log grapple
 

anyone have any ideas how i can make a log grab open and close without using hydralics

Re: log grapple
 

What will you be putting the grapple on? Maybe a cable driven system like a clam bucket on a crane would work?

Re: log grapple
 

it will be on an excavator just dont want to buy another valve

Re: log grapple
 

i made one just using a small srevo work ok but i need to do some reworking on it you should find one with metal gear's cus my plastic did not last long when i was towing the shop's push broom around. what are you looking for it to go on?


http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...PICT0004-1.jpg
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...PICT0007-1.jpg
or this is a cale one i made has more power but should have made the grapple arms thicker and interlock to stop twisting.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...PICT0005-2.jpg

Re: log grapple
 

You could try using a standard servo..Hitech makes a few very strong ones that you could try and hide in the grapple body and use mechanical linkage

Re: log grapple
 

how do you do the likage for it

Re: log grapple
 

i will find some pic's of it when i get home what kind are you looking to do? loader stile or for a skidder? cus they are a little different.

Re: log grapple
 

its for a log loader

Re: log grapple
 

servo would be easy and the size you want a standard servo would work

Re: log grapple
 

yeah im thinking of saving money i have the ram but dont have the funds for another valve

Re: log grapple
 

well do you want it crancked out with a place for a standard servo

Re: log grapple
 

yes that will work :)

Re: log grapple
 

are you shure???? lol

Re: log grapple
 

well it should be big enough to get theservo or the ram in there correct

Re: log grapple
 

but for the linkage thats what is different between the two

Re: log grapple
 

go with the servo

Re: log grapple
 

not sure how much torque you want but hobby city do some heavy servos at good prices http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbyking/s...&ParentCat=189 id avoid the bluebird servos though as ive burned a few of those out on my monster truck steering

Re: log grapple
 

honestly i can say i have never burnned out a servo

Re: log grapple
 

well i have an all steel grapple made but for the size the servo hangs out the back is that ok?

Re: log grapple
 

yeah that is fine you got some pics:)

Re: log grapple
 

well it is finished except for primer i would rather you see the thing all bare so you can check it out linkage is made you may have to shime out the servo 1/8 to 1/4 inch things got tight i did the best i could with it lol and you may have to tweek with the linkage as for the only servo i had only had one side of mounting holes and i have no way of running it off of a remote so your gonna still have some test and tune to do .............Sory guys i'm not in the logging industry i think i'll stick to my dozers and scrapers lol :)

Re: log grapple
 

so you got some pics

Re: log grapple
 

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...tefoxy/079.jpg
http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...tefoxy/078.jpg
http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...tefoxy/077.jpg
http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...tefoxy/076.jpg

Re: log grapple
 

here's the pics, the best I can do

Re: log grapple
 

thats sweet now can you build me another one smaller like the pics you looked at

Re: log grapple
 

to be honest if i build a smaller one your gonna need 2 small cylinders cuz i had a hard time figuring this one out lol took me two days to build this thing if i do do a smaller one it would be like cats design much much simpler i used parts i had and baught the steel .........smaller would be tremendously harder to make it work as for making the steel parts not bad but still hard if you want call me 260 273 5859

Re: log grapple
 

that one is fine but i need another for another build and i want it like the cat design and i want to put the ram just one in the middle like there design:)

Re: log grapple
 

also do you think you can do it out of alluminum or thin steel also need a log loader crane for a fowarder

Re: log grapple
 

im going to build the john deer 810d so need a crane for that:)

Re: log grapple
 

lol you outta my league i don't know what a forwarder even is lol aluminum is out for me maybe thin steel and the design i was looking at with cat they had two cylinders like i said smaller /thinner would be harder on this one i built might change out the 4 washers for one O ring tak out a lil of the play

Re: log grapple
 

right now i am still tryin to get my scraper and the two D 7 's built and done lol let me get some of this stuff off my bench and movin lol then i might build some different things

Re: log grapple
 

the crane is simple i just want the arms built but i dont have a welder to make anything if you look up the deer 810 you will see what it is also pm me your addy to send pump also on the other grab i want the 2 grab arms on each side to get some width to it thanks neil:)

Re: log grapple
 

well i hope you like it when you receive it this week like i said you may have to do some tweeking to get it to work smoothly like i said i had no way to really try it out so all i can say is have fun and good luck

Re: log grapple
 

no offense guys , but this should be taking place via PM

Re: log grapple
 

sorry:o

Re: log grapple
 

Here's a picture of an old grapple that uses a single cylinder that has the barrel anchored to the legs and the rod anchored to the head. the hydraulic oil is pumped through oil galleries in the rod (those were fun to drill).
On a model the cylinder could be replaced with a screw drive to achieve the same effect with plenty of holding power.
The grapple was built by Chapman industries but didn't fair well because the rod was weak.
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...20rotating.jpg