Traditional grapples simply go up and down, open, and close. In a first for the grapple industry, the PATENTED MDS Iron Eagle Dual Action Grapple works like a hand gripping a baseball, and exceeds the three characteristics a grapple should have. (1) minimal gap between the bucket cutting edge and the grapple tines when the grapple is closed, (2) a large opening when the grapple is open and, (3) grapple teeth that are well behind the bucket’s cutting edge when the grapple is open. MDS has added another, much needed characteristic that no other manufacturer has ... an unbelievable vertical clamping force of 16,000 pounds. That is 4x the clamping power of any other grapple. No other bucket and grapple manufacturers have met these desired characteristics, or ever will.
The Patented MDS Iron Eagle Dual Action Grapple uses sequential grapple technology, allowing for a negative cutting edge to grapple tine clearance. The vertical slat bucket grapple and the shell bucket grapple are well behind the leading edge of the bucket by 8” (see illustration). This has been attempted by many manufacturers for years ... and now MDS has delivered.
The Iron Eagle opens to 68” and clamps down with 16,000 pounds of vertical clamping force with 5/8" impact resistant reversible grapple teeth and claws ... all T-1 (A514) steel. Heavy duty GREASEABLE hinge pins and dual action cylinders deliver this power like no other grapple. The dual action grapples do not operate independently yet react independently depending on the irregularity of the load, and they sequentially maintain a constant, clamping force throughout the entire motion of the grapple.
The Iron Eagle Dual Action Grapple is designed and engineered for the Iron Eagle Slat Bucket and the Iron Eagle Shell Bucket and cannot be sold separately.
Only the Best Bucket Will Do for the World’s Strongest GrappleA grapple that exerts 16,000 pounds of vertical clamping force requires extreme duty buckets, or the buckets could literally fold under pressure. MDS offers two world class buckets for the MDS Iron Eagle Dual Action Grapple.
The Iron Eagle Slat Bucket is extreme duty. Manufactured with ¼” hot rolled, high strength steel (STRENX) Vertical Ribs and high carbon, abrasion resistant, tempered steel (AR400) ¾” Tines and Serrated Side Plates. MDS adds a ³/8” Rib Cap and Torque Tube to prevent twisting.
This perfectly blended choice of steel makes the Iron Eagle Slat Bucket nearly indestructible and boasts a yield strength of 80,000 pounds (see back cover for illustrations). The Iron Eagle Slat Bucket is designed to be used with over 100 Bolt On Mount Kits offered only by MDS.
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