Best grapple for skid loader?

[farmking]

Been looking at getting a new grapple bucket for my Case 450 skid steer loader, lots of different styles to choose from out there. Whats the best grapple in your opinion for fire wood work and brush piling? I hear this is a great attachment for fire wood and other odd jobs.

 

[woodman6666]

I use the heaviest one that Bobcat makes had it for years has held up well but everyone is making them now.

 

[Manatarms]

I just bought a Markham 72" grapple and had some extra bars welded into the bottom to reduce the tine spacing to about 4" This helps prevent split firewood from leaking out the bottom. I've only just played with it for about 30 minutes, but it enables you to get under the wood pile and take out a nice chuck without grabbing too much dirt like a bucket. I will report back more info when I get some more seat time with it.

<a href="http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg350/ManAtArms/?action=view&current=cf43881a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg350/ManAtArms/cf43881a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

-Mark

 

[gink595]

Mana, I have that same grapple, I did the same and welded some flat bar between the spaces.

 

[Manatarms]

Mana, I have that same grapple, I did the same and welded some flat bar between the spaces.



gink, Do you get a slap/clunk noise when using the grapple, more specifically, I notice that after I clamp down on something and then release the button, I get a clunk and can see the hydraulic lines jump. This also occurs if I open or close the grapple completely, but only AFTER i release the button, not during. If I hold it longer, it's a bit louder.

Not sure if this is normal.

Also, are the shieilds over the pistons cutting into your hydraulic lines on maximum open?

tx,

mark

 

[gink595]

Yeah that's normal, thats just hydrualic pressure, if it's what I'm picturing, also I noticed the quick tach plate doesn't fit really tight to my unit. I need to weld some shims in there to take some of the slack out, it will bounce when going like hell.

No the cylinder guards on mine doesn't pinch mine. The back has a radius to keep that from happening.

 

[Manatarms]

See here:

Kinda annoying...this is at max open. Maybe the hose is too long, or perhaps the shield is the wrong size.

I don't have any play on mine yet...but I haven't worked it yet.

Great price though.

Mark

 

[gink595]

If you look in my forst picture you can see the back of mine are bent up to avoid that. You might be able to shim that guard up to make more clearance, it looks like you have enough bolt length to do so. I agree though that is BS

 

[redprospector]

Where the cylinder covers are biting into the line, you can split a piece of fuel line and slip it over the edge of the cover. Problem solved. You can use automotive adhesive if you want, but the grapple I did like this 4 years ago is still fine.

Andy

 

[merlin1]

I have a Markham 48" with a single claw and it works well for my applications but I would agree that extra tines and a double claw would be best for moving split wood. Markham is a great vendor and make quality equipment. They will tailor any of their attachments to your specs.

http://www.gatorattachments.com/

 

[angelo c]

I just bought a Markham 72" grapple and had some extra bars welded into the bottom to reduce the tine spacing to about 4" This helps prevent split firewood from leaking out the bottom. I've only just played with it for about 30 minutes, but it enables you to get under the wood pile and take out a nice chuck without grabbing too much dirt like a bucket. I will report back more info when I get some more seat time with it.

<a href="http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg350/ManAtArms/?action=view&current=cf43881a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg350/ManAtArms/cf43881a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

-Mark

Hey Mark,
I recognize some of those splits....
Good to see the kubota back at home.

A

 

[Turkeyslayer]

I have a Horst Welding grapple bucket. It is very well built, but will pick up more dirt than a tine bucket while picking up wood off unfrozen ground

 

[Turkeyslayer]

The bucket also does alright with full logs.

 

[wishiwasdiving]

:jawdrop:

 

[farmking]

Thanks guys for your inputs! They all look great, now I have to decide if I want a solid bottom or open rake design Decisions decision's!

 

[Manatarms]

More wood grapple pics...

This last big oak stick gave my loader a run for the money...must be at least 2k, maybe more like 2500lbs.

-Mark

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Nice!!

 

[Ed*L]

I bought the Bobcat industrial grapple last winter, very pleased with it. Attachment weight was a big factor with my smaller skidsteer, the solid bucket is lighter than many of the "skeletonized" ones.

I've also used this type of grapple, I didn't really care for it. It worked well for logs but grabbing large piles of brush was futile.

Ed

 

[bushinspector]

I'm running a cat 246 grapple bucket with the hard bottom on it and i love it. After you run any grapple bucket you will learn how not to pick up any dirt while you are running it. Most of the time when picking up brush you will learn to roll the bucket over the pile to load the bucket. If you have a open bottom, it seems that some firewood would fall through.