Rake’s 3-Pt. Hitch Used To Build Log Grapple

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #6, Page #29

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A Wisconsin farmer came up with his own inexpensive, heavy-duty log grapple that quick-taches to his Bobcat 753G skid loader.
    Kerry Kligora used the 3-pt. hitch frame from a scrapped-out Deutz rotary rake to build the log grapple. He welded angle iron and a steel plate on the 3-pt.’s arched frame to build a quick-tach hitch system.
    “I saved a lot of money and it’s a great log grapple. It’s built strong so it’ll stand up to a lot of tough use,” says Kligora.
    The log grapple has a pair of 3-ft. long curved, movable jaws spaced about 12 in. apart, and 2 fixed shanks. A single 2-in. dia., 12-in. long, 3,000 psi hydraulic cylinder is used to raise or lower the jaws, which swivel up and down on a 1-in. hardened keyed shaft.
    Kligora cut the rake assembly off and shortened it. He made the jaws from 2 1/4-in. steel tubing and bent them to the same curve as the leaf spring from a Chevy 3/4-ton pickup, which he welded to the inside of the arch for strength and spring. The fixed shanks are made from 3 1/2-in. channel iron, bent to a similar curve.
    “A welded-on tip at the end of each jaw provides log gripping power,” says Kligora. “The tip is made from 1/2-in. rebar ground to a point and is supported by the leaf spring assembly. The bushings for the 1-in. hardened keyed shaft that forms the hinge assembly are made from two 1-in. shaft couplers, which were plug-welded into a length of 2-in. square tubing and then tapped for grease zerks.
    “I use it to stockpile logs for firewood and also to cut the logs to size. I’m amazed at how well it works,” says Kligora. “I cut my firewood to 18 in. long and the jaw assembly is only 14 in. wide, so I can use the grapple to hold the log up in the air while cutting. It keeps my saw’s chain off the ground and also saves on my back.”
    The movable shanks can accommodate a 36-in. dia. log; however, most of the logs Kligora handles are 32 in. or less. “I’ve also used my grapple to pick up and place large rocks. However, I have to be careful how I grab the rocks so they don’t slip off the jaws’ rebar points. I plan to make a bolt-on adapter fitted with rubber tire pads so the grapple will do a better job of handling rocks.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kerry Kligora, 2138 CTH E, Mineral Point, Wis. 53565 (ph 608 553-2062; kerry.kligora@gmail.com).

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Rake’s 3-Pt Hitch Used To Build Log Grapple RAKES A Wisconsin farmer came up with his own inexpensive heavy-duty log grapple that quick-taches to his Bobcat 753G skid loader Kerry Kligora used the 3-pt hitch frame from a scrapped-out Deutz rotary rake to build the log grapple He welded angle iron and a steel plate on the 3-pt ’s arched frame to build a quick-tach hitch system “I saved a lot of money and it’s a great log grapple It’s built strong so it’ll stand up to a lot of tough use ” says Kligora The log grapple has a pair of 3-ft long curved movable jaws spaced about 12 in apart and 2 fixed shanks A single 2-in dia 12-in long 3 000 psi hydraulic cylinder is used to raise or lower the jaws which swivel up and down on a 1-in hardened keyed shaft Kligora cut the rake assembly off and shortened it He made the jaws from 2 1/4-in steel tubing and bent them to the same curve as the leaf spring from a Chevy 3/4-ton pickup which he welded to the inside of the arch for strength and spring The fixed shanks are made from 3 1/2-in channel iron bent to a similar curve “A welded-on tip at the end of each jaw provides log gripping power ” says Kligora “The tip is made from 1/2-in rebar ground to a point and is supported by the leaf spring assembly The bushings for the 1-in hardened keyed shaft that forms the hinge assembly are made from two 1-in shaft couplers which were plug-welded into a length of 2-in square tubing and then tapped for grease zerks “I use it to stockpile logs for firewood and also to cut the logs to size I’m amazed at how well it works ” says Kligora “I cut my firewood to 18 in long and the jaw assembly is only 14 in wide so I can use the grapple to hold the log up in the air while cutting It keeps my saw’s chain off the ground and also saves on my back ” The movable shanks can accommodate a 36-in dia log; however most of the logs Kligora handles are 32 in or less “I’ve also used my grapple to pick up and place large rocks However I have to be careful how I grab the rocks so they don’t slip off the jaws’ rebar points I plan to make a bolt-on adapter fitted with rubber tire pads so the grapple will do a better job of handling rocks ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Kerry Kligora 2138 CTH E Mineral Point Wis 53565 ph 608 553-2062; kerry kligora@gmail com

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