BukitCase
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2012
- Messages
- 2,749
- Location
- Albany OR
- Tractor
- Case 580B, Long 460, Allis-Chalmers 160
That explains my confusion; we don't have the same hoe, I'm thinking yours may be newer. I was aware that was possible, but hadn't actually SEEN a different one. I'd talked to one operator with a contractor my company uses a LOT, he was kind of a walking encyclopedia on this type of equipment, and just WATCHING him operate was like a college course for me. I probably learned at least 80% of the "tricks" I know from him...
My hoe's boom lock requires really good hand/eye/timing coordination to get it to work; I'm used to it, probably due to (also) being a multi-instrument musician (piano, full foot pedal organ, drums, bass, guitar, etc) -
The lockout itself is a heavy U shaped pivoting double hook thing, to lock the boom you need to be at operating rpm (because it requires inertia); curl both bucket and dipper, then raise the boom rapidly and then (just as the boom reaches its highest point) push the DOWN lever -
If your timing is right, the boom will have crossed an "over center" point so pushing "down" actually raises the boom further - this causes the two hooks (located INSIDE the main pivot) to latch on a heavy pin.
To RELEASE the boom lock, you "gently" push "down", which in that position actually gives you "up" - then there's a lever (connected to the hook mechanism) you pull back on that lever, then push "up", which (since it's still "over center" actually gives you "down" -
Easy-peasy, right??!? See why I think maybe your hoe is the NEWER version ?
Thumb - IMO, it's probably cheaper to buy a welder, learn to weld, read at least half of the thumb threads on TBN, and build your own. The difference in cost would likely pay for a pretty decent welder, PLUS you'd have it for other projects. A thumb is one of several projects on my to do list, and I'm not even VAGUELY considering a mechanical one - Here's what convinced me -
Fair warning - listening to me will probably NEVER be free; but it might be interesting ... Steve
My hoe's boom lock requires really good hand/eye/timing coordination to get it to work; I'm used to it, probably due to (also) being a multi-instrument musician (piano, full foot pedal organ, drums, bass, guitar, etc) -
The lockout itself is a heavy U shaped pivoting double hook thing, to lock the boom you need to be at operating rpm (because it requires inertia); curl both bucket and dipper, then raise the boom rapidly and then (just as the boom reaches its highest point) push the DOWN lever -
If your timing is right, the boom will have crossed an "over center" point so pushing "down" actually raises the boom further - this causes the two hooks (located INSIDE the main pivot) to latch on a heavy pin.
To RELEASE the boom lock, you "gently" push "down", which in that position actually gives you "up" - then there's a lever (connected to the hook mechanism) you pull back on that lever, then push "up", which (since it's still "over center" actually gives you "down" -
Easy-peasy, right??!? See why I think maybe your hoe is the NEWER version ?
Thumb - IMO, it's probably cheaper to buy a welder, learn to weld, read at least half of the thumb threads on TBN, and build your own. The difference in cost would likely pay for a pretty decent welder, PLUS you'd have it for other projects. A thumb is one of several projects on my to do list, and I'm not even VAGUELY considering a mechanical one - Here's what convinced me -
Fair warning - listening to me will probably NEVER be free; but it might be interesting ... Steve