Bx24 Backhoe hydro thumb add on??

[Oilbomber]

Hello, has anyone added a hydraulic thumb to there backhoe on a bx?

 

[Kubota_Man]

I have wanted to do the same thing. Key word is "wanted". I have been told the hydraulics of our little giants will not support them

I have found some alternatives

http://www.bro-tek.biz/thumb/ Open the PDF that shows on the page.

http://www.extrememetalproducts.com....html?osCsid=1f9e80b053fa47026fa43e620eaf7f97

 

[cabu]

... I have been told the hydraulics of our little giants will not support them...

This I do not understand! When the hydraulics can move the bucket they should be able to move the thumb. Even my B1502 with 2 gal/sec has enough volume to drive a little FEL quick enough.

Or do you mean that you need an extra valve?

carl

 

[MagKarl]

Some of the little BH's are not designed with thumbs in mind and dipper stick failures have been seen. I remember a user on Tractorbynet that had a lot of trouble with it. Probably not a common problem, but the risk is there. Do some research and make your own decision.

 

[Kubota_Man]

Or do you mean that you need an extra valve?

This is what I was refering to. I am not sure about the enginering of it all bit you would think you should be able to tap in to a line and get fluid flowing to operate it.

 

[manofaus]

I have seen a few static thumbs over here. Basically you use the bucket and have a thumb that is attached to the stick. It is pinned and holds a static angle to the bucket. What about a grapple that uses the bucket cylinder? Basically the same idea but you change out your bucket for one half of a grapple and the other again is static against the stick.

pictures

 

[Sqidget]

Check this link out, I have it as an older step by step on another forum.
This album also shows adding the hydraulics to the front for a grapple.
http://s246.beta.photobucket.com/us.../Kubota?&_suid=136034182004601599819008763142
When I get some time this week I will try to organize and add the story.
All the load bearing mods were made to the Wallenstein Thumb frame and not the dipperstick.

 

[seanbarr]

Enjoyed the pictures of the mods! I noticed some of your bucket pictures, am I guessing correctly that it's to roll the bucket to the right position automatically by using the switch to stop the hydraulics?

 

[Sqidget]

That is a solenoid controlled hydraulic selector valve. It will control the grapple using the dump/ curl functions on the handle. When you hold the switch down, and move to dump or curl positions, the grapple opens and closes. with the switch released it functions normally.

 

[bosshogg]

I have seen a few static thumbs over here. Basically you use the bucket and have a thumb that is attached to the stick. It is pinned and holds a static angle to the bucket. What about a grapple that uses the bucket cylinder? Basically the same idea but you change out your bucket for one half of a grapple and the other again is static against the stick.

pictures

I used to use a static thumb on a large excavator. Seemed to work very good using the bucket to clamp on. I always believe in the saying KISS.