First use report: Grapple from Innovative Tractor Attachments

39033 Views 36 Replies 19 Participants Last post by FTWingRiders, 7 mo ago

GSM

Discussion Starter · Mar 22, 2016

OK, I got my grapple from Marcus at Innovative Tractor Attachments and wanted to post some feedback and video from my first use.

The Grapple attaches to just about any Deere Quickhitch. You need the angling cylinder to be re-positioned for the clamping jaw and if you don't have one you'll obviously need to pick one up somewhere. It came via FedEx Ground so shipping wasn't bad.

This thing is very solidly built from heavy steel and I'd say is easily as strong or stronger than the Quickhitch itself. Assembly was about 10 minutes and consisted of attaching one bracket to the Quickhitch and fastening with a large bolt.

My main interest was in picking up and moving logs and brush from tree work. My back can't take lifting 200-300lb logs around any longer and while my FEL with a chain and hook worked, it was pretty slow. So for $569 I decided to give this a try.

Quick Summary: it works great. Easily lifts a couple hundred pounds and pickup of logs and limbs was quick and easy without ever leaving the seat.

So I put together 3 minutes of video showing it in action - sorry I couldn't embed here. Always seems to be fussy for some reason:

https://youtu.be/QpR6GRXeaq4

1 - 20 of 37 Posts

martincom

· #2 · Mar 22, 2016

I purchased one, also. I haven't had the opportunity to take it for a test drive as of yet. I just removed the cab & snow thrower yesterday.......which means there'll be a blizzard here by the end of the week.

Murphy, of Murphy's Law fame, rides shotgun on my shoulder so he doesn't miss an opportunity to complicate my life.

GSM

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 22, 2016

I know what you mean about Murphy. I took a chance too as we got 4 inches last evening. But I figured I could get the snowthrower back on pretty quickly if necessary.

csmitty

· #4 · Mar 22, 2016

Very cool. How does the angle cylinder get purposed to operate the jaw? Unless I'm just not reading it right. I've always wondered what other uses could be had for the front quick hitch.

GSM

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 22, 2016

There's an on axis heavy steel plate that ships with the grapple that fastens through the center pivot hole. One end of the angle cylinder fits onto that plate and the other attaches to the upper grapple arm. You re-use the angle cylinder mounting hardware.

I'll get a close-up picture of that setup this evening to post.

csmitty

· #6 · Mar 22, 2016

GSM said:
There's an on axis heavy steel plate that ships with the grapple that fastens through the center pivot hole. One end of the angle cylinder fits onto that plate and the other attaches to the upper grapple arm. You re-use the angle cylinder mounting hardware.

I'll get a close-up picture of that setup this evening to post.

Cool. I'd love to see some pictures of it. I guess that plate prevents the pivot from moving side to side as well. How hard is it to remove the cylinder?

GSM

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 22, 2016

csmitty said:
Cool. I'd love to see some pictures of it. I guess that plate prevents the pivot from moving side to side as well. How hard is it to remove the cylinder?

Nothing to it. Maybe 10 minutes to switch it over?

Jere39

· #8 · Mar 22, 2016

I have one too, got it about 6 weeks ago. Due to switching back and forth for snow plow duty, I have plenty practice installing and uninstalling. It is easy, as mentioned, and on the second and subsequent times, it is literally 10 minutes. You could probably do it faster, but I like to stow my plow safely, put my tools away, and check the hydro fluid.

Nice video, better edited than all of mine posted in other threads.

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martincom

· #9 · Mar 22, 2016

It came with a number of different hitch pins and a large carriage bolt w/nut & split washer. While the instructions that were emailed (attached) didn't detail how the hitch pins were to be utilized, I'm gathering the larger one was an alternative to the carriage bolt and the smaller one was to keep the bottom cylinder attaching bracket from spinning on the carriage bolt axis.

I wasn't keen on the larger hitchpin in place of the carriage bolt as this would allow the lower cylinder mounting bracket to work back and forth on top of the Quick Hitch, creating wear points. So I utilize the carriage bolt. I also utilized the normal Quick Hitch pivot lock pin to secure the back of the lower cylinder mounting bracket to keep it from spinning on the carriage bolt axis. Mine has a small attaching chain to keep it from becoming lost and I didn't want to take it off, but yet it needs a storage point. It was long enough to do the job. The back hole of the lower cylinder mounting bracket lines up with the pivot pin storage hole, so there are no holes to drill.

If you're going to move the angling cylinder back and forth, I'd suggest you get some 1/2 x 2-1/4" clevis pins and appropriate sized hitch pin clips to simplify it. The Quick Hitch utilizes a cotter pin and that is what is supplied with the grapple.

