grapple cylinder

rick1 · Nov 27, 2015

wondering what the length of stroke of the cylinder you fellows have on your loader bucket grapples.im in the process of building a grapple for my kubota bucket.i have a cylinder i use on other equipment it is 29 inches fully extended from bottom mount to to top mount.seems like one around 18 in would be more desirable.
RICK

Janicholson · Nov 27, 2015

It is not in the stroke. It is in the geometry. Pivot points, and distances to cylinder attachment points, make the cylinder fit the job. Draw some full size plans on big paper. Make the bucket able to tip down almost vertical, and roll back 45 degrees when on the ground. Jim

rick1 · Nov 27, 2015

i am using the factory bucket.i just added a grapple to it to hold logs/brush in the bucket.

showcrop · Nov 27, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:58:29 11/27/15) i am using the factory bucket.i just added a grapple to it to hold logs/brush in the bucket.

Within reason it can be any length. All that matters is how far from the pivot pin you mount it.

Janicholson · Nov 27, 2015

Same answer, you just need to deal with the travel needed to close the tongs, and open them far enough to let go. The base anchor point attached to the bucket may need to be 10 inches behind and 10 inches above the back top edge, The lever attached to the ram end and connected to the grapple is probably going to be pointing slightly downward and attached with the ram fully extended and the grapple closed. Not knowing the real sizes and extended lengths makes giving real number advice impossible. Best of luck. Jim

fixerupper · Nov 27, 2015

I made one maybe 35 years ago or so and it is still in use. The cylinder was the last thing I put in. Made the grapple and pivoted it up and down with the chain hoist, measuring the distances till I came up with a linkage that would fit my cylinder. When the grapple is all the way up you want a fair amount of forward weight yet so it won't go backward over center when you rotate the bucket up fast with the loader way up in the air. It's not rocket science but figuring out the cylinder does take some time.

Mike(NEOhio) · Nov 27, 2015

The linear distance (not the arc)between the open and closed positions of the grapple is the stroke you need. The cylinder bore will dictate the force it develops. The closed length of the cylinder will be the distance for mounting the base end.

armand tatro · Nov 27, 2015

Use a standard 8 inch stroke cylinder and make the geometry of the linkage do the rest. You want off the shelf cylinder that can be easyily replaced when you have cylinder problems. There are computer programs that can take a standard 8 inch stroke cylinder and tell you how to build the linkage and put the drawing into motion you see whether any changes need to be made before you start fabracation. Where are you located?
we are in central Iroquois county in Illinois and may be we can be of help. 815 471 2095 evenings after 7. Armand

Bob · Nov 28, 2015

WOW, I didn't have anything constructive to add to this, but, on the other hand, I've seen/owned/dealt with a LOT of loaders with grapples over the years, and can't remember ever having seen one with an 8" stoke cylinder, mebbee is a regional thing in your area?

Typical grapples have a cylinder with a whole lot more stroke than 8". (In my experience.)

armand tatro · Nov 28, 2015

If an 6 inch stroke cylinder will do the job why do you need a longer stroke cylinder? I have seen 8 inch common farm implement cylinders used as bucket dump cylinders with the proper linkage. when you have a cylinder problem it is nice to be able to have a common cylinder on hand. I also understand that on such uses as backhoes it is not always possible to use a short stroke cylinder. Armand

showcrop · Nov 28, 2015

(quoted from post at 00:01:51 11/28/15) WOW, I didn't have anything constructive to add to this, but, on the other hand, I've seen/owned/dealt with a LOT of loaders with grapples over the years, and can't remember ever having seen one with an 8" stoke cylinder, mebbee is a regional thing in your area?

Typical grapples have a cylinder with a whole lot more stroke than 8". (In my experience.)

But think how fast it could be with a four inch cylinder, LOL.

fixerupper · Nov 28, 2015

I used an 8 inch stroke cylinder on the grapple I made and it worked OK but because of the geometry of using a short stroke cylinder the grapple didn't have as much power as it would have with a longer cylinder. The benefit to a short cylinder is it is faster.

Determined · Nov 28, 2015

(quoted from post at 18:02:04 11/27/15) wondering what the length of stroke of the cylinder you fellows have on your loader bucket grapples.im in the process of building a grapple for my kubota bucket.i have a cylinder i use on other equipment it is 29 inches fully extended from bottom mount to to top mount.seems like one around 18 in would be more desirable.
RICK

Only problem I have run across with a shorter stroke cylinder is
if your geometry is not proper there can be a tremendous amount of leverage applied back to the cylinder.
For example you forward tilt with a load in the bucket and the load catches on something.
Had to redesign one I bought that was set up for round bales, 5-5 1/2 foot bales it handled all day long as soon as you would try to stack/load a 6 foot bale the design of it would allow it to kick over center on the pivot point which would tear up cylinders so bad you would think they were made of plastic.

fixerupper · Nov 28, 2015

Determined you are correct. A longer cylinder is a stronger setup. You don't need a very big diameter cylinder but you do need one with a fairly large rod or ram because of the length.

rick1 · Nov 28, 2015

i have a used 8in stroke cylinder i use around the farm on other pieces of equipment.i think it will work just fine

grapple cylinder

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