New Grapple

[morewood]

I recently purchased a Frostbite grapple and got it plumbed up. This was before it all went to heck in a hand basket. At least I already had everything paid for.

Mr Awesome

 

[morewood]

 

[Hinerman]

I like that grapple better than the wide ones. I don't have a tractor so it doesn't really matter, LOL.

 

[morewood]

Better view of it. I prefer this for what I'm doing, works well. I have a rock plate that bolts between the bottom forks. I'll get a picture of it tomorrow.

Mr Awesome

 

[Farmchuck]

Looks great. What was the heck in the hand basket issue? I’ve been looking at those for a few years now for my John Deere for cutting firewood poles to save on the old back. I’m anxious to hear how it works for you. Thanks for sharing.

 

[morewood]

Looks great. What was the heck in the hand basket issue? I’ve been looking at those for a few years now for my John Deere for cutting firewood poles to save on the old back. I’m anxious to hear how it works for you. Thanks for sharing.

The whole economy tanking. While I may be getting my hours, I'm not getting my gravy hours...... overtime. I can't complain, we have our jobs, everything but the car is paid for, money in the bank.

We're in the same boat. I'm bringing the logs down in 9' sticks to work them up at my own place and on my own time. I don't plan on cutting much on the ground anymore either. This one came with JD 400 series mounts. I'm getting a set of 'fingers' made to bolt to the ends of the forks. They'll only extend an extra 4-5" but should come in handy. They'll also be painted a gaudy bright neon color so that I'll always be able to see them.

Mr Awesome

 

[Farmchuck]

The whole economy tanking. While I may be getting my hours, I'm not getting my gravy hours...... overtime. I can't complain, we have our jobs, everything but the car is paid for, money in the bank.

We're in the same boat. I'm bringing the logs down in 9' sticks to work them up at my own place and on my own time. I don't plan on cutting much on the ground anymore either. This one came with JD 400 series mounts. I'm getting a set of 'fingers' made to bolt to the ends of the forks. They'll only extend an extra 4-5" but should come in handy. They'll also be painted a gaudy bright neon color so that I'll always be able to see them.

Mr Awesome

I have a JD 5000 series. No doubt they have mounts for that as well. Our tractor doesn’t have the loader operator handle like yours I can operate up down & curl in & out with ours that’s it. I have an extra lever next to the tractor seat that operates a 3rd remote running to the front of the tractor. We use it to operate the angle on our snow plow & to open & close the clamp we have on a set of forks for holding logs while I cut them. It’s extremely hard for me to judge where the forks are when I drive into the log pile. Your frostbite looks like it would be easier to grab logs individually. It would also be nice to have all the hydraulic remotes on one joystick like you have instead of 2 separate levers.

 

[morewood]

I have a JD 5000 series. No doubt they have mounts for that as well. Our tractor doesn’t have the loader operator handle like yours I can operate up down & curl in & out with ours that’s it. I have an extra lever next to the tractor seat that operates a 3rd remote running to the front of the tractor. We use it to operate the angle on our snow plow & to open & close the clamp we have on a set of forks for holding logs while I cut them. It’s extremely hard for me to judge where the forks are when I drive into the log pile. Your frostbite looks like it would be easier to grab logs individually. It would also be nice to have all the hydraulic remotes on one joystick like you have instead of 2 separate levers.

Mine still has the unused port for the third remote. This is tied into the curl function of the bucket. I can easily jog between using either function. It's slowly getting easier to do.

Mr Awesome

 

[Ryan Browne]

I have a JD 5000 series. No doubt they have mounts for that as well. Our tractor doesn’t have the loader operator handle like yours I can operate up down & curl in & out with ours that’s it. I have an extra lever next to the tractor seat that operates a 3rd remote running to the front of the tractor. We use it to operate the angle on our snow plow & to open & close the clamp we have on a set of forks for holding logs while I cut them. It’s extremely hard for me to judge where the forks are when I drive into the log pile. Your frostbite looks like it would be easier to grab logs individually. It would also be nice to have all the hydraulic remotes on one joystick like you have instead of 2 separate levers.

I added a diverter valve just like Mr awesome. I used this one, though there are lots of options.

http://www.boltonhooks.com/hydraulic_valves.html

It was about $300 for the valve and adapters and another $100 in hoses.

 

[Farmchuck]

I added a diverter valve just like Mr awesome. I used this one, though there are lots of options.

http://www.boltonhooks.com/hydraulic_valves.html

It was about $300 for the valve and adapters and another $100 in hoses.

Thank you sir!

 

[morewood]

My son helping me. That's only a 6' length of oak.

Mr Awesome

 

[morewood]

He is still learning the physics of the tractor/load weight/road conditions. But if you ask him, he already knows!!

Mr Awesome

 

[94BULLITT]

I have a similar grapple. It is way better for handling logs than my root grapple. I cut firewood out of it. It comes in real handy when you get a small diameter crooked log, it is way better than cutting of the ground. I cut on one side and my dad cuts on the other side. Then when we are done cutting we have a pile of rounds versus rounds scattered everywhere from cutting on the ground.

 

[morewood]

I have a similar grapple. It is way better for handling logs than my root grapple. I cut firewood out of it. It comes in real handy when you get a small diameter crooked log, it is way better than cutting of the ground. I cut on one side and my dad cuts on the other side. Then when we are done cutting we have a pile of rounds versus rounds scattered everywhere from cutting on the ground.

I was considering the same thing, rather not be bent over and in the dirt. This is not the cheapest thing to do, but it is light years more efficient than how I've had to do it, and it takes wear and tear off the body.

Mr Awesome