In one embodiment, a tractor bucket attachment may include an attachment head and a loop of flexible cable. The attachment head may include a mounting bracket and first and second cable attachment mechanisms. The mounting bracket may be configured to secure the attachment head to a tractor bucket, the tractor bucket having a front edge. The loop of flexible cable may have a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the first cable attachment mechanism and the second end being attached to the second cable attachment mechanism. The loop of flexible cable may be configured to ensnare a bale against the front edge of the tractor bucket.

A work vehicle includes a frame assembly and an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly has an attachment end pivotally connected to the frame assembly and a distal end configured for receiving a variable load. At least one force sensor senses at least one force associated with the attachment end. The at least one force sensor provides an output signal representing the sensed at least one force. An inclination sensor senses an inclination associated with the frame assembly and provides an output signal representing the sensed inclination. An electrical processing circuit is configured for receiving the output signal from the at least one force sensor, determining a value of a couple at the frame assembly which is associated with the sensed at least one force, comparing the couple with a threshold value which is dependent on the sensed inclination, and controlling the controllable output dependent on the comparison.

A work vehicle is formed from a plurality of ground-contacting motive elements, a chassis, an operator station, a switch, and a hydraulic manifold. The operator station has a joystick having a manually-actuable control element used to actuate the switch. The hydraulic manifold has a pair of primary hydraulic ports, first and second pairs of secondary hydraulic ports, and a control valve. The control valve is actuated by the switch and is adapted to allow pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow through a selected one of the first or second pair of secondary hydraulic ports. Each pair of secondary hydraulic ports fluidly communicates with a hydraulic actuator carried by a work attachment. By actuating the control element on the joystick, the operator can conveniently switch the hydraulic control of the joystick between different hydraulic operations on the attachment without leaving the operator's station.

A work vehicle includes a frame assembly and an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly has an attachment end pivotally connected to the frame assembly and a distal end configured for receiving a variable load. At least one force sensor senses at least one force associated with the attachment end. The at least one force sensor provides an output signal representing the sensed at least one force. An inclination sensor senses an inclination associated with the frame assembly and provides an output signal representing the sensed inclination. An electrical processing circuit is configured for receiving the output signal from the at least one force sensor, determining a value of a couple at the frame assembly which is associated with the sensed at least one force, comparing the couple with a threshold value which is dependent on the sensed inclination, and controlling the controllable output dependent on the comparison.

A grapple assembly for a small tractor, which uses the John Deere front mounted quick hitch system in which the existing angular position cylinder of the quick hitch is repositioned so as to open and close the upper jaw of said grapple. The grapple assembly is compatible with small tractors that utilize the John Deere front mounted quick-hitch as a means to powerfully grasp and lift logs, rocks, boulders, brush, branches, limbs and many other objects, and transport and deposit these objects to a new location with virtually no tools and no physical effort by the operator. The grapple assembly is used for transporting, lifting and holding logs and limbs for cutting.

A method of coupling a tool to a work machine including inserting a front lug of a coupling assembly into a front recess on the tool, inserting a rear lug of the coupling assembly into a rear recess on the tool, moving a retaining member of the coupler assembly to a retaining position relative to the tool to releasably mount the tool to the work machine, while simultaneously preventing movement of a hydraulic coupling manifold on the coupling assembly from moving; and moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to a coupling position with a hydraulic power transmission coupling on the tool to hydraulically couple the tool to the work machine in response to the retaining member reaching the retaining position.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a grapple assembly that includes a grapple unit having a fixed assembly, an articulating assembly having a pivot point located at a proximal end of the articulating assembly, pivotably coupling the articulating assembly to the fixed assembly, and an articulation connection point distal to the pivot point along the articulating assembly, and a linear actuator having a first actuator end and a second actuator end configured to move linearly relative to the first actuator end, the first actuator end being pivotably coupled to the fixed assembly and the second actuator end being pivotably coupled to the articulation connection point, and configured to actuate the articulating assembly relative to the fixed assembly.