What makes the Manure Spear Grapple Bucket different from a standard bucket for livestock work?
The Manure Spear Grapple Bucket combines two critical functions in one attachment — penetration and gripping. Standard buckets can scoop loose material, but they struggle with compacted manure, matted bedding, and heavy pen pack. The eight to eleven Conus 2 spear tines on this bucket drive under compacted material at 37 inches long, breaking it loose efficiently. Once the material is freed, the independent hydraulic grapples clamp down with a 48-inch opening, securing the load during transport.
This dual-action design eliminates the need for multiple passes or manual forking, saving you significant time on every job. The 8-inch spear spacing is optimized to carry bedding and hay without loss while allowing dirt and debris to fall through naturally. You get the versatility to handle mucking pens, spreading fresh bedding, clearing brush, moving bales, and site cleanup with a single attachment. That means fewer equipment changes, less downtime, and more productivity throughout your day.
How do I choose the right size Manure Spear Grapple Bucket for my skid steer?
Selecting the correct size depends on your machine's lifting capacity, the width of your work areas, and the type of material you handle most often. The 60-inch model weighs 830 pounds and features 8 spears, making it ideal for compact skid steers and smaller operations like hobby farms or tight barn aisles. The 68-inch version at 870 pounds with 9 spears offers a middle ground for medium-duty machines. The 76-inch model weighs 910 pounds with 10 spears, suitable for larger skid steers handling heavier daily loads. The 84-inch bucket is the largest at 950 pounds with 11 spears, designed for full-size loaders and commercial livestock operations requiring maximum capacity.
Check your skid steer's rated operating capacity and ensure the bucket weight plus your typical load stays within safe limits. Consider your pen widths, gate openings, and transport paths. A wider bucket covers more ground per pass but requires adequate clearance. If you're unsure about fit or capacity, contact Forge Claw directly and we'll help you match the right size to your machine and operation.
Can I replace individual spear tines if one gets damaged?
Yes, each Conus 2 spear tine on the Manure Spear Grapple Bucket is individually replaceable. This is a major advantage because farm and ranch work can be tough on equipment. If you hit a rock, drive into frozen ground, or bend a tine during heavy use, you don't need to replace the entire attachment or send it out for costly welding repairs. Simply unbolt the damaged tine and install a new one. This design keeps you working with minimal downtime and manageable repair costs.
The spears are made from high-grade structural steel and engineered to handle serious abuse, but the replaceable design acknowledges that even the toughest equipment will eventually wear. Stinger Attachments designed this bucket for long-term serviceability, and the replaceable tines are a core part of that commitment. Keep a spare tine or two on hand if you're working in particularly demanding conditions, and you'll be able to swap one out in the field and keep your operation moving. This replaceable feature extends the working life of your investment and reduces total cost of ownership significantly over time.
What's the difference between the open back and closed back configurations?
The standard Manure Spear Grapple Bucket comes with an open back, which is ideal for most livestock and agricultural applications. The open back allows material to shed off the rear if needed, reduces the overall weight of the attachment, and improves maneuverability. This configuration works perfectly when you're handling bedding, brush, and debris where some material loss isn't a concern and you want the bucket to stay lighter and more responsive.
The optional closed back configuration provides full containment of material from front to rear. This is useful when you need to carry loose, fine, or wet material that might slide out the back during transport, or when you're working on slopes and uneven terrain where you need maximum load security. The closed back adds some weight but gives you complete control over your load. Most farmers and ranchers find the open back meets their needs, but if your operation involves transporting materials over longer distances or across rough ground, the closed back might be worth considering. Contact Forge Claw to discuss which configuration best suits your workflow and material handling requirements.
How often should I grease the grapples and what maintenance does this bucket require?
The independent hydraulic grapples on the Manure Spear Grapple Bucket feature grease points specifically for long-term smooth operation. In heavy daily use — such as commercial livestock operations or full-time farm work — you should grease the grapple pivot points daily. For moderate use, such as a few times per week, greasing weekly is sufficient. Regular greasing prevents wear, reduces friction, and extends the life of the hydraulic cylinders and pivot mechanisms.
