Found New Job for Root Grapple

[i7win7]

part 1 of 3

Latest hillbilly creation Grapple Pole Prunner:
Materials: 12' treated 4x4, 2 gate hanger hinge pins and straps, 2 hanger straps for rolling door track and misc. hardware. I purchased a cheap 20v pole pruner at Walmart for this project. Unit was assembled on open grapple.

1. Turn the door track hangers into C shaped mounting brackets. Easiest way, just clamp them to grapple and cut waste off with angle grinder

The lower tube is smaller, only cut off one bottom angle. Both angles for upper tube.

2. Attach lower clamp and slide onto grapple. Curl up and drill pilot hole for gate hinge pin (lag bolt style).
Assemble hinge pin and strap to locate hole. The doubled up side of strap is in front of grapple tooth. After hinge and strap are mounted, I added a lag bolt and washer spacers to 1st strap strap mounting hole.

3. Upper mount, basically the same as lower mount except door track hanger on bottom side of 4x4. Added bolt to second hole to reduce side play in upper mount.

4. Set polesaw on 4x4, added piece of 2x4 as spacer and tied down with bungee cord.

5. Assembled rear guide box from scrap 2x4. Reasoning, when lowering saw on tree limb, a visual indicator of gravity pressure being applied (be careful when battery touches boom applying pressure directly on fiberglass pole).

6. With polesaw fully extended, blade almost reaches light fixture.

7. During assembly, grapple would slowly close. Added 2x4 to help it stay open.

8. Photo of pole assembly

 

[i7win7]

part 2 of 3

Grapple Pole Prunner: Electrical mods
Here I have done a few small steps, removed cover screws and cover, removed switch, selected location to drill and installed grommet and automotive style electrical connector.

Note: on the half I'm wiring into saw, the female terminal is the white wire. This will connect to wire from battery connector. Yellow will connect to the other switch wire.

Here I have made the solder connections.

A little out of focus, installed heat shrink insulation, installed switch and have wires routed for reassembly.

Otherside of assembled handle. Unit can still be used as hand held polesaw.

Put other half of electrical connector on leftover trailer wiring I had in garage. Temporary switches (usually removeable) don't require anything to profesional looking. Found a quick and dirty solution. During switch location testing on Kubota - magnet came out, waiting for the JB Weld to cure.

 

[i7win7]

part 3 of 3

Grapple Pole Prunner: Day 3 testing
Added safety chain? Added transportation hooks on side. Screwed on washers and using horseshoe magnets for breakaway wiring harness.

Magnetic clamp allows multiple switch locations

Insert mad scientist laugh here
It works, kinda. Added piece of 3/4 plywood to reduce rotational play of cutting blade. Ran out of juice on small limb.

Not to bad for 8" bar with 7" useable length

Visibility of chainsaw bar sucks. Kubota hydraulics not so smooth 14' to 16' from pivot point. May need to make some kind of "saddlebag" weight behind motor (don't know if fiberglass pole can handle extra weight). Oh well here's before and after battery died pics.

 

[SidecarFlip]

When one of those limbs comes down and busts your melon you might be rethinking your modification.

 

[Palmettokat]

There is always the danger of limb jumping any direction when it lands or on it way to the ground. But a hard hat would provide some protection and the fact he is now, what ten feet or so further from the limb than using the saw hand held, he might just be safer than before, from falling limb. Now no idea on saw falling or hitting power line.
You will find it takes light controls on with the leverage on the saw as you have already mentioned. Be careful. I have used boom mower a fair amount and it is easy to be so focused on the cutter when raised to forget to watch where the tractor is. Looked one day to see my left front wheel in the air for was turning watching the cutter to see the road bed disappear. The weight of the of the cutter keep the tractor balanced till the tire made the turn back onto the raised road bed. Also keep eye out for spectators.

 

[torch]

Kubota hydraulics not so smooth 14' to 16' from pivot point.

I found the same with my home-made crane pole. Best used with the engine throttled right down and two hands on the joystick for minimum speed and maximum smoothness.

 

[NHSleddog]

When one of those limbs comes down and busts your melon you might be rethinking your modification.

How about if he uses it for 20 years and a limb never falls on him? Should he rethink it then?

It looks like a good mod for limited use. Much better than standing under it or using a ladder.

 

[G.rid]

I'm not familiar the battery powered pole saws. What voltage battery does it use? Is it possible to run it from the tractors battery? Might need a step up transformer if its 18 or 24 volt?

It's not intended to keep you out there working longer, Just throwing it out there. Lol

 

[i7win7]

It's 20v, DC can't be stepped up. DC has to be converted to AC, then transformed to higher voltage, the converted back to DC. Electric saw only needs external switch, gas would be to complex for this project.

Wanted to use a Dewalt saw, have multiple batteries, none of my regular stores had one. Murphy's law - built it and now stores have them.

 

[Russell King]

You should think about putting a camera up near the saw so you can see what is going on better.

If you have a smartphone you can get a small boroscope type camera on a flexible cord for around 20 bucks to hook up to the phone.. There may be better options for the application.

 

[i7win7]

You should think about putting a camera up near the saw so you can see what is going on better.

Something to consider, I'll use it as is for awhile. Maybe need bigger tractor or re-purpose existing equipment.

May take several weeks @ 1hr/charge but should be a 1 time project. Run time longer when used handheld. Running when trying to lower on branches and some extra time to switch off. Have a few minor mods to try.

 

[Engi]

Something to consider, I'll use it as is for awhile. Maybe need bigger tractor or re-purpose existing equipment.
View attachment 46279

May take several weeks @ 1hr/charge but should be a 1 time project. Run time longer when used handheld. Running when trying to lower on branches and some extra time to switch off. Have a few minor mods to try.

I know you think this is a joke, but it would be more efficient and cheaper to put a volunteer in the bucket or on controls.
I worked 30 years on a sizzor platform and pto bucket, all you need is a rope anchor on you and the tool.

 

[mikester]

I had to take a second look at this one. You must have a serious death wish.

part 1 of 3

Latest hillbilly creation Grapple Pole Prunner:

6. With polesaw fully extended, blade almost reaches light fixture.
View attachment 46220

 

[Mrlunchbox]

Good Lord!

 

[Tim Horton]

Cool.....
Think out side of the box...

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Looks like it's a 'win' for you !
Try 2 12v car batteries in series for saw power. It gets you 24 volts an dlots of amps, should last all day for you.
They do make DC-DC converters to 'up convert 12 to say 24,36, 40 volts( I've both used and designed them for decades) but you need to KNOW how much current the saw draws. Realistically, it'll be a LOT cheaper to just use car batteries.

 

[dan_m]

Am I the only one who noticed the radio shack soldering station? Old school!

Neat modification!

Dan

 

[DustyRusty]

We need a new forum for Red Neck inventions!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Am I the only one who noticed the radio shack soldering station? Old school!

Neat modification!

Dan

Hahahahha.........I was just going to comment on that soldering iron. Very cool.


Nice job on your build man, and nice write up.

One day I will make on of those....Just gotta get some trees first.

Paul

 

[skeets]

OMG back in the day that would have been a 107 A order,, sorry old habits die hard