Any hindering when you are reaching for objects at full reach for the backhoe which would require the bucket to be fully open and the thumb fully extended to grab an object?
Any of you guys with these setups have any action videos?
ac
If I understand your question correctly, to position the thumb fully extended with bucket fully open would require you to touch the bucket teeth or edge against the ground (or other object) and then fully extend thumb. Then de-energize thumb solenoid and fully open bucket. I've done this, but in most instances it is both quicker and easier to touch bucket against item to be grabbed and then energize solenoid and extend thumb. Sounds complicated, but it becomes second nature quickly.
No vids, and the box scraper is on the tractor at the moment, some thoughts . . .
Operating with curl and thumb cylinders in parallel (with momentary switch to lock or unlock thumb cylinder - I use a push button switch on right joystick)
a) Whichever has the least resistance to movement will move first; This means that with the dipper stick just "hanging there" if you move the joy stick to uncurl (extend) the bucket, the thumb will move to it's "stowed" position first - this is due to the heavier bucket having to move against gravity. i.e. the lighter thumb retracts first, then the bucket uncurls or extends fully. If you then release the button (de-energizing the solenoid valve and locking thumb cylinder) the the hoe is ready for normal digging with the thumb tucked up and out of the way.
If you the want to pick something up from the thumb "put away" position, there are a couple of basic ways to proceed. Curl bucket, and/or move bucket with dipper, towards or against "something" and push the "thumb button" while continuing to curl the bucket. The bucket will stop or slow when it comes up against resistance - the thumb will then swing into position against the object and both thumb and bucket exert increasing pressure together upon object. Alternately or in combination with the above, you can leave thumb partially extended and use bucket against pre-positioned thumb (as one would do with a mechanical thumb. Or use a combination of the above, positioning thumb for best advantage.
b) Once the bucket and thumb are in contact and exerting pressure on an object, one cannot move both thumb and bucket in harmony (i.e. curling bucket while retracting thumb together) to "swing" or position object - further positioning can only be accomplished using other backhoe functions, dipper, boom, or swing. I practice, this isn't really much of a functional limitation.
c) In use, the "follow the leader" or "me too" operation of thumb and bucket quickly becomes instinctive and natural, though I had my doubts at first as it seemed a little clumsy as I tried to pick something up with finesse.
bumper
