Backhoe installation followup

[VTFireftr]

The thumb from Michigan Iron can be upgraded at a later date. The kit from Michigan Iron comes complete with everything needed to upgrade.

Since MI is a Kioti dealer, and they fabricate the thumb, I feel they know what will work on my tractor.

I'm hoping not to need the hydraulic kit, but if I do, I can upgrade at a later date. Hopefully for not too much money.

 

[Kay's Boy]

I purchased my CK27 with a Kioti KB2475 backhoe and manual thumb from Dave and Robbyat Upper Valley 3 years and 400+ hours ago. I coudn't be more pleased. As you said the service and quality of work is outstanding. I use the manual thumb often and each time I recall makeing the choice. Boy did I ever make the right choice when I bought the thumb!
Sometimes the best solution is right at home, give Dave and robby a call.

 

[Kay's Boy]

I purchased my CK27 with a Kioti KB2475 backhoe and manual thumb from Dave and Robbyat Upper Valley 3 years and 400+ hours ago. I coudn't be more pleased. As you said the service and quality of work is outstanding. I use the manual thumb often and each time I recall making the choice. Boy did I ever make the right choice when I bought the thumb!
Sometimes the best solution is right at home, give Dave and Robby a call.

John McHugh

 

[VTFireftr]

John,

What make is the thumb on your CK27?

And if you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it?

Nothing against Upper Valley, but since the wife and I are headed out west, a stop at Michigan Iron really isn't out of the way, and we may be able to save some money by picking it up directly from them.

Marc

 

[Coyote machine]

To add to the fray- I'll offer my MIE backhoe thumb (manual type) for 2/3 of what I paid for it, complete.
You can come pick it up, probably in early Sept, since I'm away on va-ca right now; though possibly earlier if I return to VT sooner than expected.
It's from my DK-35se/hst with KB-2485, which I moved to my DK-40se/hst.
It's great BUT I've used it only a couple of times and it just sits on the hoe awaiting use. Since then I've purchased a LOT of other implements and really don't need the thumb anymore since I have a log grapple and winch, etc.
We've already PM'ed previously so you have an idea where I'm located- so if this is of interest let me know. This way you get a nearly new thumb from MIE without the 'new' price, and you can upgrade to hydraulic, ( I believe), later if you so choose.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm late to this conversation but will give my two cents in favor of the hydraulic thumb. I have a factory mechanical thumb on my BH90x and it is next to worthless as a labor saving device. If it was hydraulic I believe I would use it quite a bit.

Think of using your hand without the flexibility of moving both fingers and thumb simultaneously. Having a mechanical thumb is like needing to manually adjust the position of your personal thumb each time you go to grasp something of a different size or shape. Especially for a delicate job like building a stone wall it would be tedious.

I pretty much don't use mine and just use the FEL mounted grapple instead for tasks that the thumb should be able to do. Adjusting the thumb when the BH bucket is deployed is no fun as you often need to straddle trenches or scramble in brush to reach it and it is a task requiring two hands and good balance. Someday I'll get around to converting mine but I don't have any real need for it immediately. If I were rebuilding a stone wall I'd do it before starting.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the mechanical thumb, I would agree with others who have worked with MIE: top notch and a pleasure to deal with. Just spring for the hydraulic version before you waste hours being limited by the mechanical one.

 

[VTFireftr]

Island,

Thanks for the input.

After reading these post and other internet searches, I'm not leaning more and more to hydraulic thumb for my CK30.

Hopefully MIE can work with me on the price.

I'll post back what I purchased and how it is working once the wife and i get back from vacation later this month.

marc

 

[BTF]

Well my Mechanical thumb ships today from MIE. I'm guessing after a few weeks I'll be ordering the hydraulic kit for it.

By then, I'm guessing VTFireftr will have a report on it that will convince me to do it.

Bruce

 

[Kay's Boy]

VTFireftr
There are no mfg markings on my mechanical thumb, just some caution warnings. It is 3/4" steel, can be set at two positions and was permanently welded to the dipperstick by Upper Valley. It is solid as a rock. When I bought my machine it added $500 to the total cost and as I said b4 I do not regret the decision. I find myself using it often and not just for rocks.
It is great for picking up a nice fire wood size tree and have the backhoe just hold it there so I can cut it.
To me the mechanical thumb was an inexpensive way to increase the usefullness of the most expensive accessory on my tractor, the backhoe.

John McHugh

 

[VTFireftr]

John,

Thanks for the reply.

Lisa (my wife) and I stopped by Upper Valley's new store (Swanzey, NH) on Saturday.

I talked with Dave and asked about a thumb. He said that he only sold weld-on thumbs. And his cost was considerably more than Michigan Iron's.

For several reasons I don't want a welded on thumb. Also I really don't want to have to trailer my tractor up to Enfield (100 miles one way) and lose the tractor for a week.

Dave has no problems with me buying from another dealer, and wished me luck. As did we on his new location.


Marc