Section 2: Operating Procedures
SGS1566 & SGS1578 Skeleton Grapples 380-053M
5/2/23
18
Releasing A Load
1. Be sure to read and understand all safety alerts
under
2. Stop in front of desired location.
3. Slowly raise load to required height.
4. Move forward slowly checking to make sure grapple
and load clears all obstacles.
5. Stop forward movement when load is positioned over
its release location.
6. Releasing load requires a combination of tilting front
of grapple down, raising upper jaws, and raising
loader arms. The order in which the load is released
will vary depending on type of material being
released. The most important objective is to have the
load under control throughout the release.
7. Once load has settled onto the pile, slowly back up
making sure grapple clears all objects and there are
not any pedestrians or other traffic behind or on
either side.
8. Leave enough clearance when turning and/or
lowering the grapple so that it does not make contact
with obstacles such as vehicles, buildings, trees, or
fences.
9. Lower grapple to transporting height (low to the
ground) before moving again.
Unhooking the Grapple
Refer to Figure 2-1:
on page 19 if parking
grapple for long periods and end of season.
2. Park skid steer/tractor on a flat, level, solid surface
and lower grapple onto the surface.
3. Place transmission in park, set park brake, shut
power equipment off, and remove switch key.
4. With grapple resting on the ground, release all
hydraulic system pressures before disconnecting
hydraulic hoses from skid steer or tractor as follows:
Skid Steer
See Skid Steer Operator’s Manual for instructions on
how to release all hydraulic system pressures.
Tractor
Operate all hydraulic control levers back and forth to
release all hydraulic system pressures.
5. Disconnect hydraulic hoses (#1 & #2) from skid
steer/tractor and store hoses on the grapple.
6. Pull lock handles up to remove pins from bottom slots
in hitch plate.
7. Return to skid steer/tractor
and t
ilt bottom of hitch
plate slightly back towards the skid steer/tractor.
8. Slowly lower skid steer/tractor hitch until top angle bar
and skid steer/tractor hitch have separated.
9. Back skid steer/tractor slowly away from the grapple
making sure it does not interfere with unit.
Unhooking From the grapple
Figure 2-1
General Operating Instructions
By now you should have familiarized yourself with the
Operator’s Manual for your Skeleton Grapple. If you
haven’t, please do so now. Proceed by getting onto the
seat of your skid steer or tractor and starting it up. It isn’t
going to take you long to learn how to use your new Land
Pride Skeleton Grapple, but we do recommend that you
take a little time to practice securely attaching and
detaching your grapple to and from your mounting plate.
It is also important to practice lifting, lowering,
maneuvering, and placing a load until you gain the
confidence and skill needed to have a good feel in what
you are doing. We cannot overstress the importance of
following the safety information and operating
procedures that are spelled out in this Operator’s
Manual.
As you quickly become more skilled and adept in using
your Skeleton Grapple, you will soon learn that it is
always more important to focus on the “don’ts” than it is to
focus on the “dos”. For example, don’t exceed the lift
capacity of your grapple, tractor, or skid steer. Don’t lift
your load too high creating an unstable load and unsafe
situation. Don’t tilt your load too far backwards, setting up
a situation that could cause your load to roll or spill
backwards onto you, the tractor, and the operator’s
platform. Don’t drive too fast for your ground and load
conditions. Don’t work on or around slippery or sloped
areas that could cause you to lose control of the tractor or
skid steer. Don’t allow pedestrians, pets, or livestock to
approach the danger zone of your working area. Don’t
leave your tractor or loader with grapple jaw opened and
grapple raised above ground level.
If you just follow these few safety reminders, you will find
that you will quickly become very adept, handy, and
skillful at using your Land Pride Skeleton Grapple.
See
“Specifications & Capacities”
on page 21 and
“Features & Benefits”
on page 22 of your Operator’s
Manual for additional information.
35169
Top Angle Bar
Bottom slots
1
2
