Junk Yard Dog

Allan in NE · Aug 19, 2015

I go thru grapple heads like others change socks.

If I'm not stacking hay, I'm feeding it, so they get a lot of hard use every day.

Salvage yard dinged me $750 for this one. Needs a couple of teeth and one tine brace. Let's see how long this one lasts. :>)

Allan

Brown Swiss · Aug 19, 2015

It looks nice to have, but wouldn't a bale spear work for you? It would lighten the front of the tractor by a few hundred pounds! Nice pic, was just wondering.

Tx Jim · Aug 19, 2015

Ditto what Brown Swiss stated. I've handled 1000's of rd bales with the same double spear setup and it only cost $450 SSQA ready when it was new.

Allan in NE · Aug 19, 2015

Just not practical. Ever try to pick up a broken bale with a spear or grab one sideways?

'Sides, I raise alfalfa. Doubt if a spear would last 20 minutes with these bales. They're heavy.

Allan

Bryce Frazier · Aug 19, 2015

Man alive.... That looks JUST like the grapple on my old Farmhand loader?!!? I am planning on putting it on my backhoe!!

Fordfarmer · Aug 19, 2015

They don't do well with broken bales, and only somewhat better sticking them from the side, but the WILL hold up to heavy bales. I've moved 1000's of high moisture bales with mine. Any of the good ones will have forged tines, typically rated at 2200# - 2500# each.

Allan in NE · Aug 19, 2015

Well, I don't make the ton bales like a lot of guys do, but they are big enough that ya better have a good hold when you to throwin' 'em around.

Allan

Bobl1958 · Aug 19, 2015

I know a person wants to run what he is comfortable with, but with the bucket off and the forks on, you will bring the bale closer to the front of the tractor, making less wear on the front end with those heavy bales.

I've handled thousands of heavy alfalfa bales with two spears, the factory ones, and have never had a single problem. But again, sometimes it's what you are comfortable with. Bob

rrlund · Aug 19, 2015

Ever thought about going to something like this? You can raise it up then tilt the bale down so it's being carried down under the loader,right close to the grille and front axle. It's a whole bunch easier on spindles and you don't have so much trouble with traction either.

Tom-NoCenTX · Aug 19, 2015

RRlund,
Does that grapple pivot, so as to hold the bale in a horizontal rather than vertical mode. Like how did you stack the 3rd or top tier in the photo? Thanks, Tom

rrlund · Aug 19, 2015

It's in the up position in the picture like when the bucket is tipped up. It tilts all the way down like dumping the bucket. To stack the top row,I just squeeze the bale from the outside with it sitting just like it's stacked. I can grab them in any direction. It even works nice for cleaning out a feeder. Just open it up,tip it down,use a little down pressure,keep squeezing and raising,working down around the loose stuff and you can lift a whole wad of loose hay out then dump it in the barn for bedding or whatever.

Lazy WP · Aug 19, 2015

I need one of your old ones!!! I have a DUAL grapple on my Farmhand loader.

cjunrau · Aug 19, 2015

The good forks Will out last anything that tractor can lift. I lift 2 1500lbs bales at atime,1 fork in each bale and have yet to break one. is true a grapple can handle broken bales and a fork can't. But with a fork from the end you will almost never break a bale. We load from the side, 2 bales at a time on the semi(pipe style), and spear in at a bit of a down angle with no problems. I have used grapple and forks and will only go back to grapple in winter when I have to push snow as well. Once you get used to forks it is way faster and you don't break the bales when one slides out of the grapple.
just my $.02

fixerupper · Aug 19, 2015

If you don't have a quick attach bucket the grapple claw is the easier way out. In my meager opinion a loader isn't fully functional if it doesn't have grapple claw capabilities.

wi_buff_farmer · Aug 20, 2015

Are them 5x6 allan? them suckers are huge!!! What is your farthest haul in to the farm 20 miles with the tractor and bale trailer?

Junk Yard Dog

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

Brown Swiss

Well-known Member

Tx Jim

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

Bryce Frazier

Well-known Member

Fordfarmer

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

Bobl1958

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Tom-NoCenTX

Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Lazy WP

Well-known Member

cjunrau

Well-known Member

fixerupper

Well-known Member

wi_buff_farmer

Member

Similar threads