CK 35 bolt on backhoe thumb

Amvcane · Dec 13, 2015

I am looking to purchase a bolt on backhoe thumb for my CK35 with a KB2475 backhoe.
In the research phase right now and was wondering what brands others have bought, along with some pros and cons, and estimated price.
As usual, I will be using the thumb to pick-up and place rocks and also for holding logs to ease cutting.

Kioti guy · Dec 13, 2015

I am looking for one for my CK 20 w/2365 backhoe. The only one I have seen so far is the wallenstein , it looks nice but expensive. I would like to hear some feedback from somebody that has one.

VictorW · Dec 13, 2015

Michigan Iron and Equipment is a Kioti dealer and also make thumbs and other things for Kioti tractors. I believe a few members have used their thumbs and liked them. Here's their site to do some comparing. Error

Amvcane · Dec 14, 2015

Not sure if the MIE model is bolt on. I really don't want to weld anything to the backhoe arm.
I really like the way the BX-pand model looks and telescopes with some square tube stock. Not sure if they make one for the KB 2475 yet. Will find out.
I used a hydraulic thumb recently but never a mechanical one. If many of the Cons that I receive tell me that I have to dismount the station to often to adjust, then I might just have to save up some more money for a hydro unit.

IXLR8 · Dec 14, 2015

I had a manual thumb on the BH on my CK30 and I put the MIE hydraulic thumb on the Woods BH on my DK40. If you don't use the thumb often, less than 12 times per year, then I would cheap out and go with a manual thumb. As I get tired of getting out of the seat and redoing the manual thumb and sometimes getting my hand pinched in the process,

I got the hydraulic thumb on my DK40 and won't have another BH without it.

Buggs67 · Dec 18, 2015

Amvcane said:
Not sure if the MIE model is bolt on. I really don't want to weld anything to the backhoe arm.
I really like the way the BX-pand model looks and telescopes with some square tube stock. Not sure if they make one for the KB 2475 yet. Will find out.
I used a hydraulic thumb recently but never a mechanical one. If many of the Cons that I receive tell me that I have to dismount the station to often to adjust, then I might just have to save up some more money for a hydro unit.

I contacted BXpanded about thumbs. He said he's thinking about one for the Kioti and would have to get measurements. I offered to take measurements; no reply. I also asked if he had the dimensions of the one he makes so I could figure out if it'd work. Also no response. I was considering designing my own but I'd have to have a steel company cut the steel since I don't have the metal working/welding abilities. The MIE unit is too expensive for me to justify so far.

worthb · Dec 18, 2015

Buggs67 said:
I contacted BXpanded about thumbs. He said he's thinking about one for the Kioti and would have to get measurements. I offered to take measurements; no reply. I also asked if he had the dimensions of the one he makes so I could figure out if it'd work. Also no response. I was considering designing my own but I'd have to have a steel company cut the steel since I don't have the metal working/welding abilities. The MIE unit is too expensive for me to justify so far.

I tried for over a year to get Harry to build me a thumb. I finally figured out a way to do it cheaper. Buy the Titan bolt on thumb from Amazon or another retailer and saw the mount in half. I only had to purchase 1 $5 pin to make it all work. I have a CK35 with the 2475 hoe. The thumb cost me $200!

Harry builds a good product, and I will be getting a tooth bar from him. I just felt like he had other more important projects.

Amvcane · Dec 19, 2015

Worthb, that's what I'm looking for.
Could you explain what you mean by cut. And also is there enough clearance between the dipper arm and curl cylinder?

Apsterbobed · Dec 19, 2015

Here is my thought on mechanical versus hydraulic. I used to run a full size excavator with a hydraulic thumb, it was very convenient, also used an 8000 lb mini with a mechanical thumb. The mechanical thumb was only an isues when you had to fold it up to get it out of the way but 90% of the time it didn't matter that it was mechanical. So when we got the Dk40 and backhoe I didn't give it two thoughts and went cheep with a mechanical thumb. This is the first back hoe that I have used and the smallest. What I never noticed on the mini with the mechanical thumb is that I could jockey the machine to get the thumb at a better angle and you can't do that with the back hoe. It takes about the same amount of time to either adjust the angle of the thumb or move the tractor to get things aligned, and both become a pain in the butt quickly. Also the smaller size of the boom and bucket puts the thumb in the way more often when digging out stumps and rocks. At some point I plan on converting my mechanical to hydraulic. I agree with IXLR8, if you don't plan on using it much than go mechanical but if it's something you plan on utilizing for any specific task regularly I would recommend hydraulic.

worthb · Dec 19, 2015

Amvcane said:
Worthb, that's what I'm looking for.
Could you explain what you mean by cut. And also is there enough clearance between the dipper arm and curl cylinder?

