New grapple design with no 3rd function needed.

Bearcatrp

Well-known member

Equipment
Oversized Garden Tractor (aka BX1880) with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
1,382
1,005
113
Minnesota
Have pallet forks. One of my 1st attachments. Work fairly well but there are time a grapple would be useful.
 

aaluck

Well-known member

Equipment
L4400HST, Bush Hog 276, RDTH60, Speeco PHD, etc
Oct 9, 2019
1,002
844
113
Snowdoun, AL
I just looked into this and it might be a good solution for me. Would save about $1,200.00.

Has anyone actually tried this particular grapple? Installation looks simple.
 

aaluck

Well-known member

Equipment
L4400HST, Bush Hog 276, RDTH60, Speeco PHD, etc
Oct 9, 2019
1,002
844
113
Snowdoun, AL
I emailed them on that plate that mounts on the FEL. Wanted to know if it stays after removing the grapple. Said it stays with not ill effect on the FEL. Waiting on another reply on shipping time. Am leaning toward ordering one. Am running out of room for storing my attachments.
If you do please give a report. I just called for the price and it would save me about $1,200+ and would be plenty for what I need.
 

Bearcatrp

Well-known member

Equipment
Oversized Garden Tractor (aka BX1880) with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
1,382
1,005
113
Minnesota
Yes, it would save me some bucks going this route. My forks do pretty good but using this would eliminate me getting off my tractor to center or strap stuff down so it doesn’t fall off. Hmmmm. Said it would take about a week after payment is confirmed. Have to think about this purchase a bit. Would be nice if someone on the forum bought one to give us a good review.
 
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Bearcatrp

Well-known member

Equipment
Oversized Garden Tractor (aka BX1880) with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
1,382
1,005
113
Minnesota
It's still 'pinned on' in my eyes. Yes you hang the main body on the SSQA, but then you still have to install the rod and the two turnbuckle links to make it work.

3rd functions are so readily available now, and at reasonable prices (in my view anyway) there is just no need for these. Seems to be solving a problem that does not exist.

Just my opinion anyway, worth what you paid for it.
I was quoted $1600 to install a 3rd function for my 1880. Then another $2000 for a grapple. This grapple would save me allot of bucks. But still want a real review from someone who bought one and actually used it.
 
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Bearcatrp

Well-known member

Equipment
Oversized Garden Tractor (aka BX1880) with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
1,382
1,005
113
Minnesota
Found this searching for real usage. Has my vote.

 
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GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,
Apr 2, 2019
13,845
6,295
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
wow, that video with the barrel was PAINFUL to watch !
My SSQA HLA 900$ pallet forks are far superior to that 'new fangled' grapple.
Weigh less,so higher payload, NO modification to tractor, NO lost time adding/removing either.
 

Bearcatrp

Well-known member

Equipment
Oversized Garden Tractor (aka BX1880) with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
1,382
1,005
113
Minnesota
When someone releases a small grapple for the BX with weight under 300 lbs, I’ll do the 3rd function install and get it. These non hydraulic versions seem to limited and bulky.
 

Bri-Guy-GA

Active member

Equipment
Kubota BX1880
Sep 10, 2020
207
161
43
Villa Rica, GA
When someone releases a small grapple for the BX with weight under 300 lbs, I’ll do the 3rd function install and get it. These non hydraulic versions seem to limited and bulky.
There are several under 300 lbs out there. EA and Land Pride and homestead implements for starters. I'm sure there are others out there.
 
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John D 2

Active member

Equipment
B2601 LA435 loader, 54inch MMM, carry all, boom pole, fertilizer spreader.
Jun 6, 2023
198
201
43
Texas
John Deere has a single grapple arm that attaches to their pallet fork frame. I think it would work good for those of us that use our pallet forks to pick up and move brush piles.

It a Frontier PG11, and PG12,

I think it retails for around $800.

I wish Land Pride offered something like this, I would seriously consider it.
 
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Bearcatrp

Well-known member

Equipment
Oversized Garden Tractor (aka BX1880) with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
1,382
1,005
113
Minnesota
There are several under 300 lbs out there. EA and Land Pride and homestead implements for starters. I'm sure there are others out there.
Does it attach to a quick attach or to the pins? I don’t want to remove my quick attach.
 

farmerengineer70

New member

Equipment
L3770DLX
Aug 21, 2026
1
0
1
MN
I have one of these from Westendorf Mfg. Its called the brushcrusher. I purchased it to use with the John Deere connect system. It has it's purpose. But that is limited.

The "closing power" is from the dump direction of the FEL. On the JD with the pins on the bottom, all of that force is pushing in the opposite direction for what that area is designed for. If you aren't careful, you will bend the pins or even the loader pads. So no, its not the same as a grapple, I use it well, picking up piles of brush etc.. in my opinion it shouldn't be used to pick up piles of logs where it is uneven grabbing. It puts a lot of force on those pins and that area of the JD.

NOW.... Im not sure about the skid steer QA system, that system looks far more robust than the JD proprietary pins. So mileage may vary with the SSQA.

Quite a few YT videos out there on the mechanical grapple. Mine was the Westendorf 4200 Brush Crusher.

I got it because on the 2004 JD I was looking at $1500 for the 3rd function plus grapple. I think I paid around $1300 for the crusher a number of years ago.
 

Ridger

Member

Equipment
L3940 HST
Nov 26, 2014
169
21
18
North LA
I ordered the Anbo Clasp-It mechanical grapple after reading about it on this forum. To install a 3rd function on my particular tractor would require removing the right rear tire and fender, maybe even the seat, to get to the hydraulic connections. I'm a one man operation so I decided against that option and unfortunately, I don't have much confidence in my local dealer. So, I decided to give this a try since I don't use a grapple but occasionally.

It arrived well packaged on a pallet and was easy to install. The specs for the grapple are on their website so you can find those there. It is very well made, solid, with good welds. The customer service folks were excellent. They kept me informed at every step. You have to send them specific measurements from your front end loader (sheet found on website) and they essentially custom build the grapple to your loader. The two linkage arms replace the function of the hydraulic "thumb", so you have to make adjustments to the opening width to your liking by adjusting the linkage arms. Essentially, you remove one linkage arm, adjust the attached linkage arm, then adjust and reattach the second linkage arm to match. Very simple.

The linkage arms attach to a rod that runs through the tube on your loader. You can remove it when not in use or you can leave it. It's not in the way, so I may leave it. However, that is how I anchored the tractor when trailering it . I ran a chain through the tube and anchored on each side.

I'm still playing around with it to get used to it and find out what adjustment works best. So far, I've been very pleased. My takeaway.....If you have an occasional need for a grapple, then this may work for you. If you routinely use a grapple, go for the 3rd function and fully hydraulic grapple.

I hope this was useful. Thank you.

 

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