An excavator log grapple is a hydraulic-powered excavator mounted grab attachment engineered to clamp, lift, rotate and transport timber, steel scrap, rock aggregates and construction waste without manual handling. It features full 360-degree hydraulic rotation, synchronized dual jaws and built-in hydraulic safety valves to deliver stable, powerful grabbing performance across dozens of job site environments. Forestry contractors running small land clearing jobs frequently compare durable log grapple for mini excavator units to expand their service range without upgrading carrier machinery. Scrap yard facility managers regularly source reliable mini excavator log grapple for sale models to speed up daily metal waste sorting and loading workflows. Civil construction fleet operators rely on a heavy-duty digger log grab to cut labor expenses for debris cleanup and stone hauling projects of all sizes.
Excavator Log Grapple Technical Parameters:
| Model | Unit | 02 | 04 | 06 | 08 | 10 | 14 | 20 |
| Weight | Kg | 360 | 440 | 900 | 1680 | 2130 | 2600 | 2800 |
| Max jaw opening | M/m | 1200 | 1400 | 1600 | 2100 | 2500 | 2800 | 2800 |
| Oil pressure | Kg/crrt2 | 160 | 160 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 200 |
| Set up pressure | Kg/cm1 | 170 | 180 | 190 | 200 | 210 | 250 | 250 |
| Operating flux | L/min | 30-55 | 50-100 | 90-110 | 100-140 | 130-170 | 80-120 | 80-120 |
| Cylinder Volume | Ton | 4.0×2 | 4.5×2 | 8.0×2 | 9.7×2 | 12×2 | 12×2 | 14×2 |
| Suitable excavator | Ton | 4-6 | 7-11 | 12-16 | 17-23 | 24-30 | 31-40 | 41-50 |
5 Advantages of Excavator Log Grapple
- 360-degree full hydraulic rotation system: The integrated hydraulic rotation motor enables unrestricted spinning of the grab unit, allowing operators to adjust timber, steel or rock load orientation without repositioning the entire excavator chassis. This flexible movement drastically cuts cycle times for truck loading and tight-space stacking work compared to fixed non-rotating grab attachments.
- Synchronized dual jaw linkage structure: Precision connecting rods link the two grabbing jaws to ensure perfectly synchronized opening and closing motion. This balanced jaw movement eliminates uneven clamping that would drop irregularly shaped logs, scrap metal or stone chunks mid-transport, reducing material waste and safety hazards on-site.
- Built-in cylinder counterbalance safety valves: Every hydraulic cylinder features an internal counterbalance valve that maintains constant clamping pressure even if hydraulic power fluctuates or cuts out unexpectedly during lifting. The system runs far smoother than basic unvalved grabs and prevents sudden jaw release to boost overall worksite safety for staff and surrounding equipment.
- Dual protection hydraulic motor assembly: The rotation motor is equipped with both bidirectional overflow valves and matching balance valves, which absorb sudden hydraulic pressure spikes from quick arm movements or heavy load impacts. This buffer system eliminates shock damage to the motor to extend the attachment’s total service life and cut spare part replacement costs.
- Lightweight high-strength compact frame: The whole grapple adopts a simplified welded structural frame that keeps unit weight low while delivering extreme clamping force from the twin hydraulic cylinders. The light body reduces extra strain on the excavator’s boom and hydraulic pumps, lowering long-term wear on the carrier machine.
Applications For Excavator Log Grapple
The versatile multi-material clamping design of an excavator log grapple supports deployment across four core industrial and civil job sectors, each with matching model size recommendations based on material weight and volume:
- Forestry & lumber processing operations: Primary tasks include felling waste timber collection, log bundling, tree trunk loading onto transport trucks, and clearing brush/branches from land development sites. Mini-size 02/04 models fit small private forest lots, while medium and heavy-duty units serve large commercial sawmills and logging concessions.
- Scrap metal & waste recycling yards: Operators sort, stack and load steel rebar, metal sheets, discarded machinery and construction scrap. The powerful twin cylinders clamp dense heavy metal bundles securely, and the 360 rotation simplifies precise placement into storage bins and delivery vehicles.
- Quarry & stone aggregate handling: The wide jaw opening and high clamping torque grip loose rock chunks, stone slabs and gravel piles for transport around quarry sites or loading onto aggregate haulers. Heavy-duty 14/20 models handle extra-large boulders that smaller grabs cannot safely contain.
- Municipal construction & land clearing jobs: Crews use the grapple to remove construction debris, clear overgrown vegetation, haul landscaping stone and clean up post-demolition waste on residential and commercial building sites. Compact mini variants excel at tight residential backyard renovation waste removal tasks.
The Rotation Advantage: Why 360 Degrees Matters?
Without rotation, the operator must reposition the excavator to change a log’s orientation. This means swinging the machine, re-leveling, and re-establishing the working position. With rotation, the machine stays in one place while the grapple does the positioning.
For truck loading: The operator picks up a log from the pile, rotates it to align with the truck bed, and places it. Each log is positioned perfectly without moving the excavator.
For stacking: The operator rotates each log to fit neatly into the pile. This precision reduces wasted space and improves load stability.
For sorting: The operator rotates logs to inspect them from all angles, sorting by size or quality without dropping the load.
The rotation motor includes a braking function that holds the grapple’s position when the operator releases the control. This prevents unwanted rotation during transport and keeps the load stable when the machine is in motion.
6 FAQs About YG Excavator Log Grapple
A: The YG series covers excavators from 4 to 50 tons. Model 02 fits 4-6 ton machines. Model 20 fits 41-50 ton excavators. Match the model to your machine’s weight class.
A: Jaw openings range from 1200mm on Model 02 to 2800mm on Models 14 and 20. Choose the model that matches your typical log diameter.
A: Yes. Every YG model features continuous 360-degree hydraulic rotation in both directions. The operator controls rotation speed from the cab.
A: Operating flow ranges from 30-55 L/min on Model 02 to 130-170 L/min on Model 10. Check your excavator’s hydraulic output before selecting a model.
A: Yes. Log grapples handle brush, rocks, scrap metal, demolition debris, eucalyptus, bamboo, and sugarcane. This versatility makes them useful across forestry, construction, and recycling.
A: Every YG log grapple includes a balancing valve in the cylinder that prevents the jaws from dropping if a hydraulic hose fails. The rotation motor includes dual overflow and balance valves for hydraulic shock protection.
Contact us with your excavator model and typical material sizes. We will recommend the right excavator log grapple for your operation. Get a free quote for a mini excavator log grapple for sale today.
