modded backhoe to fit new BXpanded thumb

[Dsmith]

Just got my new BXpanded thumb and had to do a slight mod to make it fit my BX25D. The bracket welded to the boom for the Kubota thumb is in the way by about an inch. Anyway, here are some pics:

 

[gpreuss]

That ought to do it! Nice job!

 

[Kubota_Man]

I have to ask.....

You have a BX25D that comes with an optional thumb from Kubota that uses the mount already provided. Why would you want to order an aftermarket thumb and cut into your dipper arm and violate the warrenty if your arm were to fail?

P.S. Nice work though.

 

[Lil Foot]

If it were mine, I guess I would feel better about it if you had put a curved piece of metal back into the cut out & welded it in, leaving no gaps. Looks like a stress concentration point to me.
If it were mine....

 

[Dsmith]

I actually ordered the Kubota one and it was back ordered. I needed it and couldn't wait any longer. As far as the strength, it is not compromised one bit. The part I cut out is just part of the bracket for the Kubota thumb. Under that the metal that holds the boom together is still there. If you we're to cut the rest of the bracket out, it would be no different structurally than the previous model that didn't have that bracket. When they designed this thumb, the bracket wasn't there. Hence the reason it didn't fit.

 

[Lil Foot]

I actually ordered the Kubota one and it was back ordered. I needed it and couldn't wait any longer. As far as the strength, it is not compromised one bit. The part I cut out is just part of the bracket for the Kubota thumb. Under that the metal that holds the boom together is still there. If you we're to cut the rest of the bracket out, it would be no different structurally than the previous model that didn't have that bracket. When they designed this thumb, the bracket wasn't there. Hence the reason it didn't fit.

I stand corrected.... you were way ahead of me on this one.

 

[Dsmith]

I am a fabricator. I build race cars and street performance cars for a living, so any fabrication I am doing to the tractor is well thought out ahead of time.

 

[Lil Foot]

I am a fabricator. I build race cars and street performance cars for a living, so any fabrication I am doing to the tractor is well thought out ahead of time.

Obviously.... I have backhanded myself upside the head for posting before studying the photos.

 

[Dsmith]

LOL. It's all good.

 

[BXpanded]

Just after DSmith's thumb, we got access to a BX25D for development work. The BXpanded thumb got a minor modification and fits all versions of the BX back hoes.

 

[Lil Foot]

Just after DSmith's thumb, we got access to a BX25D for development work. The BXpanded thumb got a minor modification and fits all versions of the BX back hoes.

Now if you could just get access to a B7100 with a B670…..