How to become a pro

So as to the hydraulic connections, I'm still having trouble with the one connector. I even used a punch and hammer to release the pressure in the lines by opening the connectors but it was still giving me problems. I just found a way to make it easy enough that I can connect them one handed, where as before I was leaning into it with my whole body.
When I turn my ignition to on (but not running) I pushed the auxiliary lever to the "open" position for the grapple. The female connector on the grapple then connects with no issues. Before I was cycling the lever back and forth with the machine off and then returning it to the off position before I made the connections.
 
I usually stand on my tracks so I can a easily move my grapple control valve (aux) work one hand, and the quick connect with my other hand, engine off.
 
Another "trick" that I discovered

I found the other day when loading logs into a 42' deck height, that after raising the one end up into the bed I could get a better grip on the end on the ground if I placed the grapple on the log with the tongs open and backed up with a down pressure on the loader arms. This changed the angle of the grapple from straight up and down to squared with the log for a better grip when I closed the tongs.
 
Yep.

I think that often from that position, you can pinch it well enough, as you are most frequently going to lift it straight up and in.

When you are going for upper rows, this will help a lot.

When I have to push my whole grapple into the truck to push a short log to the back, its useful to grab the side of the loader plate, to lock the grapple in place, so it doesn't dangle.

Alternatively, grabbing a 4-5' log that is grabbed near the operator end, making the butt want to be at the loader plate when lifted, makes a good pusher for short logs, at various heights.
Looks a bit like a battering ram.


I've never tried using a stout, but thin enough log as a pushing pole to reach up to say, 20' with a 15' log. A lot more leverage for felling. The battering ram image made me think of this, just now.

So simple, really, with solid purchase.



Being that I'm in a doug-fir dominated landscape, I imaging cutting the but just below a whole of branches, to have the branch stubs as some side to side stabilization against the heel plate, and having the top end of the log having a similar branch stub 'star' for getting a good grip for pushing. I'll try it and take a picture.
 
southsoundtree said:
Yep.

I think that often from that position, you can pinch it well enough, as you are most frequently going to lift it straight up and in.

When you are going for upper rows, this will help a lot.

When I have to push my whole grapple into the truck to push a short log to the back, its useful to grab the side of the loader plate, to lock the grapple in place, so it doesn't dangle.

Alternatively, grabbing a 4-5' log that is grabbed near the operator end, making the butt want to be at the loader plate when lifted, makes a good pusher for short logs, at various heights.
Looks a bit like a battering ram.


I've never tried using a stout, but thin enough log as a pushing pole to reach up to say, 20' with a 15' log. A lot more leverage for felling. The battering ram image made me think of this, just now.

So simple, really, with solid purchase.



Being that I'm in a doug-fir dominated landscape, I imaging cutting the but just below a whole of branches, to have the branch stubs as some side to side stabilization against the heel plate, and having the top end of the log having a similar branch stub 'star' for getting a good grip for pushing. I'll try it and take a picture.
Click to expand...
We made a spiked plate to fit on the end of a k-boom pull out jib just for this application. Worked a treat! Had to be careful and gentle as a k-boom is obviously designed not to be a battering ram.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom