No Hydraulics Grapple

No hydraulics grapple TRACTORS Loaders 15-4-29 A Texas farmer who wasn't happy with conventional hydraulic-operated grapple forks has come up with a new design that's operated by a mechanical linkage to the bucket. Keith Lamb, who farms near Gruver, says his bucket could be built and sold "for about the cost of the hydraulics needed to run most conventional grapple forks. It bolts to the lip of the bucket and is anchored to the arms of the loader. When you tip the bucket down, the grapple opens up. When you tilt the bucket back up, the grapple closes. It's very efficient and works well whether the bucket is raised all the way up or at ground level," says Lamb. The grapple can be adapted to any loader with hydraulic tilt. It works great for hauling round bales but, unlike conventional forks, Lamb says it doesn't get in the way of using the loader for other jobs. When the bucket is level and running at ground level, the grapple clears the ground by 2 ft. so there's plenty of clearance for scooping dirt or manure. However, by simply pulling a pin you can fold the forks back against the loader arms so they're completely out of the way. Or you can remove the entire grapple assembly in about 5 min. "There's nothing else like it on the market," says Lamb, who's applied for a patent on the new bucket forks. He's prepared to build the grapple for sale but would like to find a manufacturer to take overproduction. He's already made units for neighbors. They sell for $750 to $1,000, depending on bucket size. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Keith Lamb, Box 340, Gruver, Tex. 79040 (ph 806 733-2893).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.