Tractor FEL log Grapple Ideas

You got a good deal on the tractor. WR long makes quick attaches for most tractors. Everything attachments sells them. Block heaters are not tough to add. It would be good to have were you live. If you add a light bat I recommend adding it to the underside of the ROPS. I see so many guys mounting them on the top where they can hit everything. Ebay lights seem to work pretty well. To run the grapple you will need some sort of hydraulics up front, preferably a 3rd function.

 

yup, know when I actually learn how to operate darn thing.. KTAC says it's still worth 17k with out implements... mentioned to 1 of my contractor and he went to bank! to get money... tractors used up here are money like used trucks! I just trying to learn get a little better as operator... I got 660 hours on it now bought it with 275.. half in reverse snowblowing another 150 mowing fields and trails.. but I'm getting better...

I change oil every 100 hours grease all fittings every 10.. niece worked as mechanic at dealership she helps me when I am over my head... most of the time... but hey I live by fake it til ya make it!

 

Canadian border VT I added the Safego 4" 18w crew LED flood lights to my ROPS and I can't see me ever needing more light. 2 facing forward and 2 rear. $38 Canadian for a pair from Amazon.ca so pretty hard to go wrong. Very good quality vs price. I bought a couple switches and put them in an outdoor electrical outlet box at the bottom of the ROPS.

You will most likely have the wires already run to the back of the tractor for a light. The LEDs have a very low amp draw. I mounted mine with square U brackets under the ROPS to keep them safer in the woods. Just used the flat bar that came with the brackets so the lights are not poking out either way. Now plotting snow at night might as well be day time.

Sorry no input on a grapple other than I would really like to have one

 

thanks Hammy .. OK here is other problem the top of Rops is 7 foot 10 light fixtures in barn are lower than that... guess how I figured that out so my Rops is down til I get off my lazy but and rewire barn.. cause tractor is not left outside! but I will look at those lights and if I order them there is incentive

 

If you have a folding ROPS you should be ok if you leave a bit of extra wire at the bottom. Mine fold just fine to put it away then I just pop them up when I get clear of the roof. Time will tell how long it will take me to forget when pulling in though

 

Hey 94BULLITT. I wanted to let you know I saw your new video on front hydraulics, youtube. Great job describing options. I am looking at different options and stumbled on your video, it had just posted. I have a call into my dealer to see if there are any kits designed for my tractor. Unlikely, but we'll see.

 

Thanks about the video. If a kit is not available for your specific tractor you can get a universla 3rd function from WR long. 3rd function auxiliary hydraulic kits for all brands of tractors and loaders Fit rite hydraulics may also offer a universal 3rd function. You could also buy a valve from a place like Surplus Center and piece together your own kit.

 

Hey reprod. Did you narrow it down for a grapple? Or still thinkin?

 

Hey Gasifier,
The price of the Frostbite is $1595, not sure about shipping. My dealer quoted me $2200 for a Frontier root grapple. It appears the "Wicked Grapple" is about the same price, $2131, not sure about shipping. I am trying to get some prices on modifying my forks by adding an extra tooth. They sell kits online but the ones I have seen are nearly the same price as the Frostbite.
I am leaning towards the Frostbite. I like this idea because I can get it with the "Global" quick attach I have on my tractor. I could fairly quickly switch between it and my forks/bucket, etc. without modifying my forks. My only issue, as mentioned earlier in this thread, is that is kind of a one trick pony.
So... I guess I'm still thinkin

 

This one makes the frost brite look real good, $4895. Products | Hud-Son

Here is another grapple. It looks like a frost bite. http://jswoodhouse.com/brochures/SD GR40 Lit.pdf

 

The wicked grapple is free shipping upto 1000 miles. If you get the 3rd function while ordering the grapple from them you save $50.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

The Hud-son strikes me as dangerous for moving logs. I imagine the side of my tractor would be hammered in no time.
I will check out the bottom one. Looks nearly identical to the Frostbite.

I did find a different style today. I went into the farm store I do most business with. They are also a Kubota dealer. The salesman found one made by a company named Bradco. Here is a picture. List price in the catalog was well over $4000. Not sure what the actual price would be.
Here is a pic

 

That grapple look like the spartan grapple on ebay.

I just found FFC sells the same thing.

SkidLoader Source-FFC Log Grapple | Skid | Loader | Tool - SkidLoaderSource.com

I'm not sure if it a good design. The frost bite lid may be more efficient at pulling the logs in.



Here is a nice add on fork grapple.

 

$995 of the Danuser Multi Purpose grapple.

Beaver Valley Supply Company - Danuser Pallet Forks & Multi-Purpose Grapple

 

HLA makes a different style but you need to have walk through forks.

HLA Attachments - Single Arm Log Grapple

Pallet Forkx Grapple (add-on) - GLC Equipment

HLA log grapple: HLA Attachments - Log Grapple

 

I don't have a grapple yet, but had been eyeing the frost bite. One of my concerns is the trade-off between beefiness of the grapple versus lost load capacity due to the the grapple's weight. I'm also likely to be popping rocks out of the ground more often than moving brush, and am thinking I don't need something the full width of the tractor.

 

I've heard of this and I must have bad luck. Over the years I have bent several "forks" on my pallet forks, fought with them with my excavator, and have yet have any of them f*@3ing rocks POP out of the ground.
It almost seems that getting near a big rock or stone with a bush hog does slightly encourage this, particularly when you pass directly over it with recently sharpened blades.

 

Flamestead I'm just "messin" with that saying, I've used it plenty of time myself, but in reading your post it just hit me funny. That grapple will likely be handy moving them around and help in "popping". Just be careful, it's one thing to bend a fork. Not to hard to find a used set, but damaging your log grapple is another thing.

 

Yeah, they don't exactly pop out, do they. I like to polish the tops of my rocks with the bush hog; perhaps the blades generate lift? A lot of these rocks are round, out of the glacial tumbler, ranging in size from a bushel basket to bath tub. I discovered you don't try to flip the bath tub variety with the FEL while running the engine at pto-speed (blew out a hydraulic line). I'm guessing either an excavator or a rake on a dozer blade are the proper tools.

 

Sometime's I just let the rock win and just dump some dirt around it to "lower" it some.