"The Thumb" Bucket Grapple questions

[NCRetiree]

I am leaning toward getting a "The Thumb" grapple for my Kubota LA844 FEL bucket. When I bought the tractor last fall I figured I would want a grapple in the future so I got the 3rd function remote installed as part of the purchase so that part is done.

2 questions:

Does anyone have any comments (good and bad) about a bucket grapple? I will use it for picking up logs for firewood and some small stumps, and

On my LA844 loader, what is the distance from the front top of the bucket down to the front bottom of the bucket. I am thinking the 28" grapple might be the right one but my tractor is not at the house but at the farm and I forgot to measure it before leaving to come home today.

 

[Milton Burro]

I considered a "thumb" for my bucket but decided to go whole hog. I'm glad I did. I can't imagine anything a thumb can do that my grapple cannot but my grapple can do much more than a thumb. I cleared groves of saplings from overgrown property and clean up after the '09 ice storm was a breeze.

 

[caspar3259]

I considered a "thumb" for my bucket but decided to go whole hog. I'm glad I did. I can't imagine anything a thumb can do that my grapple cannot but my grapple can do much more than a thumb. I cleared groves of saplings from overgrown property and clean up after the '09 ice storm was a breeze.

What brand & model grapple is that?

I've been looking at the Construction Attachments "root grapple" that prices out around $2000 for the 60". Always interested in checking out alternatives...

-Jeff

 

[NCRetiree]

It is located at this link:

The Thumb

 

[Marveltone]

I have "The Thumb" on my loader and love it. It's built very well and should withstand just about any abuse you can dish out on it. They make it in several sizes, so it should fit pretty much any bucket out there. My over-sized bucket was home made so it has a huge capacity, as you can see in the pictures. (32" I think.) I am, unfortunately, unable to help you in that department. Hopefully there are others with similar rigs to yours who can pipe in with some measurements.

Joe

 

[caspar3259]

It is located at this link:

The Thumb

Thanks, but I was asking about the grapple shown by Milton Burro.

 

[CurlyDave]

With a standard grapple, the operator has excellent visibility between the tines and can easily grasp many items.

With "the thumb" the bucket blocks visibility of many objects one wishes to pick up. Much skill and experience is required to achieve the same result a novice can easily get with a real grapple.

 

[chriscos]

Thanks, but I was asking about the grapple shown by Milton Burro.

The Grapple says WR Long on the side. I've heard good things about WR Long.

 

[nybirdman]

I have a Green's Machine thumb and a tooth bar on my L4240.This combo works well.I am sure not as well as a full grapple but a lot less money and weight.I have a HD bucket ,the 28 inch was the perfect fit.I welded an angle on the top of the bucket and bolted the thumb on for easy removeal.

 

[teg]

How much grapple work do you need to do? If it's not a ton of work the Thumb for the price is good. I have like it, the WR Long and love it... it works best with a toothbar but I have used it without and it's fine.

 

[Milton Burro]

What brand & model grapple is that?

I've been looking at the Construction Attachments "root grapple" that prices out around $2000 for the 60". Always interested in checking out alternatives...

-Jeff

It is a WR Long. I just drop it down where the teeth just rip the soil and drive along until I get a mouthful then move it where I want it. The "V" in the bottom will catch and rip out saplings. If one slides through, I back up a bit and pop it out with the teeth or grab it and pull it out.

 

[acme97]

I have a Kubota L35 that I had a 4n1 bucket added. That thing has been a lifesaver! I have 20 acres, that I'm cleaning up from being clear cut about 8-10 years ago. I also just bought a new Kioti DK50SE w/CAB and FEL. I had them add the WR Long root grapple, which I know will be even better. I actually pick up the machine on the 16th. So from my point of view, if you can get that thumb or even a grapple, and you know you will have tons of things to move, it's worth the money.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Love my "Thumb" :thumbsup:

solid, inexpensive, does a great job for logs, firewood, mulch, brush. No need for a full width grapple for what I do...

I have seen someone mount 2 "thumbs" side by side...

 

[Combustix]

Like Milton Burro I went the full grapple route. I got lots of scrub trees and blackberries to get out and want to leave the dirt. So far it works great. ANBO GR-M

 

[Oldpath05]

I spent 4 hrs. trying to find a thread/info, and found this 5 year old thread on Google with a thumb grapple thing that will bolt on my L3400 bucket because I have an 8 year on going PITA. Seams like most people have more $$$ then I do and like the full size bucket grapple and don't need their bucket. I'm constantly moving (dirt) snow rocks stumps brush and logs with my bucket, but the biggest PITA I have is moving logs.

