The key to the skinny grapple is keeping it low when opening and closing it. The first skidder I operated was a early 90s Franklin. The grapple did not lock when you closed it and you had to reach back on the lever to keep the grapple closed. If you weren’t paying attention your wood would be scattered all over the place.
I actually like both grapples, but I’m currently using a TigerCat. Even though the TigerCat grapple doesn’t close as tight as the JD, I have figured out how grab the smaller pieces of wood without them slipping off. Sometimes you have to find ways to work with you got right? We mat with logs, so in my opinion, it’s easier for me to mat with the TigerCat grapple because it fits better in between the logs when I’m trying to move them around.
Another great video Thomas explaining different details about each grapple but I’m like you I prefer the tiger cat grapple but each operator to his own so y’all stay safe brother and keep the videos coming
You could probably just stack some weld beads to make DIY teeth for the box grapple. Could ether go along the edge where it normally grabs or space em out on the inside of the box. How said teeth would effect production is up in the air, if your already used to the box grapple, probably be minimal at best. How long said teeth would survive would be another question. but welding rod is cheap last I looked.
Great video. Thank you for doing this video and asking your crew. What is Mickey's preference? Have you ever been around cable skidders? Which one is the best? Only skidder I got to operate was a JD 540 G2. I have looked at a Tigercat 610E that was on the job also. I like the grapple on the tigercat also but you definitely can not do stupid stuff or you will definitely bust the tire quick. I like the part where you said you don't have to work on tigercat grapple as much as the JD grapple. Are you planning to weld on the JD 748L2 grapple for more grip?
Which machine is easier to replace/repair parts on, the Tigercat or the John Deere? Which machines parts last longer, the Tigercat or the John Deere? As an A&P Mechanic/Aircraft Mechanic some aircraft parts are a nightmare to work on or replace especially when it's 106 degrees F. with high humidity like it was here in San Antonio, TX 2 days ago July 13th, 2020 & the past 5 days in a row have been at least 100F or better. Thanks for sharing, I hope the new JD Skidder holds up real good & hardly ever needs repairs. Be safe out there.
It really just depends on what you’re working on. Different parts on either machine can be simple or very difficult to work on. They both have pros and cons.
Really doesn't matter to myself, as we have cat and deere skidded, but neither can compare to the pulling power or snagging tires. We took a low hour cat CAT D8L dozer and had jewel manufacturing just outside Portland oregon, and took the ripper assembly off and they manufactured and made a single arch grapple for it. And wood up to 24-30 inch through can grab tree length enough to make a truck load very easily, and it will pull that wood like its nothing and the ride is not bad with all the bottom track rollers bodies. It can yard enough wood in a day that the unit of timber can get yarded up pretty fast. And yes, it can work on some fairly steep ground, but that's why we use it on most of our sides..With the bonus of being able to also build any side roads or plain just build the whole road with it.
Glad to know there’s something good about the JD grapple. As an owner, I hate the JD box grapple because of the$ I have spent welding the inside plates. I don’t really know y they do not remedy that situation. I think it’s very poor of them not to realize it needs fixing. We have to do them a least once a year. I learned on my own to put gussets inside the hollow tubing to help but still wear down on the plates. They’ve been using these grapples a long time and continue. I almost didn’t buy the last skidder because of this. Poor, just poor. Please enlighten me why they continue not to fix this issue! Thks Ac
The new ones have a different design than the old H models. We didn’t have to weld the plates over the 8000 hours we had the other one. It was fixing to need some work though but way better than rebuilding every 2000 hours.
I've run both TC and JD L series and H series skidders... for grapple strength and holding the wood I prefer the TC... but the JD skidder is more comfortable for the operator. But like you said both skidders are different and have different qualities. When you run one for a while you adapt to the skidder capabilities and learn different techniques for each machine. For example if you are picking up a single in a TC if you use the belly of the machine and are gentle you can pick up singles... or just use the next pack (drag) to pick a single.
sthomson987 I bobtail strays all the time. Cut down man is always gonna have one tree thrown far back in the drag and inevitably it’ll be laying out staring you in the face on the way back 😂
I ran a 450 lumberjack with the esco tong grapple it was a nightmare to use I've never run tigercat but I think the JD grapple works pretty good I've got uncle's that cut timber and their opinion is if it ain't JD it ain't worth having
Good vid, used to run a john Deere with a sorting grapple on it ( like your tigercat grapple ) and it was very nimble to use because I used to actually sort timber out with it on the road. As you say you need to have them closed when moving about or tires are vulnerable, but that’s operator error, good grapples 👍
Hi, speaking as a certified welder/fabricator, you can improve on the John Deere box grapple. Simply by skip welding Ni-rod on the inside of the grapple curve and top box edges that are worn smooth and round, as you pointed to on the video. It'll give the grapple more grip and prevent wear. This welding would be similar to the welding that they do on earth moving equipment to prevent wear. I enjoy your videos, good luck, be safe! PS, I would also think about welding on replaceable bucket teeth on all the grapple points to prevent damage and expedite repairs.
