another backhoe mechanical thumb, fixed or articulated

[psj12]

Eddie,
I sure would like to see some front and side views of your bucket grapples. The pictures posted don't show enough detail for me to determine how to design one for my tractor.
Thanks

[fiddler kelly]

Rob I am in the process of making a thumb for the backhoe very similar to yours
,any suggestions or recommendations. What size flat bar did you use for the linkage and bolts to hold it in place.

[3RRL]

fiddler,
Send me a PM and I can go over it all with you.
It needs to be beefier than you think.

[vic4news]

Dave and Rob,

Thanks for posting your articulated thumb builds. Very impressive work. I didn't even know there was such a thing till a couple of weeks ago when I read about it here on TBN.

I have about 25 feet of an old stone wall to move. I have a woods mechanical thumb, but I think I'll look into trying to convert it to an articulated thumb.

Vic

[3RRL]

Vic,
Don't know if you went through the archives and saw my articulated thumb build or not, so I'll post here on Dave's thread for you.
Hope you don't mind Dave.
Articulated Thumb

[dfkrug]

Originally Posted by 3RRL

Don't know if you went through the archives and saw my articulated thumb build or not, so I'll post here on Dave's thread for you.
Hope you don't mind Dave.

That's great, Rob. You reminded me that I need to update this build. I
have since gone from the articulated linkage to a hydraulic setup with
a short 2x8 welded cylinder, and now a solenoid-operated single spool
valve to switch between parallel thumb control and 'off'. My next
modification will be to replace the cylinder with a custom-made unit that
will have an 11-inch stroke.

[3RRL]

Sweeet! I have to see that one!

[dfkrug]

Another TBN member has mounted one of my mechanical thumbs on
his New Holland blue Woods 7500, which is dimensionally the same as my
Prairie Dog.

Looks great, Bob (rawilber)!