Piston
Elite Member
One thing I want to mention about log handling with the grapple...
Sometimes if the log is too heavy for my FEL to lift, I will drag the log with the grapple, by driving up to the end of it, squeezing down on the log, and backing up to where I want to go. In fact, sometimes I can do two logs at a time with this method.
However, if you do this, be sure to be extra careful when turning, I only back up in a straight line, or a very wide radius turn. If you turn much at all, you are putting tremendous forces on the grapple arms (torquing force) with the long lever arm the log creates, and will bend the grapple arm. I bent part of my grapple arm (the outer tooth on one grapple, and actually it was my dad not me:laughing
but it was easily heated and bent back.
Just something to keep in mind.
You will be absolutely amazed at how much work you can do with that setup. I brought my bucket with me when I cleared some land last month, hoping to try out my brand new ratchet rake, but I never once took the grapple off. This is as close to work as the ratchet rake has seen, it made the trip up, and back down, but never got hooked up to the tractor. :laughing:
Sometimes if the log is too heavy for my FEL to lift, I will drag the log with the grapple, by driving up to the end of it, squeezing down on the log, and backing up to where I want to go. In fact, sometimes I can do two logs at a time with this method.
However, if you do this, be sure to be extra careful when turning, I only back up in a straight line, or a very wide radius turn. If you turn much at all, you are putting tremendous forces on the grapple arms (torquing force) with the long lever arm the log creates, and will bend the grapple arm. I bent part of my grapple arm (the outer tooth on one grapple, and actually it was my dad not me:laughing
but it was easily heated and bent back. Just something to keep in mind.
You will be absolutely amazed at how much work you can do with that setup. I brought my bucket with me when I cleared some land last month, hoping to try out my brand new ratchet rake, but I never once took the grapple off. This is as close to work as the ratchet rake has seen, it made the trip up, and back down, but never got hooked up to the tractor. :laughing:
