power rotation or not for Branch manager

evo said:
If money isn't a concern, and the hydro rotate can free spin. Get it. 97% of the time the none rotate isn't a pain in the butt at all. I would rather have a pin or some stop to lock the grapple at 180 and 90 degrees.

I don't think this would help, some way to tip the grapple up would be SWEET! Just drive in to a small tree or shub, pinch then cut.
Click to expand...

The BMG does this... You just have to have skills, if I'm understanding what you mean.

It's a swing and timing move... Pretty easy after some time on the grapple.
 
We bought a vermeer 925tx recently and debated this same idea. At first we were going to buy a Ditch Witch SK800 with the branch’s manager manual rotate. The Vermeer dealer ended up demoing us a 925 which is very comparable to the 800. There were a lot of good thing about the Vermeer over the ditch witch. Higher lift capacity, dual aux hydro circuits, and around 3000 cheaper. We ended up with a Ryan’s grapple with hydro rotate because we already have a Ryan’s on our wacker neusen, vermeer is a dealer and the dual hydros means no electric solenoid because it has two levers for the aux. I could probably get away with the manual rotate but the power one is so nice
 
Branch Manager Grapple Guarantee
If you do not love your BMG I will buy it back and pay all shipping no questions asked - and or credit towards a powered BMG (30 day trial)

What guys do not understand about a locking pin is it cannot handle the leverages created when "pinochio ing" a log. heard many stories of it simply shearing off. would be handy for dozing operations now and then, but will not hold up over time with out kid gloving it . not to mention is it does not feed a chipper for shite.
 
" I’ve never been impressed with the clamshells. Seem like a solution in search of a problem. "

the problem was switching out attachments (mainly the bitch of Hyd couplers)
Best thing ever for stump cleanups is a 4 in 1 bucket, the Clamshells operate somewhat like a 4in1
and no need to take the grapple off. I have had many customers tell me they would buy the BMG just for the clams and stump clean-ups
if you are a stump cleanup company get a 4 in 1. Beware The ones for minis on the market though are tiny - I get them custom built for mucho capacity

Buckets for stump clean-up doze on the lawn, and you will find yourself manual filling them to get them full , that said they are multi-purposed . and you can always use a big bucket for rakings - snow - firewood
 
I got the BMG last year (knock around style).
Had it mastered in about one week.
I feel there is no need for the power rotate version for general tree work. We do a lot of tree removals in my area. It’s excellent for brush and logs.
 
I’m just wondering how many of you guys that are not using the rotation have used one WITH rotation? Because yeah, you can certainly get by without it but man it makes things easier with it. Just makes you look more elegant.:bailando:
 
I have used both, I like the non powered rotation. Less to go wrong also it drops the grapple head height a couple inches which for me automatically makes it a no go. On a mini skid you can spin that head like crazy so you don’t need it. If I was getting a mini articulating loader with the tele than possibly go for powered rotation even then if you can operate it’s unnecessary more to break more to teach new guys and lower height.
Good Luck
 
@tnttree
Dave,
Have you considered putting out a BMG Tips and Tricks video? It would change a lot of people's perceptions about the dangle grapple.

I've figured stuff out that others probably have, but not everyone. Likewise, others have figured out things I haven't, presumably.


Working your way out of a mudhole, without tipping over, I figured out. haha.
 
chiselbit said:
I’m just wondering how many of you guys that are not using the rotation have used one WITH rotation? Because yeah, you can certainly get by without it but man it makes things easier with it. Just makes you look more elegant.:bailando:
Click to expand...

