that’s some trust you have in your grapple
Bigger tractor needed!started to harvest some large potatoes to place near the I-Beams. Hopefully will add some mass to holding them in place.
1st one was a hefty. Had to drop it and reposition the tractor - couldn't move it through that mud n up the bank.
View attachment 133262
At the second beam
View attachment 133263
lol,Bigger tractor needed!
Nice. I'm still looking for an app, draw out irregular shape, input your cutting width and the app calculates your best starting point and pattern to cut an area quicker.I did a 4-1/2 hour flail job in Big Fork yesterday afternoon/evening and it was hot! The MX did really well but once again it struggles to keep the cab cool when it's 98F outside. The M6060 cab is so much cooler, in part because the A/C ducting isn't routed through the cap on the cab.
I got to the property just before 5pm, filled up the MX from the transfer tank and got to work. My neck is sore this morning after looking over my shoulder for 4-1/2 hours. I finally got home around 10.45pm. I ran flat out for 4-1/2 hours and used a little over half a tank of fuel, maybe 6 gallons. Not bad.
Once again I managed to damage the rod that the front flap guards hang off. It was damaged the first time during shipping, I damaged it a few months ago on another job and made a new rod, and now I've done it again. It's not hard to make a rod, but rather than going down this road time after time, I'm going to look at modifying the design so that the hinge rod is above the exit "chute".
So this was some thick stuff with lots of stumps, branches, logs, and even some wire hidden in the tall stuff. Luckily most of the wood was fairly rotten so the flail chewed it up.
Three before shots and a few after shots. The owner and his wife were pleased with the results but it was late when I finished up the last pasture area so forgot to take a photo.
On Saturday I had 1 more batch of brush to pick up with the grapple.
The grapple opened, but would not close.
So, I shoved the brush pile down to the burn pile.
On inspection, I found the male hose fitting had popped out of the female fitting.
Oh, good, easy fix.
Nope. The o-ring in female was damaged.
This is the 2nd o-ring failure this summer in that fitting.
Well, the pioneer fittings got replaced with flat face fittings. I think this will fix the problem.
/QUOTE]
I'm thinking about doing the same thing. I haven't had a 'failure issue' but it seems every time I go to mount the grapple one of fittings is a pia to get seated. Some pressure in the line. I end up pushing the ball against the grapple frame and pissing out some hydro fluid to relieve the pressure.
It's my understanding that is not an issue with flat face fittings, which I've never used.
The first area that I cut was a bit of a disaster in terms of layout and it was very hard to be efficient. The second pasture area was much easier and took less than hour.Nice. I'm still looking for an app, draw out irregular shape, input your cutting width and the app calculates your best starting point and pattern to cut an area quicker.
I need weight on the front, I grab a large log with the grapple. Most useful when the 3pt 45gal sprayer is full. Halfway thru the tank, I can drop the log. I don't have to get out a lift heavy metal things which are dangerous for my feet.Everyone needs weights , and price continue to climb with the demand
I'd consider using an angle iron with the flat side up against the flat metal above the existing flaps. Use a clip angle to attach to the ends that protrude out a bit. Then you could could bolt to the angle heavy flaps, like mud flaps used on trucks to the length needed.The first area that I cut was a bit of a disaster in terms of layout and it was very hard to be efficient. The second pasture area was much easier and took less than hour.
So here's the damage to the guard support rail. The Del Morino has been and continues to be an amazing implement, but that guard arrangement could be better. If you go over something large and solid, like a 16" firewood log for example, the hammers aren't able to chew it up quick enough and they'll eject a large piece out the front which hits the guard support.
I plan on making a new rod and brackets such that the support is above the exit chute. I'll make up my own heavier flaps too. The cutting head rotates so I might make the rail as two pieces either side of the pivot. We'll see.
View attachment 133346
View attachment 133347
The guards need to swing so I'm not quite following the "bolt to the angle heavy flaps". I was thinking of using some 1/2" schedule 40 pipe, cutting sections to match the width of each flap, welding the flap and pipe together and sliding each one over the 5/8" rod that I have. The rod would be attached in a similar way to the current rod but it'd be located above the opening so that it couldn't get hit by anything.I'd consider using an angle iron with the flat side up against the flat metal above the existing flaps. Use a clip angle to attach to the ends that protrude out a bit. Then you could could bolt to the angle heavy flaps, like mud flaps used on trucks to the length needed.