So you want a grapple

[PoTreeBoy]

You are exaggerating. Here is a simple example of a complete low cost electric valve. I put a manual valve on my L3901 for less. It was going to be temporary but its still there 3 years later...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/406916933247

Dan

That's cheaper than the valve and joystick switch alone. I should order one for my hydraulic thumb project , if only it wasn't at the bottom of the list.

 

[TheOldHokie]

It is so easy that most tractor owners avoid it .. . .. . . . .. REALITY.

That's cheaper than the valve and joystick switch alone. I should order one for my hydraulic thumb project , if only it wasn't at the bottom of the list.

I have been tempted to buy one to evaluate and if nothing else just for parts. For some insane reason those joystick grips are $120 plus and the valve and subplate is easily $175.

Dan

 

[Shawn T. W]

While I no longer have much use for a grapple, I could have used one while clearing my fence line that I extracted the brush by hand from the barb wire fence, then hauled with my forks!

I'd much rather get one of these to add to my forks if I had a use for them, https://precisionmfg.com/products/mini-pallet-fork/ over buying a manual grapple ... as forks are handy by themselves, just today I brought my new BXPanded 6' snowplow down from my gate!



I was intimidated for a few years about adding hydraulics ... I just finished the addition of a four spool manual valve (don't like the electric solenoid valves) ... I have two that go to the rear, and two that go up front where one is gonna run the new snowplow, (or could run a grapple) the other runs my SSQA. In the back I have both a top and side link, and when the backhoe is on, I run the thumb ... It wasn't really hard or expensive, just time consuming as I needed to fabricate a bunch of stuff ...

 

[imarobot]

You are new here

What model BX and loàder and with or without backhoe. Most are almost trivial and I will be happÿ to walk you through it. The hydraulics is as simple as hooking up two hoses.

The tractor guys on this forum are so informative and helpful. I've learned a lot about hydraulics from these guys. If you decide to attempt to add a third function yourself, I know you will find a lot of help here.

 

[NCL4701]

I’ve had a third function (diverter) and grapple for 7 years (hard to believe it’s been that long). Have used it to move brush, rocks, logs, trash, smash small structures and stuff in a dumpster, clear greenbriar, and clear kudzu. I have used it to pick up 30’ creosote phone poles from the end like a baton to set them across a creek to make a foot bridge. Used it to gently set a two bottom plow in the bed of our elder predator neighbor’s pickup as part of extricating him from my father’s property when he “couldn’t figure out” how to get it in his truck. Probably some other stuff I’ve forgotten.

Can’t imagine any of the mechanical grapples I’ve seen being even close to as diversely useful as a hydraulic grapple with lid(s) that can be opened and closed at any point in curl. With the mechanical grapple costing the same as a hydraulic grapple and only cost saving being the third function, I wouldn’t even consider a mechanical grapple.

I’m aware the OP posited the cost of the third function would bust his budget, but a member that has routinely demonstrated mad knowledge of small/medium tractor hydraulics, and has helped numerous folks here through cost effectively adding third functions and rear remotes, offers to walk you through an option that gets you the superior functionality of a hydraulic grapple without busting your budget and your response is to argue it’s unrealistic to think American tractor owners have the intelligence or ambition to work on their own tractors??? Apparently an impression you got when looking in a mirror.

Get a mechanical grapple and deal with the limited functionality. If you’ve never used a hydraulic grapple, maybe you won’t know what you’re missing and you’ll be happy with it. Or buy the TYM and join a TYM forum.