Welcome to our informational web pages
This is a shared collection of pictures and information for our New Holland TC-40D SS tractor
Links to our other informational pages include

Our TC-40D-SS New Holland tractor
Adding front hydraulics to a TC-40D-SS
Building a bucket grapple for a TC-40D-SS
Adding a snowplow to a TC-40D-SS
Building a dolly for a 757C New Holland backhoe
Building a boom sprayer with foam marker
Dealing with wheel weights on a TC-40D-SS
Adding a larger toolbox to a TC-40D-SS
Removing 17LA loader on a TC-40D-SS
Adding rear remotes to a TC-40D-SS

This section covers adding A Bucket Grapple To A New Holland TC-40D SS Tractor

On an earlier project we added front hydraulics to our TC-40D SS so for this project we decided to construct a hydraulic grapple with 3 lift arms to attach to our 72" heavy duty bucket.

This is how it all started. We had these pieces CNC plasma cut from 3/8" steel stock. The longest 3 pieces are the grapple lift arms.

This picture shows the 2" X 3" X 1/4" rectangular tube that will be fashioned to become the grapple mount that will in turn be bolted to the bucket via the end plates. This is the base for the grapple and it needs to be stout.

End plates fashioned from 6" X 1/2" plate steel.

One of the two end plates, we flipped the first to mirror the pattern for the second one needed.

Cardboard template used to insure that the spacing is correct on both ends of the bucket before end plates are tack welded to the main 2" X 3" support tube..

3 additional short pieces of 2" X 4" X 1/2" flat stock steel will enable the grapple support tube to be bolted directly to the bucket affording additional support.

First grapple pivot now being tack welded into position.

Second mount being tack welded using solid rod as a alignment jig.

Different angle view

Adding additional grapple pivots

Tacking additional grapple pivots.

Grapple main support tube removed and inverted for finish welding.

Grapple main support tube being finish welded.

Getting an idea for the spacing the lift arms on the bucket. Originally we wanted to go 48" wide but scaled back to 36" in width to maintain strength without worry about twist on the grapple body.

Once we installed the tooth-bar it was quickly obvious to us that the center grapple lift arm would be hitting the center tooth on the tooth-bar so we decided to simply offset the tooth. Arrow shows location where tooth was originally located. It was necessary to move the tooth slightly to the right so that it would easily clear the center lift arm of the grapple.

2 pieces of 2" X 2" X 1/4" x 36" that will be used for the two grapple cross-brace tubes.

We decided to cut 2" X 2" cutouts in the center lift arm so that the cross bracing could pass through for ease of alignment before welding.

This is a close up shot of the bushings welded to the lift arms. The center lift arm on the left has a wider bushing because of the way that it will be mounted.

In this picture you can see the 2" X 3" X 1/4" grapple mount tube that runs the complete width of the bucket. We are using one solid rod here to align and position the bushings for all 3 lift arms while spot tacking them into position for final welding later.

2" X 2" cross brace tubes positioned and secured in place using a ratchet strap to aid us in tack welding, final welding to follow later.

Aligning rod removed and grapple assembly set aside.

Spot tacking gussets in place to further strengthen the grapple assembly. Please note that we recommend attaching the grapple to the bucket before finishing the final welding. We used the solid solid 1" rod to keep everything in perfect alignment. Weld in small areas and let the steel cool before continuing to eliminate any twisting that might develop because of heat build-up.

Lion hydraulic cylinder that will power our grapple.

Using the hydraulic cylinder to position the cylinder mounts. We purchased the Lion cylinder from Northern Tool.

We found it necessary to modify the center rear cylinder support since we had some contact between the cylinder and the mount itself on the original shorter design.

That's me with my face in the puddle of molten steel making a modification to the center rear cylinder support.

Here you can see the modification that was required on the rear cylinder supports. We still need to grind a V before welding the second area shown.

Gussets added to strengthen 3 mounting tabs.

First test of bucket grapple under hydraulic pressure.

Testing bucket grapple under hydraulic pressure.

This and the following are completed bucket grapple pictures.

We are very happy with the power and gripping force that the grapple generates. It is very, very easy to pick-up large downed trees or brush piles. And if a need arises to remove the grapple it's very easy to pull 2 pins to remove the hydraulic cylinder, and another 3 pins to remove the grapple assembly itself from the bucket.

Here's a couple of action shots to show you what the grapple can pick up.

If you need a reasonably priced ready made grapple or even a thumb for your backhoe and you're not into building-it-yourself then please email Andy Tatro at htatro@bwsys.net He will take good care of you, and you'll love his products. Andy is a true craftsman.