42" Grapple Bucket

[SkidRoe]

Another Grapple story:
Ever since using my Dad's tine grapple on his BC 773, I have wanted one for my 440B. This was more than just a mild stretch, as my 440 didn't even have aux hydraulics.
I was able to source most of the parts from my local dealer (who has turned out to be very supportive and respectful of my frugal nature), so aux's were accomplished in a couple of evenings after work.
I priced out a bucket from HLA, the same outfit that my Dad's came from: about $1150 + applicables. Not a bad price, I thought, but didn't have that kind of cash available at this time. What I did have was a shop full of tools (including a lathe & 2 welders), an creative imagination, and a buddy with a CNC laser cutter. You can see where this is going.
After downloading a free CAD package on a day when I was down sick on the couch, I eventually ended up with a design:

Using the profiles generated, I e-mailed a set of DXF files and a cut list to my buddy. Within a week, I hade these:

I designed tabs into the backs of the tine profiles and had slots cut into the back plate, so it fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, all of the tines self locating into the back plate:

2 pieces of 1" hot rolled, a few zaps with the mig and voila!:

I had cut a notch in the front of the tines for a cutting edge. The prices I was getting quoted where in the neighbourhood of $2 per inch (gulp). After talking to a local steel supplier, I found a used 6' Zamboni blade for $20 - that's more like it!! A bit more tack welding and it is starting to look like the final product:

With all of the welding done, time to add the cylinder and hoses:

And finally - Paint:

Here is a driver's eye view of the bucket in the "tweezer" position. I like the way the you can see through it to get a good view of what you are picking up.

I have had a chance to test it around the yard and I am very pleased with its performance so far.
Cheers,
SR

 

[slik rik]

thats an awesome setup, I was thinking the same as you. Although I was going with a two grapple arm setup. I was design it the same as you with the self jigging, I have seen alot of 4x4 guys using that setup for getting driveline and suspension brackets lined up before welding. I have a guy near me who has a water jet to do my cutting.
How much was the steel costs for your setup?
Anything that you would have changed? I always think of something after final weld up.......

 

[SkidRoe]

thats an awesome setup, I was thinking the same as you. Although I was going with a two grapple arm setup. I was design it the same as you with the self jigging, I have seen alot of 4x4 guys using that setup for getting driveline and suspension brackets lined up before welding. I have a guy near me who has a water jet to do my cutting.
How much was the steel costs for your setup?
Anything that you would have changed? I always think of something after final weld up.......

Hey slik rik,
The total cost came in at around $750 for everything - all new steel, new cylinder, laser cutting, everything. So I save over $400 doing it myself.
The only design thing that I might change - and time will tell - is to mave the grapple teeth extend all the way out to the cutting edge. I might still do it, just make a new grapple arm; and re-use this one on my material bucket.
One other thing is the ends of the grapple arms, at the pivots. I made the pivot tubes 1.75" OD x .75" ID - can you say "overkill"? If I was to do it again, I would make the pivot tubes 1.25" or 1.5" and wrap the pivot arms all the way around them for a self-locating, mechanical joint.
Otherwise, I am pretty happy with the final result, especially since I have only been working on it in my spare time over the past 5 days. It really helps having the details thought out while you are still in the planning stage.
Cheers,
SR

 

[Tazza]

Hey slik rik,
The total cost came in at around $750 for everything - all new steel, new cylinder, laser cutting, everything. So I save over $400 doing it myself.
The only design thing that I might change - and time will tell - is to mave the grapple teeth extend all the way out to the cutting edge. I might still do it, just make a new grapple arm; and re-use this one on my material bucket.
One other thing is the ends of the grapple arms, at the pivots. I made the pivot tubes 1.75" OD x .75" ID - can you say "overkill"? If I was to do it again, I would make the pivot tubes 1.25" or 1.5" and wrap the pivot arms all the way around them for a self-locating, mechanical joint.
Otherwise, I am pretty happy with the final result, especially since I have only been working on it in my spare time over the past 5 days. It really helps having the details thought out while you are still in the planning stage.
Cheers,
SR

Very impressive! Wish i knew someone with that sort of setup to cut the plate, would be very handy.

 

[SkidRoe]

Very impressive! Wish i knew someone with that sort of setup to cut the plate, would be very handy.

The bucket got christened yesterday. My sister and her husband are building a retaining wall on the edge of their property. I used it to break up some hard pan, sift out some rocks and rip out three medium sized tree stumps. This thing is really proving itself to be the swiss army knife of buckets. The Zamboni blade really slices through tree roots.
I did have a mishap though. While using the grapple teeth as a ripper, the grapple arm popped over centre, mainly because the main grapple tube was flexing. This was something that I was afraid would happen. I managed to kill 3 birds with one stone, by adding an additional crossmember and some bracing to the grapple frame:

Not only does the crossmember add more support, if it does try to pop over centre, it will make a hard stop against the base of the cylinder. It also helps to guard the cylinder from the load in the bucket
Cheers,
SR

 

[nailsbeats]

The bucket got christened yesterday. My sister and her husband are building a retaining wall on the edge of their property. I used it to break up some hard pan, sift out some rocks and rip out three medium sized tree stumps. This thing is really proving itself to be the swiss army knife of buckets. The Zamboni blade really slices through tree roots.
I did have a mishap though. While using the grapple teeth as a ripper, the grapple arm popped over centre, mainly because the main grapple tube was flexing. This was something that I was afraid would happen. I managed to kill 3 birds with one stone, by adding an additional crossmember and some bracing to the grapple frame:

Not only does the crossmember add more support, if it does try to pop over centre, it will make a hard stop against the base of the cylinder. It also helps to guard the cylinder from the load in the bucket
Cheers,
SR

Very nice work man, I like how you set up the back plate to fit up the tines perfectly.
You ought to put a piece of 1/4 plate between those new cross members you added, to completely protect the crome shaft of the cylinder. It's only a matter of time before something comes through and nicks it up, especially if you grab a pile of scrap steel. Put some drain holes in it too, or a pattern of them if you want to see through it.
Again, excellent workmanship.

 

[SkidRoe]

Very nice work man, I like how you set up the back plate to fit up the tines perfectly.
You ought to put a piece of 1/4 plate between those new cross members you added, to completely protect the crome shaft of the cylinder. It's only a matter of time before something comes through and nicks it up, especially if you grab a pile of scrap steel. Put some drain holes in it too, or a pattern of them if you want to see through it.
Again, excellent workmanship.

Hi nailsbeats,
Thanks for the feed back. Good call on the plate. I may keep my eyes out for a piece of HD expanded metal.
So far, so good though. I had to mess with the hydraulic hose routing a bit - the fittings kept coming loose - but I think I am past that now.
Other than that, it has been working incredibly well. I have used it to handle concrete slabs, logs, brush, lumber, ripped out tree roots, pried out cedar stumps, deck demolition, pulled concrete columns, lifted asphalt, peeled up sod, as well as using it to move around other attachments. Handiest bucket I own.
I added a removable counter weight to the back off machine to offset the weight of the bucket. It never ceases to amaze me what the little 440B can lift/do.
Cheers,
SR

 

[Dbqhockey05]

Would you be so kind to share the files. I would like to build one for my father.