Elegant ? have you ran a knock around grapple?
talking with many guys over the years who are trying to decide powered or non powered
"This is America! of course I want the power"
I believe they have the following myths in their heads
A powered rotator will hold a load -
false - all rotators bleed internally so the unbalanced load will float to gravitys pull
as with the locking pin, if it locked the leverages would tear it or the grapple arms up
Rotators free spin
false - they slowly bleed to gravity when not activated, they will turn but act like a break slipping slowly (think like a brake 90~95% applied)
Powered rotating will give you exact placement when grabbing a load, so your very first experience with these style grapples you will feel more comfortable and gravitate towards the thought that you have to have it, where as the knockaround takes a little more operating time to get it to do what you want, so at first you might get frustrated especially with your buddies watching.
What's hard for 1st timers to understand, you have to actually run the rotator - another switch and lever or 2 levers to work during the forwarding processes. Not a huge deal you will learn how to operate it, the thing you probably won't realize is when forwarding with a knock around, most times, you won't have to operate the switch and levers. During chipping the powered rotator will slow the operation down - because you have to run it - IF the rotator could free spool, then this would not be an issue,

Powered Rotation is more important the heavier the machine you have, these new monster mini "middie" track skids can be so destructive to turf, so exact placement of the grapple will compensate for the less experienced operator.
Hard to argue with some people over the power rotation issue, so I make the BMG with power and it is unique over all my competitors, because of the receiver, 3" bollards, and the optional clam and rake

Tease,
over the years I have gotten some great Ideas to add to the BMG from users - the receiver hitch, bollards, tree pusher, saw scabbards.

there are several other ideas pitched to me by owners, that I believe will work for us professionals. I just hired an engineer to get these add-ons developed - give me till summer, one of these Ideas should be a hit.
 
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All good points but I’ll still take power over non power. Although I do notice the “elegance” more with the mini excavator than the giant. Sometimes it’s hard to get work done with all the people applauding and throwing money at me.
 
As an afterthought: I’m not saying the giant has no elegance, just the opposite. It is an amazing loader. Looking forward to seeing your new ideas Dave
 
southsoundtree said:
@tnttree
Dave,
Have you considered putting out a BMG Tips and Tricks video? It would change a lot of people's perceptions about the dangle grapple.

I've figured stuff out that others probably have, but not everyone. Likewise, others have figured out things I haven't, presumably.


Working your way out of a mudhole, without tipping over,
Click to expand...

tnttree said:
Elegant ? have you ran a knock around grapple?
talking with many guys over the years who are trying to decide powered or non powered
"This is America! of course I want the power"
I believe they have the following myths in their heads
A powered rotator will hold a load -
false - all rotators bleed internally so the unbalanced load will float to gravitys pull
as with the locking pin, if it locked the leverages would tear it or the grapple arms up
Rotators free spin
false - they slowly bleed to gravity when not activated, they will turn but act like a break slipping slowly (think like a brake 90~95% applied)
Powered rotating will give you exact placement when grabbing a load, so your very first experience with these style grapples you will feel more comfortable and gravitate towards the thought that you have to have it, where as the knockaround takes a little more operating time to get it to do what you want, so at first you might get frustrated especially with your buddies watching.
What's hard for 1st timers to understand, you have to actually run the rotator - another switch and lever or 2 levers to work during the forwarding processes. Not a huge deal you will learn how to operate it, the thing you probably won't realize is when forwarding with a knock around, most times, you won't have to operate the switch and levers. During chipping the powered rotator will slow the operation down - because you have to run it - IF the rotator could free spool, then this would not be an issue,

Powered Rotation is more important the heavier the machine you have, these new monster mini "middie" track skids can be so destructive to turf, so exact placement of the grapple will compensate for the less experienced operator.
Hard to argue with some people over the power rotation issue, so I make the BMG with power and it is unique over all my competitors, because of the receiver, 3" bollards, and the optional clam and rake

Tease,
over the years I have gotten some great Ideas to add to the BMG from users - the receiver hitch, bollards, tree pusher, saw scabbards.

there are several other ideas pitched to me by owners, that I believe will work for us professionals. I just hired an engineer to get these add-ons developed - give me till summer, one of these Ideas should be a hit.
Click to expand...
Do you have a tips and tricks video?
Also demo powered vs free spin video?
 
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