Grapple installationThis is a featured page

This is an American Solutions grapple on a BX23.
The grapple has changed a little but this installation should be
very similar for any tractor.
The first thing to do is lay out where the side plates go on the bucket. They should be square with the bottom of the bucket side plates so its best to put the bucket to the dump position and use a framing square, measure up from the floor then over from the bottom of the bucket. One hole will actually be outside the bucket and under the top lip.
measuringmeasuring
linedrawing
While you have it in the dump position you can drill the quick disconnect bracket hole in the top right(as if you were sitting in the seat) plug weld where the bucket cylinder is mounted.
plug weld holeOnce you have the side plate placement laid out clamp them down and use the full size drill bit to mark them then drill a pilot hole maybe 1/4 inch or a little smaller in the dimple left by the full size bit, this makes it much easier to drill with the full size bit.

sideplate clamped in place

Bolt the side plates on putting the head of the lower bolt inside the bucket and the upper bolt head outside. This will give best protection of the threads.
Grapple installation - BXTractors.info: The Kubota BX Wiki
Remove the loader to get better access to the hydraulic lines behind the loader cross and bolt the quick disconnect bracket in place. Set the grapple on by placing the hooks over the pins.

Grapple installation - BXTractors.info: The Kubota BX WikiQD bracket
Put the valve assembly in place on the left side of the loader cross bar and install the hose clamps.
valve assyvalve assy



Hook up the lines. The valves are numbered and Kubota color codes the lines
lines

The double hose clamp bracket should to be placed at the rod end edge of the cylinder.
The
clamp bracket
I put some 3/8 fuel line split down one side at the points where the lines would rest on edges
Jeff has since told me that he intended for the lines to go under the cylinder. (That's why the bracket is in the middle on this installation, it's working fine so I haven't changed it).
rub guard

Run the wire along the hydraulic lines back to the quick disconnect and fasten it with zip ties.
wire runwire run
If you don't want to cut the zip tie on the woven cover and you don't want to zip tie to the outside you can tape the wire to a piece of rod and pull it through
wire run hyd cover

The switch fits well on the dashboard.
dash switch

Or you can put it on the left floorboard
floor switch

Or you can use a single pole single throw momentary on switch on the loader control.
handle switch

Hook it to the battery with terminals and an in-line fuse and secure the wires out of the way.
battery compartment

You can run the wire through the existing hole for the wiring harness.
Grapple installation - BXTractors.info: The Kubota BX Wiki

And back along the hydraulic lines that go to the loader valve.
It's hard to tell the wire from the hydraulic lines but the wire is a little smaller.
wire run

Put the loader back on and put the wires together with weather resistant spade connectors.. Leave a little slack so you have room to pull them up a little and get a good grip on them. Make sure don't have enough slack to hang down and get caught on anything.
Start the tractor, hold down the button and move the loader handle to the right to close the grapple and the grapple cross bar will rotate down into place and then you can install the pins.
Grapple installation - BXTractors.info: The Kubota BX Wiki






apmillard
apmillard
Latest page update: made by apmillard , Nov 29 2007, 12:50 PM EST (about this update About This Update apmillard Fixed some typos. - apmillard

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