Too much play? Shim or not to shim on upper JBar grapple claws?

[100AkerWood]

I have a new 66 GRG JBar double claw grapple. I noticed the extended piston end to the top claws has a lot of slop in the claws. I installed two (BAW) washers on the inside of the pin (on each inner side of the piston pivot) and one on the outside of the pivot grapple...It could take another so it is symmetrical.

My question is: Should there be any play or wobble in the upper claws or should the claw-to-piston be rock solid? I’m assuming solid is better to avoid bending piston shaft or should reverse logic be applied and wobble/slop avoids bending piston shafts?

I’ve been grappling with what is right or wrong with my logic...help me out here...

FYI: The loose pin made me look at the grapple a lot closer now that I have had it a few weeks. The pin came out drop grappling boulder in a pile.

Note excessive space between piston yoke and piston. Thanks

Thanks

 

[foobert]

I think you should correct the errant pin and not sweat it — you are over thinking it.

A washer’s worth of slop is probably a good thing. It’s certainly not “bend the piston shaft” territory.

 

[Motion]

I agree with foobert regarding "slop". Personally I'm not a fan of headless pins with retaining groves, when I have equipment that comes with those, I convert to clevis with a head, washers and a spilt/cotter pin of the correct size. From your picture the grapple already needs some TLC, you must be getting a running start at those boulders