Thumb Thumb for JD TLB110

[CurlyDave]

I have 40 acres with a lot of rocks, some just lying on the ground, some partly burried, and anywhere I dig about 20% by volume seems to be rocks. So far they range from softball size up to washing machine drum size, with bowling ball size being fairly common.

Most of them can be picked up with the BH, but it is difficult to separate them from the surrounding dirt and I end up gathering them up by hand & throwing them in the FEL. This gets old in a hurry.

Would a thumb make picking them out of dirt significantly easier or would it be only a marginal improvement?

I could also use the thumb for handling tree trunks, stumps & such, which I have in abundance.

JD wants about $2500 for the thumb, which is not out of the question if it is "highly useful", but requires some justification. The tractor already has the hydraulics installed for the thumb.

Also, I have both 12" and 18" buckets for the BH. JD claims the thumb can not be used with the 12" bucket, but would I have to remove it to use the 12" bucket, or just not use the thumb?

Any recommendations?

 

[dubba]

I have a 110 with the JD thumb.

It is fairly useful on most everything once you get used to having it.

A couple of things about the JD thumb,

2500 Dollars? I hope that's installed. I paid 1450 installed at my JD dealer.

The JD thumb is (IMHO) a total piece of crap. It does work, however the Cylinder is too small, it lacks power, doesn't travel far enough, & has a tendency to break off the grease fittings due to clearance issues with itself.

I bent the "ears" over on it in about 2 hours. All mild steel as far as I can tell.

A much better thumb is made by Addington Equipment, which is what mine will have shortly.

I can take pics of the issues I have had with mine if you wish.

Just my .02

 

[CurlyDave]

I would love to see the pix.

 

[bam747]

Don't have any advice on a BH thumb, but given the quantity an size of your typical rocks, have you thought about a rock bucket for your FEL? Maybe with a grapple? Here's a link to a Bradco Rock Bucket, but there are many other manufactures of rock buckets.

 

[dubba]

pic

 

[dubba]

pics

 

[dubba]

another

 

[dubba]

nutha

 

[dubba]

again

 

[1948berg]

This thumb is made in Norway, it is ready for welding on to any bucket. It will follow the movement of the bucket. The one cyl. type is like dubbas. To get an idea of the prices devide the amount in Norwegian kroner with 7
http://www.fpro.no/index-filer/Page552.htm