WildKat 48" Econo Grapple

[1648nc]

I have the wildkat and it has served me well, i rarely put my bucket or forks on anymore. I went with the wr long true third function kit on my 1648 mf as i wanted to be able to close the grapple as i was curling. That being said i rarely do both. I push brush, pile brush piles, feed hay, get up old hay the cows don't eat, just about anything other than scooping dirt, i do with the grapple.

 

[houser52]

...feed hay, get up old hay the cows don't eat...

Glad you mentioned that. We have so much old hay on the barn's floors that the gates will hardly close. Moving all that is near the top of my to do list.

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

Just saw your thread. I think I was the first to mention the WildKat 48" grapple on this forum. Have had it several years now and other than some rust, it's doing great. The price has gone up considerably from what I paid then, but it's still the best value out there. I think you'll be happy with your purchase.

 

[houser52]

Update #2- Checked my online bank account a few minutes ago to see if they had debited my account yet and yes they did... twice! I called immediately and Anita verified their mistake and was going to credit my account for the double charge. While I was at it I had them take off the flat face connectors and credit me another $50.

Just saw your thread. I think I was the first to mention the WildKat 48" grapple on this forum. Have had it several years now and other than some rust, it's doing great. The price has gone up considerably from what I paid then, but it's still the best value out there. I think you'll be happy with your purchase.

Thanks and it's good to hear it's still holding up well.

 

[houser52]

If you want a long-winded diverter thread....
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/342364-diverter-mounting-4.html

Sure is sweet for getting firewood though!

Thanks again for the link. I see that you mounted your diverter on the lift arm. That's a neat looking installation. Looks like you drilled and tapped the arm and used allen head cap screws to hold the diverter on. Good idea.
How has that been working out? I think my loader is similar to yours and I may have to do that.

 

[aeblank]

Thanks again for the link. I see that you mounted your diverter on the lift arm. That's a neat looking installation. Looks like you drilled and tapped the arm and used allen head cap screws to hold the diverter on. Good idea.
How has that been working out? I think my loader is similar to yours and I may have to do that.

Glad it's helping you. It has been well worth the effort. And in the end, I did the hydraulics and grapple for probably a couple hundred more than the Kubota hydraulics would have cost. That let me get it a couple years sooner.

So far, so good. I probably only have 5 or 10 hours on it though. I'll go out cutting for an hour before it gets dark. 1/3 or 1/2 of that time is grappling. Can get a lot done in that short time though.

So anyway, the mounting seems to be fine. I put it there so that plumbing was easy. I wanted to re-use the hoses that go from the QDs to the steel lines. I also wanted to make the "jumper" hoses from the valve back to the steel lines short/easy. Then the hoses that go from the valve to the front torque tube weren't as long as I expected.

 

[houser52]

Glad it's helping you. It has been well worth the effort. And in the end, I did the hydraulics and grapple for probably a couple hundred more than the Kubota hydraulics would have cost. That let me get it a couple years sooner.

So far, so good. I probably only have 5 or 10 hours on it though. I'll go out cutting for an hour before it gets dark. 1/3 or 1/2 of that time is grappling. Can get a lot done in that short time though.

So anyway, the mounting seems to be fine. I put it there so that plumbing was easy. I wanted to re-use the hoses that go from the QDs to the steel lines. I also wanted to make the "jumper" hoses from the valve back to the steel lines short/easy. Then the hoses that go from the valve to the front torque tube weren't as long as I expected.

I ordered my diverter today from kenny and have a good idea of how everything should be routed but I'm having a heck of a time figuring out the hydraulic fittings terminology. I know the fittings on my tractor are 1/2" flare fittings (JIC) and 3/8" hose. That's about all I can find out until I talk to the guy at NAPA that makes all my hoses.

 

[aeblank]

I'm sure you and your hose guy can get there.
I talk about the fittings a bit in my thread, if that'll help.
Sounds like you know most of it (knowing they're 1/2" JIC is most of what you need).

 

[houser52]

aeblank- I hope I can figure out the fittings I need and I did look at all the fittings you talked about in your thread. It's all Greek to me, just something I'm not familiar with.

Late yesterday I looked closer at my loader and where I might mount the valve. I won't be able to mount it where you did or near the tower, there's just not enough room around in there anywhere. I bought the loader used about 15 years ago and as the hoses went bad, just took them off and had them made the same length. That's the reason it looks like spaghetti.
I may end up having to make a bracket and bolt it on near the front. My valve should be here this week and I'll be able to try to position it somewhere.










I just unloaded my 48" WildKat with the forklift. I'm here at work so I haven't had time to look it over much but looks undamaged on the ride here.

 

[houser52]

I'm one step closer to getting my new grapple up and going. At first I wasn't sure where I was going to mount the diverter since there wasn't a lot of room. After getting a few ideas from what others had done I decided to use a piece of angle that I had in the shop and mount it to the outside of the loader's upright. I ordered the diverter kit last week and got it on Saturday.

After prepping the angle, drilling and tapping the loader's upright, drilling the holes to attach the valve I tried a test fit. Seems to fit good and should be out of the way.

The fittings should be here this week, hoses will have to be made, wired and a little orange paint.