My tractor is one of the older BX23 types which is a TLB, ie loader with backhoe. My first modification some years ago was a manual thumb on the backhoe, but using it was not all that practical. Subsequently, two rear remotes with spool valves were added, and one of these remotes was used to operate a thumb modified to operate with a hydraulic cylinder. Now the thumb could be manipulated using one of the spool valves, but not ideal. The latest modification was to run a control cable from the spool valve to a foot pedal and now the thumb is controlled using my foot, much better than trying to control everything with only two hands.
The one weak point in this whole setup is that the backhoe bucket is much more powerful than the thumb and could damage it. When grabbing something, the thumb must be what is used for the final clamping action.
The one weak point in this whole setup is that the backhoe bucket is much more powerful than the thumb and could damage it. When grabbing something, the thumb must be what is used for the final clamping action.
