 

[PineRidge]

Jinman,
Thanks for the tip on the grapple flipping over the top. I hadn't even given it a thought. I'll check it out this weekend to see how close the ones he made for me are to doing that. Has anyone else had that happen?

Yep, once before I figured out what was happening.

 

[JasonL]

Yep, once before I figured out what was happening.

It has happened to me a couple times also. Usually when I curl the bucket down with the grapple fully open and I inadvertantly catch it on something! I just pull the cylinder pin then extend the cylinder a little and reattach. Love the grapple though! Jason

 

[Gig]

Is there a website for Andy Tatro grapples?

 

[JasonL]

Is there a website for Andy Tatro grapples?

He often sells them on Ebay (seller id is htatro)

 

[PineRidge]

Is there a website for Andy Tatro grapples?

Let me know if you would like Andy's contact info if you would like, you may call him direct. Currently he has no eBay auctions running.

 

[3RRL]

Gig,
Here's Andy's email so you can contact him.
htatro@bwsys.net
He's great to work with and knowledgeable.
Delivers when he says he will too.
Rob-