Backhoe Hydraulic thumb kit?

[Luke'sScreenName]

Btw, I just got a quick response from Bob at MIE and this is NOT how they shipped it, nor their box. UPS really did a number on this one.

 

[LD1]

I'd say both picots should have a grease fitting.

That foil seal almost looks like a piece of tape??? To perhaps keep dirt out of a snap ring groove for dis assembly????

Take that foil/tape off and see what's under it

 

[IXLR8]

So I was happily surprised to find the thumb kit in the driveway this evening. Unfortunately it took a beating in transit.

I need some help from y'all:

Other than paint dings (not a big deal) the only shipping damage that MAY be of significance is to the hydraulic cylinder (see pictures). It looks like a foil seal or something was torn. I'm not sure what it is or it's significance. Please advise.

3. One pivot bushing on the thumb has two grease zerks and the other has none (see picture). Is this the way it's supposed to be?

MIE paint looks good, but after 2 years all my MIE parts have paint peeling and they are rusting. Clean up the parts and repaint them.
Pivot bushing, I just checked mine, both pivot bushings each have 2 Zerk fittings. If you don't have threaded holes for Zerk fittings in the other bushing... contact MIE as you need to be able to grease both bushings.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Got most everything installed today.

Bob says the "drawings" don't call for zerks on that side of the thumb pivot. The pin has only one channel for grease to the middle so I think this is a mistake. I will drill and tap zerks on that side.

The pin is 1-7/16" diameter which leaves lots of slop. The OEM pin is 1.5" exactly. Not sure what I'm gonna do about this.

The thumb pivot spread is quite a bit wider than it needs to be. I guess I'll put some washers in there?


Overall it came together okay once I sourced all the correct fittings to splice it into my BH hydraulics and fabricated a simple bracket to mount the valve.

 

[IXLR8]

Mine has some slop, but not as much as yours does. You definitely need to find a way to lube the shaft on the other side where you don't have Zerks at the moment. I would talk with MIE about making the correct size pin, you don't want that much slop. The pin in mine is longer than it needs to be, but I don't worry about it as it doesn't affect anything.
Have fun with your new toy (tool). Keep in mind that the thumb is very powerful and I have pushed the bucket back with the thumb. I don't think that is good for the bucket hydraulics.

 

[downsizingnow48]

The missing grease fitting is an easy fix. Just drill and tap the bushing for a fitting, one will be enough. The fit of the thumb is not an easy fix. It is too wide about 1/2". When you squeeze the thumb hard it will put a flexing motion on the pin. It might never fail on you or it might break soon. Depends on what it is made of and whether it is supported all the way in the middle and whether it has a grease groove in the middle. You could weld a bushing inside the thumb bracket which would provide better support for the pin.

I adapted a B76 mechanical thumb to hydraulic on my B21. Where the MIE thumb has a 1/2" gap it has less than 1/16". I drilled the bushings for grease fittings and used no-tap drive-in grease fittings.

 

[IXLR8]

Luke, did you ever get your thumb working? If so, how is it working out for you?

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Thanks for asking. I still have a fex fitment issues to take care of. I just got the appropriate size hinge pin from Joe yeasterday (the oriningal was 1/16" too small in diameter). I hope to finish it this weekend.