The side plates that mount to the boom are welded together with a plate at the rear, and a boss for the large bolt that the thumb pivots on. I simply made 1 single cut in the middle of both with a Sawzall to separate the mount into 2 halves. There is plenty of clearance for the curl cylinder. I eventually stacked 2 small pieces of 3/16th plate under the adjustable plate at the top of the thumb so I could slide it further down the boom. I did have to buy 1 longer pin for the rear linkage pivot at TSC. It works very well for a $200 experiment.

Amvcane · Dec 20, 2015

I understand now, the thumb is a fixed width that tightens at the top and needs to be widened to fit the 3 3/8" dipper boom of the KB2475.

worthb · Dec 20, 2015

Amvcane said:
I understand now, the thumb is a fixed width that tightens at the top and needs to be widened to fit the 3 3/8" dipper boom of the KB2475.

Exactly. It takes a very easy cut down the middle with a Sawzall and 1 pin. This is the cheapest way to put a thumb on the 2475 out there. And it works!

joefromga · Dec 20, 2015

Couldn't you easily add a hydraulic to that mechanical and have it made?

Buggs67 · Dec 20, 2015

worthb said:
Exactly. It takes a very easy cut down the middle with a Sawzall and 1 pin. This is the cheapest way to put a thumb on the 2475 out there. And it works!

It kills me that it misses by 1/8". They also have weld on kits and assemblies.

worthb · Dec 20, 2015

joefromga said:
Couldn't you easily add a hydraulic to that mechanical and have it made?

Due to the linkage angles it may be tough to convert. However, I will definitely be trying to figure out how to make it work.

Real world, it is about 1/4 - 5/16 too narrow. By cutting it right down the middle, it keeps the mount from shifting much.

I hope others will see this as a low cost opportunity to the other manufacturers. BTW, the thumb is built tough!

Coyote machine · Dec 20, 2015

I have a DK-40 with KB-2485 hoe. I've used the MIE mechanical thumb, and eventually sold it due to lack of use and it being stationary instead of hydraulic. I bought a second thumb from them, this time a hydraulic bolt on type. I then went the further distance and did the weld on version. This I like, big time. For the way I use my tractor and hoe, I really need something bulletproof and sturdy. The final version I have uses a joystick rather than the foot pedal in the platform design because I converted from the mechanical thumb to the weld on doing it by pieces needed versus a complete new assembly.
Like others with the hydraulic thumb, there is no going back to the mechanical for me.
The bolt on the dipper stick type thumb never worked well for me- I kept moving the bracket with the bucket when applying forces to the object being lifted. YMMV.

BTW, Bob and Tony at MIE are great people to work with. They know their stuff and won't leave you guessing where they went.....

EJP1234 · Dec 21, 2015

I have the weld on hydro thumb on my ck30... I wouldn't have it any other way. I use it all the time around the house. When I bought the tractor I was really up in the air about spending the cash on the backhoe all together, but if I was going to I was getting the hydro thumb. Literally, I would say once a week I use the thumb. I got log loads delivered at 8' length, and I pick them up, spin to left or right 90*, hold steady about 3' high and use the stihl to cut them to 20" length to then be split and stacked.

I cleared a small 1/8th acre area in my woods for a food plot for deer hunting this summer, I was ripping full size stumps out....

When we bought the place there was a huge brush pile. No I back the truck and utility trailer up to it, drive Kioti over and grab and dump, grab and dump....

The hydro thumb is the only way to go. If I went mechanical I would spend so much more time off the machine adjusting it. As well, the welded is so much more rigid than a bolt on.

Do it right the first time, and be happy. It's a quality product, and you will be pleased.

Gil Case · Dec 24, 2015

I bought three bolt on from MIE, one for my Kioti, one for my sons Montana and one for my other sons old Kubota with a Woods Back hoe. They work slick, trouble free. Price is less than $400 as I remember, but that was awhile ago.
MIE will make either hydraulic or manual but hydraulic is much pricier and you have to have the extra hydraulic ports. For as many times as I use it, the manual is fine for me

Buggs67 · Dec 24, 2015

Gil Case said:
I bought three bolt on from MIE, one for my Kioti, one for my sons Montana and one for my other sons old Kubota with a Woods Back hoe. They work slick, trouble free. Price is less than $400 as I remember, but that was awhile ago.
MIE will make either hydraulic or manual but hydraulic is much pricier and you have to have the extra hydraulic ports. For as many times as I use it, the manual is fine for me

Error $675 for smallest one.

IXLR8 · Dec 24, 2015

Gil Case said:
I bought three bolt on from MIE, one for my Kioti, one for my sons Montana and one for my other sons old Kubota with a Woods Back hoe. They work slick, trouble free. Price is less than $400 as I remember, but that was awhile ago.
MIE will make either hydraulic or manual but hydraulic is much pricier and you have to have the extra hydraulic ports. For as many times as I use it, the manual is fine for me

You don't need an extra hydraulic port, at least I didn't for my MIE thumb. The thumb valve is just connected in series with the hoses going to the BH. I just needed to tell MIE what fittings were on the BH so they could put the proper fittings on the thumb hoses.