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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 9:07:12 GMT -5
Okay I took the plunge, and ordered the ADD a Grapple. I did some research and found out who makes it , Precision Manufacturing Inc. Phone: (660)827-6131 . I spoke to a very nice fellow named Bill. I told him what loader I had and what I wanted to move, he recommended the next size model than the one I thought I should use. He said the tines are wider 27ins, and stick out farther so it takes a bigger bite than the smaller model, perfect for logs. They are going to shorten the mounting frame for me so it will fit my bucket, basically a custom modification for no charge. Weight is 147lbs, a couple of pounds less I guess due to the frame shortening, the tines and cross supports are all 3/8`s steel. Cost was $550.00 and $103 to FedEx ship, it will ship next week. If this is my last post you will know my wife murdered me. www.precisionmfg.com/products.aspThe Add a Grapple has arrived FedEx and has been mounted on the fel. It seems like a very well made unit and fit my bucket like it was made for it. The mounting was a breeze, and as per the instructions I put the tines 1 inch in from the cutting edge of the bucket. They claim it opens to 31ins, I`m getting a 34in opening. The way this opens I foresee just leaving it mounted on the fel as it will not be in the way. It seems a perfect size for my 58 3/4in wide bucket. The cylinder is a Lion 2500 from Canada, 2in bore by 6in stroke. It came with wish-bone shaped clips for the cylinder I didn`t like them (they pop off like springs) and replaced them with lynch pins at the disconnect point and hair-clip shaped clips at the grapple connection. I just ordered the 12 VDC 10 GPM OC DA SOLENOID VALVE from Surplus along with the DO3 subplate and electrical connectors, with the 3 day shipping option another $191 has gone down the pike. Now comes fittings, adapters, hoses and a switch. How it comes FedEx  What comes      The Grapple isn`t in the way at all  |
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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 9:08:10 GMT -5
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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 9:09:45 GMT -5
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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 9:18:56 GMT -5
Ok I`m back in business, after what seemed like forever I have a running tractor again. I got the work hoses right first try, due to help from Brands tech dept and Ken. The spool farthest from the relief valve is for FEL arms, B port is arms up (cylinder extend) A port is arms down and the great Float feature, which to me is amazing never having it before. The spool closest is bucket curl and the A port is bucket dump Regen (cylinder extend) and it is fast. This is one sweet valve, it`s like I changed the FEL. It is so day and nignt from that POC the Chinese put on there that I will have a learning curve to get used to the new valve. I put the joystick at an angle just like my neighbors orange tractor. I had to remove my spacer mod though, as I needed to get this new stick a little farther away from my hand. No more deadheading and stalling, I can hold the grapple switch all day and no grief. The half remote is working fine as my valve flow return line, but I will probably drill and tap a fitting into the side of the hyd sump some day. I can`t say enough good things about this valve. www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007061315322588&item=9-7401&catname=hydraulic      |
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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 9:25:55 GMT -5
3rd day Hard grapple/valve use has passed, one entire pile of old timbers has been removed from beside our access road. Some still got cut for firewood, 95% went into the burnpile as it was past it`s prime. Started walking the machine down into the woods behind the house to clean up more useless timber and brush. The wife is thrilled at what this grapple can do. I give her a pius smile and say "I told you it would work like that", (I say a silent prayer of thanks mind you, and keep fingers crossed on both hands). I even tell her with a straight face that it has already paid for itself in work done, and reality is it probably has. Here is tractor behind house where a deck will eventually be built, another thing on the list of to-do`s.  Grapple is great with brush too     |
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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 9:27:32 GMT -5
My latest update on my grapple/valve mod after 40hrs of use.
I was still thrilled with the performance of my grapple even though the hydraulics of the tractor seemed to be stretched a little thin power wise. I also still had foaming and fluid loss at my rear hyd sump snorkle vent and it was always black in color and I was using a quart of engine oil every 12-15hrs.
I had read posts where hyd oil made it`s way into the engine crankcase so I called Tommy at Affordable and asked him if it could happen in reverse. He had never seen it but felt it was possible and I should check the front oil seal on the pump.
He talked me through the procedure for removal on the phone and when I did remove it I found the seal had been popped partially out of it`s seat. I guess internal pressure in the pump had caused this to happen when it was doing all the deadheading when the Chinese valve went bad on me.
The seal still looked perfect so I reseated it, I also found the
o ring under the side fitting that supplies hyd fluid to the pump was bad so I replaced it. I once again drained and replaced my hyd oil with fresh. Put it all together started tractor and nothing. No hyd fluid moving. I ran tractor for a couple of minutes and saw smoke coming from hyd pump. Shut down tractor, and commenced to use every swear word I know at the top of my lungs.
Tried to call Tommy but he was at lunch, so I called Ronald at Raunch Hand and cried on his shoulder. He nailed it, he said he thought I put the pumps rear plate on backwards, not lining up the large oil flow holes. He also said the pump was probably a total loss and what damage to look for when I opened it up again.
Well I couldn`t wait for it to cool down and kept up a good stream of cursing as I was burning my hands removing it again. I got it on the bench and Ronald was right, in my haste I had but the rear plate on 180deg the wrong way. But I was lucky and found no apparent damage to the pump, it looked as good as the first time I opened it.