Moving the angling cylinder back and forth between the Quick Hitch and the grapple is a bit of a pain, in my opinion. So I acquired another angling cylinder kit that is permanently installed on the grapple.

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Natispotatis

· #10 · Mar 22, 2016

Very cool!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

GSM

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 22, 2016

Here's a closeup of the lower mounting setup for the angling cylinder. Like a few others, my preference was for using the large carriage bolt in place of the usual locking pin. I don't use a blade so I'll never need to remove it and I like that it's tighter - hopefully will help keep the pivot hole from elongating.

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csmitty

· #12 · Mar 23, 2016

martincom said:
It came with a number of different hitch pins and a large carriage bolt w/nut & split washer. While the instructions that were emailed (attached) didn't detail how the hitch pins were to be utilized, I'm gathering the larger one was an alternative to the carriage bolt and the smaller one was to keep the bottom cylinder attaching bracket from spinning on the carriage bolt axis.

I wasn't keen on the larger hitchpin in place of the carriage bolt as this would allow the lower cylinder mounting bracket to work back and forth on top of the Quick Hitch, creating wear points. So I utilize the carriage bolt. I also utilized the normal Quick Hitch pivot lock pin to secure the back of the lower cylinder mounting bracket to keep it from spinning on the carriage bolt axis. Mine has a small attaching chain to keep it from becoming lost and I didn't want to take it off, but yet it needs a storage point. It was long enough to do the job. The back hole of the lower cylinder mounting bracket lines up with the pivot pin storage hole, so there are no holes to drill.

If you're going to move the angling cylinder back and forth, I'd suggest you get some 1/2 x 2-1/4" clevis pins and appropriate sized hitch pin clips to simplify it. The Quick Hitch utilizes a cotter pin and that is what is supplied with the grapple.

Moving the angling cylinder back and forth between the Quick Hitch and the grapple is a bit of a pain, in my opinion. So I acquired another angling cylinder kit that is permanently installed on the grapple.

GSM said:
Here's a closeup of the lower mounting setup for the angling cylinder. Like a few others, my preference was for using the large carriage bolt in place of the usual locking pin. I don't use a blade so I'll never need to remove it and I like that it's tighter - hopefully will help keep the pivot hole from elongating.

Thanks for posting these. Gives me a good idea of the mechanics involved. I didn't realize that hole was for locking the pivot. Learned something new. Thinking of what else could be done using the same idea.

BlackfinX739

· #13 · Mar 23, 2016

I just ordered my grapple yesterday from Marcus. Great customer service so far. Quick hitch and cylinder should be in at the dealer in a couple days too. Can't wait to hook it up for Easter Weekend!

martincom

· #14 · Mar 23, 2016

Boy Blackfin, your wife must really love you if you get to go play with the green machine on a holiday weekend! I'm green (JD green) with envy.

BlackfinX739

· #15 · Mar 23, 2016

As many of us have experienced, you got that look and attitude the day you brought the tractor home. The attitude faded pretty quickly as she carted all her gardening tools and a trailer full of compost to her garden project. When she saw the videos of the grapple on YouTube, I actually got the thumbs up for once:thThumbsU

Fink

· #16 · Mar 23, 2016

Jere39 said:
I have one too, got it about 6 weeks ago. Due to switching back and forth for snow plow duty, I have plenty practice installing and uninstalling. It is easy, as mentioned, and on the second and subsequent times, it is literally 10 minutes. You could probably do it faster, but I like to stow my plow safely, put my tools away, and check the hydro fluid.

Nice video, better edited than all of mine posted in other threads.

awesome photo:thThumbsU

martincom

· #17 · Mar 23, 2016

Marcus is following the post. He emailed me the latest revision of the installation manual this morning.

FTWingRiders

· #18 · Mar 23, 2016

I've also owned mine for a few months, unfortunately due to surgery and snow, ive only had an hour or so to play with it. So far it's seems an excellent investment to utilize the front quick hitch for summer duty.. I hope that by spring I'll be able to really give a workout clearing up my property. Here are a few quick pictures I took. I was able to easily pick this log up out of the snow first try, and at an angle..

It's built for heavy duty..

Looking forward to putting thru its paces soon.

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2

GSM

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 26, 2016

One more update - I didn't think this would work but I nosed up to this rock thats probably 400lbs, pushed it up out of the ground, backed off and re-positioned a bit to get the grapple underneath, and grabbed it and just drove off with it. ****!

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Leinie

· #20 · Mar 26, 2016

That is an awesome looking tool for property cleanup !

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