in the market for a grapple

[PaulR]

Landpride = A400 Steel. If you bend that you're doing something wrong.

 

[MattN03]

You need to add "lightest" as well. That's a big deal to me since I don't want to lose lift capacity for large logs , rocks etc., because 50% or more of the lift capacity is consumed by the weight of the grapple. The EA Wicked 55" grapple is only 239 lb and yet incredibly tough as shown in the recent pecan tree video. Also, look at the weight distribution of EA grapples relative to the pin and compare weight and weight distribution with other "US made" grapples.

Excellent points!

 

[TheOldHokie]

A 530 lb grapple for an FEL rated to 1,082 at the pin? 580 lb if it's the 72" model.

Correct - 60" @ 520#. Replaces a 225# bucket so I am burning 300# of payload. To be clear I asked for other folks experience beforr buying but didnt get much feedback.

Out of curiosity I just tested it this morning with a 20' x 12" log chained to the midpoint of the bottom tines. Picks it up fine but stalls around 6' or so off the ground. Wont be loading tandem dumps with it. More than adequate for transporting the smaller logs and tree tops I have to deal with. Probably more grapple than tractor but I think it will do what I need. Not sure the 100# difference for their smaller single lid unit would be significant. If once I get it plumbed and operational it winds up being too much for the tractor I will sell it locally and order a smaller one. At less than 1/2 the cost of a Wicked 55 and immediate availability I won't lose much sleep over the decision to give it a try.

Dan

 

[ayak]

Correct - 60" @ 520#. Replaces a 225# bucket so I am burning 300# of payload. To be clear I asked for other folks experience beforr buying but didnt get much feedback.

Out of curiosity I just tested it this morning with a 20' x 12" log chained to the midpoint of the bottom tines. Picks it up fine but stalls around 6' or so off the ground. Wont be loading tandem dumps with it. More than adequate for transporting the smaller logs and tree tops I have to deal with. Probably more grapple than tractor but I think it will do what I need. Not sure the 100# difference for their smaller single lid unit would be significant. If once I get it plumbed and operational it winds up being too much for the tractor I will sell it locally and order a smaller one. At less than 1/2 the cost of a Wicked 55 and immediate availability I won't lose much sleep over the decision to give it a try.

Dan

If I had to pick either 100#s lighter or getting dual lids, I’ll always take a dual-lid model over saving that 100#s of lift—any day of the week— at least for the various-shaped brush and logs I deal with. I can (and already have) easily get that 100#s back with a shim.

 

[mcmxi]

If I had to pick either 100#s lighter or getting dual lids, I’ll always take a dual-lid model over saving that 100#s of lift—any day of the week— at least for the various-shaped brush and logs I deal with. I can (and already have) easily get that 100#s back with a shim.

So you increased the hydraulic pressure on your tractor by at least 10%?

Those double lid models are cool but I never ran into an issue with the single lid Land Pride I had with the BX. Weight is always an issue every time you raise the grapple so I'd rather reduce the constant problem than choose a feature that may or may not be useful some of the time. Fortunately for us there are lots of options available.

 

[ayak]

So you increased the hydraulic pressure on your tractor by at least 10%?

Those double lid models are cool but I never ran into an issue with the single lid Land Pride I had with the BX. Weight is always an issue every time you raise the grapple so I'd rather reduce the constant problem than choose a feature that may or may not be useful some of the time. Fortunately for us there are lots of options available.

