Not happy buying a three point Hitch Grapple

[just_sawing]

Bought a 2000 lb rated grapple and it took three weeks to get it home instead of 5 days. Had to drive 40 miles in order to get it what quick. When it got home my guy looked at the quality and design and shook his head. I had him mark the defective welds. 
 A full day of welding and the addition of metal for gussets we tried it out. Problem when you go over a swell the tractor lifts the log up off the ground due to it's design. Tomorrow we will modify

Added side gusset brackets over defective weld
 

 
Top link only Butte welded added support
 

 
Side gusset
 
 Defective weld
 

 
 Top link waiting to break
 the rocking pads and should have a useful grappler.

[Wallys World]

Why wouldn't you contact the manufacturer about your concerns. I would make them stand by their workmanship.

[Skeans1]

How far from the butt are you grabbing the log? The closer to the butt the less likely it'll lift the turn well yarding. Most single as well as dual arch work on the same principle that you're missing from the equation a hydraulic cylinder allowing the load to go up in an arc.

[Frozendozer]

made in china?

[just_sawing]

I will be contacting the supplier but I could not wait to use it. I have open orders that have to be filled. This was made in America I hate to say. Small company that main sales appear to be splitters. They did not even paint the pins that are on the joints. 
 We are going to make a design change today, the grapper can't pivot forward so with our small cedar cedar it lifts them off the ground when going over a hump, which could be dangerous to people near. 
 I am not just venting, I could have returned it which would have hurt the company more than this little post, but I know that what comes from our operation is a reflection of us and this is a reminder that if I get in a hurry and don't put out what was needed even with good intentions people can get hurt. 
 This company I believe is probably use to selling to a home owner that isn't really going to work the equipment. It just surprised me to have so many defects and design flaws.   

[BargeMonkey]

I agree sometimes modifications are necessary BUT.... you bought a grapple meant for a 25-40hp MAX tractor meant for 2,000 lbs. Not exactly supposed to be reinforced or beyond rugged, I've probably got 30+ skidsteer and tractor attachments, price reflects quality on all that stuff, I can understand if it was really flawed right out of the box but your also planning to use it for more than it was ever designed for to begin with. 

[Raider Bill]

I bought a quick 3pt disconnect a few years back. It was a perfect example of the worst workmanship and design I'd ever seen. Like you the first thing I did was get my welder and scrap steel out to reinforce weak spots and re-weld welds that were weak and poor.

[just_sawing]

The grapper was rated for 50 horse power. The problems were not other than craftsmanship and design. 
The tilt by design would pick up the tree off the ground if you went over a bump. The grapper by it's design could not tilt forward (AS shown in the picture). This grapper was fairly cheap and I saw from other reviews that there had been some weld issues from the company. So I now have what we consider a grappler that should last and is usable. My hope is that when the company sees what had to be done for it to be a good grappler they take heart and improve. The company sells on Ebay and I have had no real communication with them, they don't appear to have paperwork that they include with the grappler for contacts which told me a lot. They also don't put a name on their pieces also. 
Now the the welds have been reinforced and the design flaws fixed the guys like the grappler. 

 
 The pins came unpainted.  
 

 
Their design makes the log tilt up and is dangerous
 
Modifying the tilt
Now it hangs neutral 

[Ed_K]

 That square flat stock just above the red hitch pin, I don't see any need for it to stick out any farther than the ear's going to the secure pin.

[Skeans1]

@Ed_K 
That would be the swing snubber I'd leave it myself.

[just_sawing]

The swing nubber positioned the grapple back tilting up. It needs a little swing both ways. Hanging neutral it touched the front side and had 2 inches to the rear. It was meant to have 1 inch forward and back but they tilted the main beam without changing the nubber. Now I have 1 inch to the front and 2 inches to the rear. 

[Ed_K]

  In this application I don't see a need for a snubber. Also there's no side swing, if your pulling a whole tree and need to go around a corner your not going to be able to steer the tractor.



 
 This is what I built for my grapple. You can't see the pin set up going into the grapple but it swivels inside that round collar at the very bottom of the picture.