Why not put hard face weld on the Johns grapple arms in a diamond or square pattern from the start so they don’t wear out? And it would bit into the wood better as well. I’m shure the cost and time to weld them up would definitely outweigh the down time to repair or the cost of new arms in the long run.
On another thought not about the grapples;;; Somebody enlighten me on this thought. I had a 748 and a 620D on the job. I liked both. The tigercat was tough as aLighter knot. The JD ran smoother for my operator. My complaint on the TC was you could see the fuel hand moving toward E by sight. What do guys that ran both feel about this?? Idk. Just what we found out
I noticed on one of your videos your worker was having a hard time greasing that main pin for your track cutter, you can buy them lock and lube grease fitting quick connect for your grease gun, they are expensive but you can put them on a old wore out grease fitting and it will take almost every time! Like I say little pricey but a good simple investment that makes life easier.
I prefer the comfort on a Deere armrest, seat adjustments, cup holder. A lot less tired after a 10-12 hour day on a Deere pulling the same amount of wood.
@@loganfreeman7049 Appreciate that. I have zero experience on a skidder and always wanted to try one out. I'm a finish operator (final grade) and my experience is operating dozers, graders, and trackhoes
Dozing 'N Sloping my grandfather owns a logging company been out there for years. Imagine running a dozer or Trackhoe that is a little stronger or faster but the seat hurts your back. Which would you prefer
I'm I guess North Central Louisiana and sometimes you are thankful there is so much brush that u can build a mat to walk on. Yopon from hell But yall do a good job. I came off of a 545 D to a 630 E. Love the turnaround seat, solid hydraulics, it's a hoss. 545 beat me to death with a standard seat. I like the tongs on the tigercat but yes they no good for tires. Ole boy was right about turning the other grapples sideways and getting smaller wood. But on the other hand tigercat I think well know it closes on smaller trees versus the CAT
I have never ran any of them before but I think tigercat grapple is probably better, I know you can get 19ft grapple on tigercat 630 and up can you get it on the 620? Or have y all ever asked if it’s possible to get 19ft on 620 for y all’s operation
If you took a 2in square tube ¼in thick and plasma cutter and marked out teeth into the tube you would be able to make 2 set's of teeth out of 1 piece of tube. You would have 1 for for each grapple and welded in it would keep the tree's from slipping while dragging them out. Your only talking $80 in steel and maybe 2 hour's of labor/welding it to the machine. It would be worth trying since it's pretty cheap and it truly couldn't hurt anything on the grapple's
As an owner there are clear Certain mistakes an operator cannot make. When we had cable skidders, you couldn’t bend or kink a sling. On a track cutter you can’t let the saw get into the tracks. Driving a truck you can’t pull out in front of traffic. On a skidder you can not let the tongs get a tire. I know it happens. Just have to really pay attention. Sometimes we just get in too big a hurry I guess
@@reverandhale863 I've got bout 10 years skid under my belt, 10 years bunching, but ya I've cought a chain before, also don't close all the way,just till tongs touch each other basically, won't swing around all crazy cuz the grapple is longer , not wider, it's better on that swing knuckle, more efficient because it's half open but not enough to snag chains or stab a tire, skid on bud
The key to the skinny grapple is keeping it low when opening and closing it. The first skidder I operated was a early 90s Franklin. The grapple did not lock when you closed it and you had to reach back on the lever to keep the grapple closed. If you weren’t paying attention your wood would be scattered all over the place.
I actually like both grapples, but I’m currently using a TigerCat. Even though the TigerCat grapple doesn’t close as tight as the JD, I have figured out how grab the smaller pieces of wood without them slipping off. Sometimes you have to find ways to work with you got right? We mat with logs, so in my opinion, it’s easier for me to mat with the TigerCat grapple because it fits better in between the logs when I’m trying to move them around.
Another great video Thomas explaining different details about each grapple but I’m like you I prefer the tiger cat grapple but each operator to his own so y’all stay safe brother and keep the videos coming
Hope things r better than good for you Tim! AC
You do the best videos!!! I like the Tigercat grapples better also!
