Can I use??

[Shawnba67]

I am getting ready to till up a large portion of virgin dirt. If I bust it up with a plow can I use a log grapple with the root picker tines on my fel to do pick rocks before tillage or will this be extra hard on the fel? I don't mind if it doesn't work but don't want to hurt my tractor trying. It would have the fel at a semi steep downward angle.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

After you plow, wait 2-3 days based on moisture content, then plow 90* ( so first N-S, then E-W ), then wait 1-2 days. After that, it should be easy to use grapple to 'skim' the busted up soil and 'scoop up' the rocks.
The 'deal' is to go slow and not FORCE the grapple into the ground.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I am getting ready to till up a large portion of virgin dirt. If I bust it up with a plow can I use a log grapple with the root picker tines on my fel to do pick rocks before tillage or will this be extra hard on the fel? I don't mind if it doesn't work but don't want to hurt my tractor trying. It would have the fel at a semi steep downward angle.

You have said nothing about the size of tractor you're using.
Different factors come into play depending on the size and model.
What's good for an M may or may not work on a BX.

If you have a larger tractor with a SSQA loader you could check with rental places for a rock bucket, it would be faster and better than a root grapple.

While using a root grapple on the rocks it works better to rake them in reverse than it does to try and push them.
Just be mindful of the length of the roll cylinders and the stress on them.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I have used my root grapple in reverse to "rake up" areas a bunch of times, but I use it in "float mode" so it does not dig in too much.

I think that using it like you describe, it would "detect" big'ish rocks depending on how "clumpy" your soil is, but I doubt it will detect them too much past where the dirt is broken up.

I don't think it will hurt your FEL though, but I would 'go easy" in case it gets caught on something.


EDIT: I also agree with NIW, that the size of your machine will be a factor as well.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

small machines just take longer but less chance 'something' breaks,going slow.
I made a 'stone bucket' (4" holes) for my BX23s to 'sift' stony soil. NOT a 'production' machine but gets through the 1,000 beam one bucket after another and a LOT more fun than ,ugh, MANUAL labour....