I put it together correctly this time, filled it with hyd fluid and reinstalled it on the tractor. Started her up and instant hydraulics, took it out and tested the fel and it was great, much faster in all directions, all the tractor hydraulics were good as new pre/grapple, actually better with the new Brand valve.
No more foaming at all, no more fluid loss or discoloration, my hyd fluid in the sump is now bubble free and light honey color, just as it came out of the can. God does seem to look after Idiots.
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3RRL
Administrator 
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027 
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Post by 3RRL on Feb 17, 2008 14:38:20 GMT -5
Hahaha great story linus, Maybe the pump got heat treated while you were frying it? That's why it works better than new... ;D All kidding aside, you did a great job installing those bucket grapples like that. I remember installing mine and what a job it turned out to be. Then when I finished, I realized it was a piece of cake after all. Your story should motivate other members to add them. They are indeed one of the handiest/ most useful additions to the tractor. For anybody that's interested, I saved one of the discussions in a thread where I listed several factors to consider when adding bucket grapples, plumbing and valves etc. They are located here Adding Bucket Grapples on replies #25 and #26. Rob- |
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Post by linus69 on Feb 18, 2008 7:06:04 GMT -5
Hey Rob,
I totally concur, the grapple is one of the handiest/ most useful additions to any tractor.
I would like to once again thank you, Ken, Larry G, Tommy, Ronald and anyone I forgot who were there for me with their knowledge, advise and moral support given during this challenging mod.
Of course like you also said, it now seems so clear and easily done in my minds eye, but isn`t that always the way it is.
Paul.
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Post by stumppuller on Aug 31, 2008 19:57:29 GMT -5
Nice Job. BTW, what is your driveway material. It sure looks nice.
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Post by linus69 on Oct 4, 2008 15:56:04 GMT -5
I`m sorry it took six weeks for me to respond, I just ran across your question. The rock that comes out of the ground around here is red, I believe it`s due to a high iron content. There is a quarry about 2 miles from me that produces a lot of it. They charge $7.50 a ton for the gravel that makes up our driveway/access road.
Red rock from that quarry gets bagged up and sells for more than white marble chips at places like Home Depot. The people around here sometimes pay a premium for grey gravel to be trucked in to do their driveways. But 95% of the homes have red gravel, I have always liked the way it looks.
Paul
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Post by bob16925 on Oct 8, 2008 21:44:55 GMT -5
CTW, I live in missouri and after reading your article I called Bill, he was real helpful.. The price has gone up for the 60 inch grapple it is 650$$. I plan on ordering one this year. First I have to install the quad remote kit from Ronald at Ranch Hand supply.. After my wife calms down, then I'll work in the grapple lol
Being a novice at this stuff I was impressed with the grapple I don't know how you could not want one.
cheers
bob
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Post by linus69 on Oct 9, 2008 14:24:04 GMT -5
Hey Bob, this grapple has been good to me, no matter how hard I tried to destroy it and that`s pretty hard. I`ve moved a lot of timber with it and a lot of pretty large rocks. Actually I`ve never even taken it off the FEL since I installed it, I can do anything I`ve ever done with the FEL with it in place.
It sucks that the price has gone up that much, did you try and get Bill to split the difference with you and take $600. He knows it was posted on the forum and thanked me for posting the info. So he knows I posted the $550 price, and with times being what they are, he might honor the old price, he was a real nice guy.
My wife never said another thing about the cost of the grapple after she saw me pick up the first tree with it, it`s been like a member of the family to her ever since.
Paul
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Post by bob16925 on Oct 11, 2008 8:23:11 GMT -5
I was impressed with your post and with what I seen at the factory.. No I haven't tried to get him to come off that price yet.. I am waiting until I get the 4 mod remote hydraulic kit from Ronald at Ranch hand supply I want to run it on its on Valve. The mode installation should be interesting.. I know nothing about hydraulics.. I guess it will be a true test of for ease of installation.. After the install I plan to order the grapple if my wife hasn't shot me . I will have to remove my tow hooks from the top of my loader.. and re mount them on the grapple.. i like you do not intend to take it off once it is on
regards
Bob
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Post by linus69 on Oct 19, 2008 19:21:51 GMT -5
Well it was time for my grapple to start earning it`s keep again helping me catch up on some overdue pre winter chores. It makes fast work of moving these heavy pieces of oak to my log splitter    Paul |
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Post by linus69 on Oct 20, 2008 11:48:47 GMT -5
A few weeks back I helped my buddy move his oil tank, it had been placed at the edge of hid property due to an addition to his home. Part of that addition was a two car garage with an office for him that had a door that needed steps. He said he had it on his to do list, but his ambition was lacking. I looked around his 1 acre lot and located some flat rocks in the woods. He also had a pile of gravel left over from his new driveway so I put this together in about 15mins using the FEL and grapple. It turned out well and is maintenance free unlike what he was planning to build using pressure treated wood. The grapple picked up these rocks with ease and placed them in perfect position. He was more than pleased, his wife was ecstatic.  Paul |
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