You could probably just stack some weld beads to make DIY teeth for the box grapple. Could ether go along the edge where it normally grabs or space em out on the inside of the box.
How said teeth would effect production is up in the air, if your already used to the box grapple, probably be minimal at best. How long said teeth would survive would be another question. but welding rod is cheap last I looked.
Great video. Thanks for all you do. Congratulations on 7k.
Thanks!
How bout it Allen. Hope you are better than good!!
@@CuttingEdgeLogging_Thomas you’re logging TH-cam channel is so awesome I like it 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
Great video. Thank you for doing this video and asking your crew. What is Mickey's preference? Have you ever been around cable skidders? Which one is the best? Only skidder I got to operate was a JD 540 G2. I have looked at a Tigercat 610E that was on the job also. I like the grapple on the tigercat also but you definitely can not do stupid stuff or you will definitely bust the tire quick. I like the part where you said you don't have to work on tigercat grapple as much as the JD grapple. Are you planning to weld on the JD 748L2 grapple for more grip?
Which machine is easier to replace/repair parts on, the Tigercat or the John Deere? Which machines parts last longer, the Tigercat or the John Deere? As an A&P Mechanic/Aircraft Mechanic some aircraft parts are a nightmare to work on or replace especially when it's 106 degrees F. with high humidity like it was here in San Antonio, TX 2 days ago July 13th, 2020 & the past 5 days in a row have been at least 100F or better. Thanks for sharing, I hope the new JD Skidder holds up real good & hardly ever needs repairs. Be safe out there.
It really just depends on what you’re working on. Different parts on either machine can be simple or very difficult to work on. They both have pros and cons.
I Like The Way You Compare Your Equipment!! Great Video!!!💯👍🏻💯❤️
I like the box tongs myself. Spreading tops out you want the boxes.
Really doesn't matter to myself, as we have cat and deere skidded, but neither can compare to the pulling power or snagging tires. We took a low hour cat CAT D8L dozer and had jewel manufacturing just outside Portland oregon, and took the ripper assembly off and they manufactured and made a single arch grapple for it. And wood up to 24-30 inch through can grab tree length enough to make a truck load very easily, and it will pull that wood like its nothing and the ride is not bad with all the bottom track rollers bodies. It can yard enough wood in a day that the unit of timber can get yarded up pretty fast. And yes, it can work on some fairly steep ground, but that's why we use it on most of our sides..With the bonus of being able to also build any side roads or plain just build the whole road with it.
I grew up in coos bay Oregon and have seen these things on real.steep ground.
Really hard 2 pick a fav. I like both skidder 😍
Glad to know there’s something good about the JD grapple. As an owner, I hate the JD box grapple because of the$ I have spent welding the inside plates. I don’t really know y they do not remedy that situation. I think it’s very poor of them not to realize it needs fixing. We have to do them a least once a year. I learned on my own to put gussets inside the hollow tubing to help but still wear down on the plates. They’ve been using these grapples a long time and continue. I almost didn’t buy the last skidder because of this. Poor, just poor. Please enlighten me why they continue not to fix this issue! Thks Ac
The new ones have a different design than the old H models. We didn’t have to weld the plates over the 8000 hours we had the other one. It was fixing to need some work though but way better than rebuilding every 2000 hours.
I've run both TC and JD L series and H series skidders... for grapple strength and holding the wood I prefer the TC... but the JD skidder is more comfortable for the operator.
But like you said both skidders are different and have different qualities. When you run one for a while you adapt to the skidder capabilities and learn different techniques for each machine.
For example if you are picking up a single in a TC if you use the belly of the machine and are gentle you can pick up singles... or just use the next pack (drag) to pick a single.
sthomson987 I bobtail strays all the time. Cut down man is always gonna have one tree thrown far back in the drag and inevitably it’ll be laying out staring you in the face on the way back 😂
I ran a 450 lumberjack with the esco tong grapple it was a nightmare to use I've never run tigercat but I think the JD grapple works pretty good I've got uncle's that cut timber and their opinion is if it ain't JD it ain't worth having
Good vid, used to run a john Deere with a sorting grapple on it ( like your tigercat grapple ) and it was very nimble to use because I used to actually sort timber out with it on the road. As you say you need to have them closed when moving about or tires are vulnerable, but that’s operator error, good grapples 👍
Why does the usa harvest such small trees? Is your production market mainly small scale farm lots?
My application is a pulpwood based operation
Just curious does jd release repair code software on forestry equipment or is it proprietary like our farm equipment?
We don’t have access to the software
When are you gonna sale some merchandise?