Yup, really just depends on what you’re planning to do with it, as far as getting a single or dual lid, or if a root grapple or root-rake grapple works best for you.
As for raising the pressure, I didn’t go quite as high as NetMagi did in his thread:

How-to: Raising the hydraulic pressure on an L2501 and measuring the REAL results

Been wanting to do this since I picked up this machine, but made myself wait until I had time to measure the 'useful' lift capacity first. Figured I'd record while doing it to serve as a how-to. I know there's a few videos out there, but none appear to show the whole process from beginning to...

www.orangetractortalks.com

PS-and yes, I’ve got one big ass heavy box blade hanging off the back of that 3-PT along with filled rears

 

[TheOldHokie]

Yup, really just depends on what you’re planning to do with it, as far as getting a single or dual lid, or if a root grapple or root-rake grapple works best for you.
As for raising the pressure, I didn’t go quite as high as NetMagi did in his thread:

How-to: Raising the hydraulic pressure on an L2501 and measuring the REAL results

Been wanting to do this since I picked up this machine, but made myself wait until I had time to measure the 'useful' lift capacity first. Figured I'd record while doing it to serve as a how-to. I know there's a few videos out there, but none appear to show the whole process from beginning to...

www.orangetractortalks.com

PS-and yes, I’ve got one big ass heavy box blade hanging off the back of that 3-PT along with filled rears

Now thats how you get reliable data. Next question would be anyone know what the column load rating on the OEM lift cylinders is?

Dan

 

[ayak]

Now thats how you get reliable data. Next question would be anyone know what the column load rating on the OEM lift cylinders is?

Dan

Don’t know about the rating, but since I did this in May, I’ve logged ~150hrs moving >20 tons of crushed limestone down a long hill with my FEL. I was putting in three culverts and improving a road, so had ample opportunities to blow a hose (or anything else)—and so far, no trouble noted.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Don’t know about the rating, but since I did this in May, I’ve logged ~150hrs moving >20 tons of crushed limestone down a long hill with my FEL. I was putting in three culverts and improving a road, so had ample opportunities to blow a hose (or anything else)—and so far, no trouble

I am a numbers guy and just thinking out loud Andy. I would expect the cylinders to be rated 3000 PSI and the hose 4000 PSI. At rated pressure the 50mm bore on the LA525 cylinders are producing roughly 9000 lb-force. But the rods on those lift cylinders are 30mm (1.18") which is kind of light for that sort of loading.

For example a Wolverine WWXT cylinder with 1" rod maxes out at 16" stroke and 4800 lb-force. The same cylinder with a 1.5" rod maxes out at 24" stroke and 7330 lb-force. The stroke on the 1.18 "rod on the LA525 loader is 17" so it is in the middle of that column load range somewhere. At 2650 PSI the LA525 cylinders are producing 8200 lb-force. See my concern?

Dan

 

[sncopeland]

thanks for all the input. starting to leant toward the Wicked 55, but not sure about paying up front. lots to think about

 

[ayak]

I am a numbers guy and just thinking out loud Andy. I would expect the cylinders to be rated 3000 PSI and the hose 4000 PSI. At rated pressure the 50mm bore on the LA525 cylinders are producing roughly 9000 lb-force. But the rods on those lift cylinders are 30mm (1.18") which is kind of light for that sort of loading.

For example a Wolverine WWXT cylinder with 1" rod maxes out at 16" stroke and 4800 lb-force. The same cylinder with a 1.5" rod maxes out at 24" stroke and 7330 lb-force. The stroke on the 1.18 "rod on the LA525 loader is 17" so it is in the middle of that column load range somewhere. At 2650 PSI the LA525 cylinders are producing 8200 lb-force. See my concern?

Dan

Well I’ll be the first to tell ya I’m terrible at math so I’m gonna hire you out for all that. I went back to my notes and I had increased the stock pressure of 2410psi up to 2550psi using two shims. Been looking closely each time for leak down any time I’m running the FEL hard and nothing to report just yet. I love how nimble that 3301 is on my trails else I’d move up in size, but those heavy loads are atypical for me, in reality.

 

[Jchonline]

I gotta ask WHAT does HP have to do with a grapple ?

Nothing directly. Manufacturers dumb down most tractor implements to a HP rating so idiots don’t put a 1000lb grapple on a BX23.

However in general lift capacity follows HP to some extent so it isn’t Totally out of alignment to use it.

