Latches for my SSQA

[Chanceywd]

I see here a couple of times others have had a latch come loose using their grapple and then bend the latch plates out of alignment. So while I have had a tractor for years I am just starting to use my grapple doing firewood. We had the snow storm here the other day so I spent some time in the garage and came up with this. It may be all I need or have to be made better. It is made from i think a flat angle bracket from lowes about 5" long by 1" wide and maybe 1/8 thick. I cut in 2 at the angle and smoothed up the cut. I drilled and tapped the handle for 5/16 thread and run the bolt from the front and tightened so it had a snug movement and then a nyloc nut on the thread to keep it there.

Just an idea I had, let me know if it has a bad point I missed.

Bill

 

[Sammy3700]

Looks great the handles sure can’t come up no.

 

[fried1765]

L

I see here a couple of times others have had a latch come loose using their grapple and then bend the latch plates out of alignment. So while I have had a tractor for years I am just starting to use my grapple doing firewood. We had the snow storm here the other day so I spent some time in the garage and came up with this. It may be all I need or have to be made better. It is made from i think a flat angle bracket from lowes about 5" long by 1" wide and maybe 1/8 thick. I cut in 2 at the angle and smoothed up the cut. I drilled and tapped the handle for 5/16 thread and run the bolt from the front and tightened so it had a snug movement and then a nyloc nut on the thread to keep it there.

Just an idea I had, let me know if it has a bad point I missed.

Bill

Looks like a good idea.
I have hyd. fluid/cyl. holding my latches down instead.

 

[S-G-R]

Great mod idea and execution.

 

[pokey1416]

Great work for keeping the levers down. Just so you're aware the lock pins can still move without the levers moving. Here's a thread where I noticed it. There is a welded nub above the lock bolt that in theory should keep the lock pin from retracting enough to disengage without the handles moving (I think).

I have a YT video of this if you want to see it.

https://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/threads/ssqa-mod.48809/post-431801

 

[Chanceywd]

Great work for keeping the levers down. Just so you're aware the lock pins can still move without the levers moving. Here's a thread where I noticed it. There is a welded nub above the lock bolt that in theory should keep the lock pin from retracting enough to disengage without the handles moving (I think).

I have a YT video of this if you want to see it.

https://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/threads/ssqa-mod.48809/post-431801

I clicked on the link but didn't see a video. But I did read most of the thread. It is rainy with the snow melting from the storm the other day so reading OTT is where it is at!
Thanks for looking at my work and for the info on the pins. I will have to see where mine are on all three things I use.

Bill

 

[pokey1416]

Try these

https://youtube.com/shorts/_Te2eBRvvSM?feature=share

I taped string between the levers to show that they are not moving.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Sz_XH8TUlk4?feature=share

You can see the pins retracting and the HLA frame/carrier pulling away. I'm not sure if this is an HLA manufacturing issue, or it's nature of the beast with SSQA? I do know that I watch it and am very cognizant of it coming unattached - which thankfully has not happened. I guess it's safe to say that by identifying this issue it is constantly in my head which probably wasn't too smart on my part

 

[Chanceywd]

Try these

https://youtube.com/shorts/_Te2eBRvvSM?feature=share

I taped string between the levers to show that they are not moving.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Sz_XH8TUlk4?feature=share

You can see the pins retracting and the HLA frame/carrier pulling away. I'm not sure if this is an HLA manufacturing issue, or it's nature of the beast with SSQA? I do know that I watch it and am very cognizant of it coming unattached - which thankfully has not happened. I guess it's safe to say that by identifying this issue it is constantly in my head which probably wasn't too smart on my part

I could see from that second one what you are saying. Certainly something to look for, thanks for sharing.

Bill