Not sure lol...I want to though
Hi, speaking as a certified welder/fabricator, you can improve on the John Deere box grapple. Simply by skip welding Ni-rod on the inside of the grapple curve and top box edges that are worn smooth and round, as you pointed to on the video. It'll give the grapple more grip and prevent wear. This welding would be similar to the welding that they do on earth moving equipment to prevent wear. I enjoy your videos, good luck, be safe!
PS, I would also think about welding on replaceable bucket teeth on all the grapple points to prevent damage and expedite repairs.
Why not put hard face weld on the Johns grapple arms in a diamond or square pattern from the start so they don’t wear out? And it would bit into the wood better as well. I’m shure the cost and time to weld them up would definitely outweigh the down time to repair or the cost of new arms in the long run.
i run a 90 model 518 cat skidder it dosnt have either of those grapples it have a skinng one like the tongs on the tiger cats
You have the old Escco grapple
If I had to pick a favorite it would be the tigercat grapple 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Tigercat all the way
Which has more power the Tiger Cat or the John Deere.
Deere hands down...but my Tigercat is getting old although it does have a new motor. I’d still like to compare new to new lol
I use to operate a 648 jd, my boss got me a 620 tigercat, my opinion the tigercat will run circle round the jd
How many hours did you have deere and the tigercat?
@@rgjellybean661 HD had 5000 hrs tigercat is brand new only 151 hrs on it
@@rgjellybean661 jd is a awesome skidder but in pine thinning like we do, tigercat has way out performed the jd,
@@rgjellybean661 .lll
John Deere much faster, but how fast do you want to bounce over stumps?
Thomas I was told the new L-ll skidder has a longer arch up top. But yeah this new style grapples will peel the edges off moving the loader.
Not sure, I’d have to pull a tape on it to be sure
On another thought not about the grapples;;; Somebody enlighten me on this thought. I had a 748 and a 620D on the job. I liked both. The tigercat was tough as aLighter knot. The JD ran smoother for my operator. My complaint on the TC was you could see the fuel hand moving toward E by sight. What do guys that ran both feel about this?? Idk. Just what we found out
That’s how our bogey Skidders were but they didn’t have but a 80 gallon tank if I remember right
I see it didnt take you long to change the tires on the new skidder.
Great videos Thomas
I like the tigercat grapple cause its like the old esco grapple
Who do u think make a better skidder overall John Deere or Tigercat
They equally good brand new
And how your operator said with jd grapple he can turn it sideways and grab one piece of wood that cause the main pin cap to break,happen to me Twice
Huh
Good talk about grapple like tigerct
why run different size tires?
I have a few recent videos covering it, should be able to search it if you like
I like the look an design of the old timber Jack grappel
Awesome,..20 years ago
Was it poncho fletcher that snaged the tire?
No, I got him off my Skidder before he could do that....that cat was wild lol
Great video as always.
Honesty I like the Deere better I run a Cat and I love the Deere grapples if I had a TigerCat I would probably put a brand new Deere grapple on it
That thing is like a Pit Bull's Jaws. They Grab Hold & Don't Let Go!
Need to grab a log on one side the JD on the other side of the log the TC see witch grapple will hold in a pull
I noticed on one of your videos your worker was having a hard time greasing that main pin for your track cutter, you can buy them lock and lube grease fitting quick connect for your grease gun, they are expensive but you can put them on a old wore out grease fitting and it will take almost every time! Like I say little pricey but a good simple investment that makes life easier.
We have 3 guns with lock and lube on them. Great products.
I like the skinny tongs... the old Franklins i ran a lot had them
Thanks for watching
Which skidder has the better turn around drive system if that makes any sense lol
I prefer the comfort on a Deere armrest, seat adjustments, cup holder.
A lot less tired after a 10-12 hour day on a Deere pulling the same amount of wood.
@@loganfreeman7049 Appreciate that. I have zero experience on a skidder and always wanted to try one out. I'm a finish operator (final grade) and my experience is operating dozers, graders, and trackhoes
Dozing 'N Sloping my grandfather owns a logging company been out there for years. Imagine running a dozer or Trackhoe that is a little stronger or faster but the seat hurts your back. Which would you prefer
@@loganfreeman7049 In my experience they all hurt your back lol
I’ll do a video on it!
Great video from New Zealand 😀
Are y’all on quota in la?
Yes....super tight
What tiers you like to run?
Cheap ones that last 😂
#TigercatGrapple 💪🏾💪🏾👌🏾👌🏾less trash when grabbing wood
That's just the operator dude, but ya tigercat!
