Grapple, grapple saw, hydraulic connections?

[Treetopflyer]

If hanging a saw and holding one end of a tree part, that angled manual is an absolute must. It not only keeps the grapple from making contact with the boom, but it also allows for better options to approach a piece that is angled towards the crane.

I’m gonna go as far as saying it helps with slings, too. My crane has an adapter that allows 3 angles of the stinger. I most always use the downward most angle, which is close to 45 degrees.

Yeah brother , there's a thread with a crane like yours , everyone wants more pics, lol ! I'm sure not posting anymore!

 

[oceans]

Yeah brother , there's a thread with a crane like yours , everyone wants more pics, lol ! I'm sure not posting anymore!

What, that little red thing? Haha! I could post some more. Just still sorta hard to wrap my brain around how busy life gets as a father of 2, running a business.

 

[Kottonwood]

Well... I did it... It wasn't easy... Or cheap... But there it is. Gotta bolt up the hose guides and somehow mount the saw to the hook can tomorrow. Already got a couple weeks of work booked.

 

[Steve Connally]

Nice work

 

[Mike H]

Congratulations! Do you have your hourly rate for East Boulder County subcontracting?

 

[Kottonwood]

Congratulations! Do you have your hourly rate for East Boulder County subcontracting?

I am at 225 an hour, less for hauling. I'll pm you my number if you're interested in booking a job.

 

[southsoundtree]

Nice work!

 

[Kottonwood]

Well, here's what I came up with for carrying the saw around. I tried a few different things and I just couldn't get past the silliness of attaching and disconnecting the saw everytime. It really is kind of a pain to do, I don't know about everyone else but I generally have to hammer that pin home and I'd feel a little silly getting paid 225 bucks an hour to thwack on that thing for ten minutes. I will eventually put a small bollard on the door so the grapple can just grab on vs being strapped... It has just been damn windy and I'm tired.... It has been a hell of a task getting this thing going and now I'm booked solid for two weeks. I did my first two jobs today and they went very smooth. Both medium/small sized trees. We were able to do the wood by grappling and cutting with a chainsaw except for the butt picks which I slung from the hook with the grapple still attached. 40 min on the first job 1.5 hours on the second, not too bad.

 

[oceans]

Well, here's what I came up with for carrying the saw around. I tried a few different things and I just couldn't get past the silliness of attaching and disconnecting the saw everytime. It really is kind of a pain to do, I don't know about everyone else but I generally have to hammer that pin home and I'd feel a little silly getting paid 225 bucks an hour to thwack on that thing for ten minutes. I will eventually put a small bollard on the door so the grapple can just grab on vs being strapped... It has just been damn windy and I'm tired.... It has been a hell of a task getting this thing going and now I'm booked solid for two weeks. I did my first two jobs today and they went very smooth. Both medium/small sized trees. We were able to do the wood by grappling and cutting with a chainsaw except for the butt picks which I slung from the hook with the grapple still attached. 40 min on the first job 1.5 hours on the second, not too bad. View attachment 87564View attachment 87565

I suggest to weld a nice bollard onto the door. I’m sure you could improvise something that would fold down and allow the main door to open all the way again the side of the body…if it saves you the time of strapping the grapple down it would be worth it.

 

[Steve Connally]

You should probably find a way to lock down the boom. Theres too much play in the rotator and attachment to use that to keep your boom stable. Lots of torque on your rotation/slewing gears. That boom needs to be locked into place. It's not meant to slide side to side from chassis movement. Its different than a loader boom. You have inner and outer rotation bolts, bearings, gears, motors, teeth. I would not drive my crane lie that personally. Takes me minutes to connect and disconnect without a hammer. Lube the pin!!

 

[Kottonwood]

You should probably find a way to lock down the boom. Theres too much play in the rotator and attachment to use that to keep your boom stable. Lots of torque on your rotation/slewing gears. That boom needs to be locked into place. It's not meant to slide side to side from chassis movement. Its different than a loader boom. You have inner and outer rotation bolts, bearings, gears, motors, teeth. I would not drive my crane lie that personally. Takes me minutes to connect and disconnect without a hammer. Lube the pin!!

The boom sits in a little cradle I made for it. It cannot move once locked in position .

 

[Treetopflyer]

How's it working for you @Kottonwood

 

[Kottonwood]

How's it working for you @Kottonwood

Well, a year later I finally have got around to replying/ updating. The rig has been working out really great. My customers love it and I am booked fairly regularly by word of mouth only. It has been more or less reliable with a few minor breakdowns here and there. Overall, it wad absolutely the right decision to put the saw on. This rig completely paid for itself in the first year. I did come up with a better mounting system pretty much the next day after I showed the last one. The rig was just too tall. With this new system I have to move the hooklift body all the way back and I can easily load and unload the saw. The jib stays connected to the saw. I'm looking forward to another year of productive and profitable work with this machine. Thanks to all who commented to help me get this thing going.

 

[Steve Connally]

Glad its working out for you!!