Not accurate though. The L2501 and L3901 have same FEL and lift capacities but 50% difference in HP…so not a good comparison there.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Well I’ll be the first to tell ya I’m terrible at math so I’m gonna hire you out for all that. I went back to my notes and I had increased the stock pressure of 2410psi up to 2550psi using two shims. Been looking closely each time for leak down any time I’m running the FEL hard and nothing to report just yet. I love how nimble that 3301 is on my trails else I’d move up in size, but those heavy loads are atypical for me, in reality.

I am assuming you are shimming the main relief in the tractor hydraulic block? Any idea what the relief in the loader valve is set to?

Dan

 

[ayak]

I am assuming you are shimming the main relief in the tractor hydraulic block? Any idea what the relief in the loader valve is set to?

Dan

Yup—the one on the underside of the hydraulic block. Didn’t check the loader valve relief.
Pretty much just followed the procedure that NetMagi outlined in his thread here and in his YouTube video.
Doubt I’ll need that extra oomph more than say once a year, so I was a bit conservative in my adjustment, especially given the fact I didn’t pay a whole lot for my gauge to check, so assuming there’s some instrumental error there.
I did it mostly so I’d have room to spare when pulling a heavy shipment off the back of a Fedex freight truck that might show up without a lift gate (and sure enough, it didn’t have one).

 

[UpNorthMI]

I was exactly where you are last year looking for a grapple for my L3901. Feel free to ask any questions. I posted some photos and comments in the link below about my final selection, an MTL CV twin lid grapple, I paid $995 including shipping when I ordered in December last year, they are currently $1,195 shipped, amazing value for a twin lid.

My MTL grapple has done a lot of work this summer, I’m still very happy with my purchase and consider it an excellent size and weight for the L3901.

Homestead grapples

Looking to purchase my first grapple for a lx2610, anyone have one? (HA HA). Already watched the you tube videos and read the specs and manual online. Looking for some real life experiences and maybe some EA comparison.. I also searched the forums for homestead and there doesn’t seem to be...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[BAP]

thanks for all the input. starting to leant toward the Wicked 55, but not sure about paying up front. lots to think about

Have you searched for and read any of the past threads about grapples on this site? There is a wealth of information about the various brands of them

 

[Bmyers]

thanks for all the input. starting to leant toward the Wicked 55, but not sure about paying up front. lots to think about

I know I have been extremely happy with my 55" Wicked Grapple

 

[number two]

I have a L2501 and ordered a SGC0660 in may. The dealer said kubota recommended the heavier one but as you noticed it is at a loss of capacity. He said most were going with the SGC0660 so I agreed and ordered may 10. It was supposed to be here in mid june. That has been moved to august so I am patiently hoping it shows up this month. I installed a summit 3rd function already.
Has anyone else ordered something from Land pride in this period and received it yet?

We ordered the same SGC0660 in late April.
Finally caved this week and bought a 54" Paladin grapple from them.
It was time!
Good Luck!

 

[Goz63]

We ordered the same SGC0660 in late April.
Finally caved this week and bought a 54" Paladin grapple from them.
It was time!
Good Luck!

It is crazy how some dealers can get the LP grapple and others can’t. End of June order and got it two days ago. Excited today to get it working. Dealer was great. Delivered it to my house, got it hooked up and brought hydraulic fluid and helped me get the lines all bled out and topped off. They added it to my initial purchase and 84 mo financing. So zero percent interest, no money upfront, KTAC insurance so I if I break it they fix it and the payment is $21/mo. Just can’t beat that.

 

[Chanceywd]

It is crazy how some dealers can get the LP grapple and others can’t. End of June order and got it two days ago. Excited today to get it working. Dealer was great. Delivered it to my house, got it hooked up and brought hydraulic fluid and helped me get the lines all bled out and topped off. They added it to my initial purchase and 84 mo financing. So zero percent interest, no money upfront, KTAC insurance so I if I break it they fix it and the payment is $21/mo. Just can’t beat that.

I guess I am dealing with one of the ones that can't get them. I emailed him this morning after reading your time line. he said mine is looking like September now. Guess I will wait a little longer as I have plenty of projects in the Que.