Now the way I see it, a full size grapple is NO good for moving Dirt and Snow, now if you got $$ and a quick disconnect bucket, that's find, but all I need is something to make it easier to grab a log, and easy to take off so I can move dirt, and if I had a thumb on my bucket, moving brush, stumps, rocks would just be that much easier. So this summer I'm hoping to buy one of these thumbs for my L3400 if there under a $1,000.00, and I'm hoping I can figure out how to run hydraulic lines, I suffer from Hydraulic Illiterate Syndrome or H.I.S. problem.


Here is a short video of a PITA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSmaPYsXSuM

 

[J_J]

It is actually quite simple.

You need a diverter valve so you can switch the curl flow into the grapple circuit.

You will then need some hoses and fittings and a switch for the solenoid diverter valve.

The way it works is like this. With the diverter plumbed correctly, and no voltage applied to the solenoid, the valves feeds the curl circuit using the joystick.

If you flip the switch and supply 12 v to the solenoid, the valve assembly will change the flow path so the grapple now is getting the flow and the joystick will control the grapple.

OR

You could also use a 3rd function valve and plumb it in the flow path, which is like this.

The FEL PB out will feed the input to the 3rd function valve , and the 3rd valve out port will pass the fluid to the rear into a remote valve or the 3pt. You will need some hoses and fittings and a switch to activate the grapple whenever needed. There is a hyd block there to help you route the hoses.

 

[k0ua]

I spent 4 hrs. trying to find a thread/info, and found this 5 year old thread on Google with a thumb grapple thing that will bolt on my L3400 bucket because I have an 8 year on going PITA. Seams like most people have more $$$ then I do and like the full size bucket grapple and don't need their bucket. I'm constantly moving (dirt) snow rocks stumps brush and logs with my bucket, but the biggest PITA I have is moving logs.

Now the way I see it, a full size grapple is NO good for moving Dirt and Snow, now if you got $$ and a quick disconnect bucket, that's find, but all I need is something to make it easier to grab a log, and easy to take off so I can move dirt, and if I had a thumb on my bucket, moving brush, stumps, rocks would just be that much easier. So this summer I'm hoping to buy one of these thumbs for my L3400 if there under a $1,000.00, and I'm hoping I can figure out how to run hydraulic lines, I suffer from Hydraulic Illiterate Syndrome or H.I.S. problem.


Here is a short video of a PITA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSmaPYsXSuM

I think it is do-able for the $1000 or less. Diverter valve is $212, Maybe $50 bucks for fittings Myabe $20 for a switch, $160 bucks for hoses, The thumb for about $400. So what is that around $900.. I think you could do that.

 

[teg]

With the Thumb, the top of your bucket will need to be reinforced... can you weld? Mine is WR Long that bolts to the side of the bucket... but it costs more. I got mine used for $350 (which is about the price of the Thumb)

The Thumb - Shop Online

View attachment 413266

 

[Underdog57]

Check out this thread, I just put one on about a month ago. The first part of the thread is for the pallet forks the second part of the thread deals with the bucket install.
George2615 has an excellent thread on here on a Thumb install also.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/327408-thumb-install-titan-forks.html

 

[Oldpath05]

It is actually quite simple.

You need a diverter valve so you can switch the curl flow into the grapple circuit.

You will then need some hoses and fittings and a switch for the solenoid diverter valve.

The way it works is like this. With the diverter plumbed correctly, and no voltage applied to the solenoid, the valves feeds the curl circuit using the joystick.

If you flip the switch and supply 12 v to the solenoid, the valve assembly will change the flow path so the grapple now is getting the flow and the joystick will control the grapple.

OR

You could also use a 3rd function valve and plumb it in the flow path, which is like this.

The FEL PB out will feed the input to the 3rd function valve , and the 3rd valve out port will pass the fluid to the rear into a remote valve or the 3pt. You will need some hoses and fittings and a switch to activate the grapple whenever needed. There is a hyd block there to help you route the hoses.

Plan A doesn't sound like the plan I want, I don't want to loose my bucket curl or lift control when applying thumb pressure. Plan B might be the plan I want, but not sure might need more input, like PB? I know I want a separate control stick to operate the thumb.