Beyond greasing, maintenance is straightforward. Inspect hydraulic hoses and the ½-inch flat face couplers regularly for signs of wear, cracking, or leaks. Check spear tines after working in rocky or heavily compacted conditions for bending or cracking. If a tine is damaged, replace it promptly to maintain even load distribution and prevent stress on adjacent spears. Keep the universal skid steer quick attach plate and pins clean and free of mud and debris to ensure secure mounting. Periodically check all bolts and connections for tightness, especially after the first few hours of use. With this basic care routine, the Manure Spear Grapple Bucket will deliver years of reliable, trouble-free performance on your farm or ranch.
Is this bucket only for manure or can it handle other materials and tasks?
While it's called a Manure Spear Grapple Bucket, this attachment is incredibly versatile and handles a wide range of materials and tasks beyond livestock bedding and waste. The combination of penetrating spear tines and powerful hydraulic grapples makes it effective for clearing brush and fallen limbs after storms, grabbing and moving round bales when feeding livestock in the field, handling landscaping debris and yard waste, cleaning up construction sites, moving logs and timber, and transporting awkward or bulky materials that standard buckets can't secure.
The 48-inch grapple opening and independent clamping force give you the control needed for irregular loads. The spear spacing allows you to carry loose materials like straw and hay while letting dirt fall through when working with brush or coarse debris. This versatility means you're getting more value and utility from a single piece of equipment. Contractors, landscapers, tree service professionals, and landowners managing acreage will find this bucket just as useful as livestock producers. Whether you're mucking pens in the morning and clearing brush in the afternoon, this attachment adapts to your changing needs throughout the day and across seasons.
Will this bucket work with my compact tractor or only skid steers?
The standard configuration of the Manure Spear Grapple Bucket features a universal skid steer quick attach mounting system, which fits most modern skid steers and compact track loaders. However, Stinger Attachments and Forge Claw understand that operators use a variety of machines, so other mounting options are available for compact tractors, wheel loaders, telehandlers, and other equipment types. If you're running a compact tractor with a front-end loader, you'll need to specify the appropriate mounting setup when ordering.
The bucket also requires hydraulic connections to operate the grapples, so your machine must have auxiliary hydraulic circuits. The ½-inch flat face hydraulic couplers are standard and compatible with most systems, but if you need adapters or have specific hydraulic requirements, Forge Claw will help you get the correct setup. When ordering, provide details about your machine make, model, and loader setup so we can ensure proper fit and compatibility. We're here to answer questions about mounting systems, hydraulic requirements, and machine compatibility. Don't hesitate to call before ordering if you're unsure — we'd rather help you get it right the first time than deal with returns or modifications later.
How does this attachment improve efficiency and save money on my operation?
The Manure Spear Grapple Bucket delivers measurable efficiency gains and cost savings in several ways. First, it reduces the time spent on each task by combining penetration and gripping in one motion, eliminating multiple passes and manual labor. You'll complete mucking, bedding, and cleanup jobs faster, which means lower fuel consumption and reduced machine hours. Second, the versatility of handling multiple materials with one attachment means you're not constantly switching equipment or maintaining multiple specialized tools.
Third, the durable high-grade structural steel construction and replaceable components mean this bucket will last for years without major repairs or replacement, protecting your initial investment. Fourth, you'll reduce labor costs by eliminating the need for additional crew members or manual forking and handling. One operator with this attachment can accomplish what previously required two or three people. Fifth, using a purpose-built tool reduces wear and tear on your machine and other attachments that weren't designed for these tasks. Finally, improved job site safety from secure load handling reduces the risk of accidents, injuries, and associated costs. When you add up time savings, labor reduction, fuel efficiency, and equipment longevity, the return on investment comes quickly — often within the first season of use.
Forge Claw offers free nationwide shipping on every Manure Spear Grapple Bucket and backs it with easy, flexible financing options so you can get the equipment you need without delay.