Your starting to sound like Dirt Perfect having such a backlog of videos
That why I teach my guys to always run with the tongs shut after you drop your drag.
I’d Choose tiger cat over a John Deere any day
Hey Thomas, who you voting for in November?
Dont do political stuff here lol
At 13 minutes look at the duck blind caught up in that drag. 😂
Welcome to south central Louisiana logging. We grow more bushes than pine trees
Shear hand should maybe plan for clearer spots to build a drag. Trash over here and drag goes here
You obviously have never been here
I'm I guess North Central Louisiana and sometimes you are thankful there is so much brush that u can build a mat to walk on. Yopon from hell
But yall do a good job. I came off of a 545 D to a 630 E. Love the turnaround seat, solid hydraulics, it's a hoss. 545 beat me to death with a standard seat. I like the tongs on the tigercat but yes they no good for tires. Ole boy was right about turning the other grapples sideways and getting smaller wood. But on the other hand tigercat I think well know it closes on smaller trees versus the CAT
The tigercat grapple looks like it is built (modeled) after the timberjack grapple
I remember when I first subscribed their was only 4.5 thousand subscribers and now their is over 7,000
It’s definitely growing
The Skinny Grapple The Best. I Use To Run A Skidder.
Like to see a Tug of war between the two
The only tiger cat skidder i ran was a 6 wheel and it would hold and pull out half the forest with it lol
That’s right!
I have never ran any of them before but I think tigercat grapple is probably better, I know you can get 19ft grapple on tigercat 630 and up can you get it on the 620? Or have y all ever asked if it’s possible to get 19ft on 620 for y all’s operation
You can get a 19’ if you wanted one. We bought this one second hand so we had to take what it had lol
The John Deere skidder grapple will hold a lot more wood, meaning you’ll get more wood out the woods!
Tigercat grapples hold the same if it’s the same size as Deere
Right! It's the operator dude
If you took a 2in square tube ¼in thick and plasma cutter and marked out teeth into the tube you would be able to make 2 set's of teeth out of 1 piece of tube. You would have 1 for for each grapple and welded in it would keep the tree's from slipping while dragging them out. Your only talking $80 in steel and maybe 2 hour's of labor/welding it to the machine. It would be worth trying since it's pretty cheap and it truly couldn't hurt anything on the grapple's
I’ll do a video on how that won’t be a good idea
As an owner there are clear Certain mistakes an operator cannot make. When we had cable skidders, you couldn’t bend or kink a sling. On a track cutter you can’t let the saw get into the tracks. Driving a truck you can’t pull out in front of traffic. On a skidder you can not let the tongs get a tire. I know it happens. Just have to really pay attention. Sometimes we just get in too big a hurry I guess
Deeres are nice... some of the older cats I didn't like... seemed like the Franklin's and deeres pulled better and cats pushed better
10-4! Thanks for watching
I've always been told to close my grapple while I'm driving without trees
Ya so it don't snag ur chains or stab a tire.. how long u been skiddn?
@@MMikeHD3904 I haven't done it much, probably 100hrs or so
@@reverandhale863 I've got bout 10 years skid under my belt, 10 years bunching, but ya I've cought a chain before, also don't close all the way,just till tongs touch each other basically, won't swing around all crazy cuz the grapple is longer , not wider, it's better on that swing knuckle, more efficient because it's half open but not enough to snag chains or stab a tire, skid on bud
@@MMikeHD3904 oh yeah I agree, just tell the tips touch not tucked all the way in
Yep u bet
Strange first time I've ever seen Duals all around or on any Skidder Axle , Simply looks like Overkill to me.
Yea, we like throwing money away for no good reasons.
Floatation is not a waste of time and money. If they are using them there is a reason.
AWWWWWWWWWWW OMGG CUTTEEE!
😂😂😂
The jd box grapple will peel, they are hollow
The new ones aren’t as bad as the old ones. But yea the old ones were horrible about that
i run a 748L-ll john deere and i like to better
Nothing more confusing than the numbers 1,10, and 12. Also the days of the week like Monday, and Friday, so confusing.
Huh
Tigercat is a beast
I mean we just call it a pre load here
Cat makes the best grapple
I bet you like the tongs better , sometime when you make something right, it's no need to change it
Go John Deere Go
👍👍🚛💨💨💨
I live n cat country we all love cats why no cats on ur job
Worst machine ever to hit the woods
🚬📻💖
John Deere
le monsieur qui parle beaucoup faudrait voir a maigrir un peu
Not sure what you said but thanks for watching
bla bla bla,,,
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment