I've needed one of these for a long time. So I looked through my bone pile and came up with some stuff to build one. Bought a cylinder at a auction 2 weeks ago for 5.00. Got the rest of the stuff on hand. I robbed the rippers from my box blade as I never use them anyway. Here some pics of what I have so far. Hope to have it close to done today so I can use it tommorow
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/FB_IMG_1544991589045.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1544991576)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/FB_IMG_1544991592340.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1544991602)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181216_142049.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1544991653)
I wanna be able to move brush and pick up logs to put on the mill. Tired of using a chain and having to get on and off the tractor to hook and unhook.
now that is a cat's meow. how will you attach it to the lift arms, bolt onto bucket or take bucket off and pin in place on the arms?
Bolt to the bucket
This will be an interesting build. :) popcorn_smiley
:P popcorn_smiley
Ran Into a bit of a snag with my bucket as you can see from the pic it's tweaked a bit.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181216_171439.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545008091)
I got the claw part done (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181216_155303.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545008128)
I'm going to just make a frame for this instead of using my tweaked bucket. Will work on it more tommorow.
As the snowball grows. Good luck
Thats a great idea! I never thought of using rippers for that.
I betcha mine bucket looks like that too. Looking forward to more pictures.
Five bucks for the cylinder is a steal. Interesting project. I have often wished for a grapple. Don't have the skills to weld one out like you are doing.
Thats a clever use of ripper shanks. Agrisupply is the cheapest place to get replacements by far.
Definitely liking the ripper idea. My thought was to make the grapple connect to receiver tubes that connected to the quick attach plate on the bucket.
The first thing I need to do is convert to quick attach :)
Got w little more done today. Didn't have a lot of time to work on it.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181217_151837.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545093131)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181217_155448.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545093194)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181217_155457.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545093260)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181217_182918.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545093307)
gonna work on it more tomorrow (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181217_183015.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545093513)
Back at it again this morning.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181218_100234.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545149034)
Quote from: LeeB on December 17, 2018, 12:36:41 AM
Five bucks for the cylinder is a steal. Interesting project. I have often wished for a grapple. Don't have the skills to weld one out like you are doing.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181203_153220.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545150987)
at the same auction I bought this metal cutting bandsaw for 7.00. Hooked it up when I got home and it works good.
I have been using one like that for 15+ years. thats one of the good great tools from HF.
I have recently been toying with the idea of modifying it so I can cut 6" square on it. probably also make a nice miter gauge for it that is alot easier to adjust than the one that came on it.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181218_140116.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545163286)
Getting ready to weld it up
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181218_152050.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545168081)
Test fitting
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181218_181340.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545178511)
Got this much done today. Takes awhile to measure and test fit things. (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181218_181348.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545178574)
I have seen alot of ppl wish that they had made their grapples so the teeth went past the forks. That way they can clamp on smaller items. it may be worthwhile to outboard the teeth just enough to clear the forks on the bottom.
it may be to late but its definitely something worth thinking about.
They go out past slightly
I will second that. It is worth it to make the top jaw close all the way past the bottom jaw like a scissor. Just offset the top clamp 2 inches either way so you dont always curse the times when you grab a few small but uncentered sticks that flop out and drag one on each side. I have to get a full pile or carry the stupid things one at a time because i cant chomp down small like a frostbite style clamp.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43722/1006171101.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1509073272)
you could even cut a groove in the fork to allow the fork to bypass. Or like Mike says scissor action.
I dont mean to criticize, only help. Youre doing a fine job and its gonna be a great tool for you. Youll wonder why you didnt build it sooner.
The one i cant do without now is this. Its almost always on the machine and i never expected it to be so versatile. Being on clumpy clay that is almost always moist, it has nesrly replaced my rotted out dirt bucket too.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43722/0307181328.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1520453194)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43722/0728181046a.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1532820840)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/43722/20180919_163036.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1537412314)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181219_181357.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545265170)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181219_181402.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545265289)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181219_181411.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545265346)
More progress today. Got the cylinder installed and looks like it's going to work out really good.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181219_183108.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545265897)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181219_191640.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545268659)
Looks nice. I always like your git-er-done attitude. 8)
Thanks magicman.
Looks great. can't wait to see it in action.
Great work on the grapple!
I'm looking at this thread closely. I've been thinking abou modifying a set of pallet forks with a couple of grapple arms.
Thanks guys. I was hauling some scrap in today so I didn't get much of a chance to work on it today. I did get the tilt cylinder mount put on. I should get some action shots tommorow. I have to get the hydraulics part finished which I'm going to work on in the morning. I will try it out then paint it. Need to get it finished up. Going to be nice the next few days and I'm going to get some cedar cut and milled out for my saw mill shed.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181222_130708.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545505836)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181222_130718.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545506093)
It works 8) first thing I tried to pick up. Always nice when a plan works out.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181222_161754.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545517461)
Yup, you grappled it and that is a nice ERC log. Looks like you also solved your "tops" problem. ;D
You will like it!!!
Sweet! Getting the tops outta the way is the biggest time killer, that looks like the ticket. I spotted my box scrape teeth sitting on a shelf in the sawshed the other day. Only one has been repurposed in place of an old single bottom plow as a subsoiler, root and rock hook.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/FB_IMG_1545525248477.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545525272)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/FB_IMG_1545525265791.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545525314)
This thing works great. A real time saver with the cedar. I got to try it out this evening for about a hour. The worst part of cutting cedar is the limbs. This thing takes care of that with little effort and I can load the logs to. So glad I took the time to build it. I have 25.00 in it so far. 5.00 for the cylinder and 20.00 for some metal pieces i needed. Everything else i had laying around. I will need to replace the hoses as the ones I have are used and to long. Calling a few rainy days next week so I will get it painted then. The next couple days it's going to get a work out.
Yeah buddy. :laugh:
Nice job you won't know how you got along without it.
Looks great. Always a good feeling when something you build works beyond expectations. My forks I made turned into that.
Well it's went through a testing period and has been tried and trued This thing works great and I should have built it long ago. From picking up branches to clean up after limbing cedars to loading the logs it works great. I can pick up a log setting flat on a trailer. Got a rain day today so I pulled it off the tractor and in the shop for a little paint. I wanted it to be highly visible like my log arch 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181226_153537.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545860276)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181226_153532.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545860529)
Got it painted and back on the tractor.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/20181227_153711.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1545947376)
Well, isn't that just as handy as a pocket on a shirt! Looks like you did a nice job too.
How did you get hydraulic function to the grapple cylinder?
My remotes
Westendorf now makes a really kool double acting grapple with no hydraulics required. pretty sweet. Uses the upper rams that you would usually use for curl. Looks like the claws are geared so when you roll the bucket the claws open and close. The grapple is actually a fixed position the curl rams are used to grab.
Got a link to that?
Now I've got another project, thanks to Kwill ;)
What I thought was 3 from the picture on CraigsList turned out to be 5 free rippers:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30640/20190329_Rippers.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1553963733)
Now I need to go buy a tractor with a loader so I can add a grapple! :D
here is the link. definitely pretty sweet setup. only real issue is you have to use pins os it will not work with quick disconnect. Makes it a little harder to changeover but still really sweet design.
https://www.loaders.com/Brush-Crusher/Brush-Crusher%E2%84%A2/BC-4000 (https://www.loaders.com/Brush-Crusher/Brush-Crusher%E2%84%A2/BC-4000)