Operate Grapple (If Equipped)


Avoid Injury or Death from Falling Round Bales

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Avoid personal injury or death caused by falling loads:
  • DO NOT handle round bales unless loader is equipped with an approved bale handling attachment. A bale can fall on the operator when the loader is raised, if a bale handling attachment is not used. (See your John Deere dealer.)
  • Ensure detent on tractor hydraulic selective control lever is locked out. (See ADJUST TIMED DETENT if equipped in Prepare the Tractor section or refer to procedure in tractor Operator's Manual.)
  • Handle raised loads with caution.
  • Carry loads low and drive slowly.


How to Pick Up a Round Bale

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    Approach bale with grapple open, bucket level, and bucket close to the ground.


  2. Maneuver the bucket under bale until bale is against grapple frame.

  3. Close grapple, then raise and roll back bale just high enough to provide ground clearance for transport.


How to Pick Up a Round Bale on a Slope

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    Avoid injury caused by tractor rollover when handling round bales on a slope. Avoid traveling across a slope whenever possible. Drive UP a slope to pick up a bale and back DOWN a slope in reverse. Move bale with the loader positioned as close to the ground as possible.

    Avoid injury caused by impact from a bale rolling down a slope. Never use the tractor or loader to stop a rolling bale.

    Approach a bale with tractor facing uphill, with grapple open, and with bucket level and close to ground.


  2. Maneuver the bucket under bale until bale is against grapple frame.

  3. Close grapple.

  4. Raise and roll back bale just high enough to provide ground clearance for transport.

  5. Select low tractor speed before moving or turning on a slope.


How to Transport a Round Bale

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Avoid personal injury or accident caused from a bale falling off the loader. Carry the bale low and slightly rolled back. Travel slowly over rough ground.

Handling bales that exceed rollback capacity rating may cause relief valve to open and loader to dump if attachment is dumped below 0° horizontal. (See ROUND BALE HANDLING CAPACITIES in Specifications section.)


How to Remove Material from a Pile

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    Avoid grapple and loader damage. Do not use the grapple teeth to dig material out of a pile. The grapple is only designed to clamp material in a bucket. Use the bucket, not the grapple, to break material loose.

    If possible, remove material from top of pile first.


  2. Use loader bucket to break material loose. Equip bucket with tines for better loosening action in packed silage.

  3. After material is loosened, close grapple.

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