Thumb Does a thumb get in the way when digging with a BH?

[CavinMan]

I originally posted this question in a Kubota forum, but then thought I should make this a general thread.

I'm probably going to get a BH for my tractor, and I can see how a thumb would be really useful for some of the work I have planned. But although I've got a few hours in a JD 310, I've never run a backhoe with a thumb, or even seen one so equipped in use.

Does a thumb get in the way when digging?

 

[vic4news]

I have a mechanical thumb on the woods 80x. For digging, you open it all the way up and doesn't interfere with digging.

 

[art]

I've run the same machines both ways and it can be in the way depending on the digging your doing. I do like a thumb don't get me wrong but if you are mainly trenching you might wish it is off.

 

[hazmat]

I have the woods 80X as well.

It conflicts with the 9" bucket as they are the same width - the bucket won't curl all the way as the sides of the bucket hit the hinge of the thumb. I loose about 5% of range of motion.

On a 12" or larger bucket - I can't imagine how it would get in the way, it is tucked up pretty tight against the dipper when "stowed".

 

[CavinMan]

I have the woods 80X as well.

It conflicts with the 9" bucket as they are the same width - the bucket won't curl all the way as the sides of the bucket hit the hinge of the thumb. I loose about 5% of range of motion.

On a 12" or larger bucket - I can't imagine how it would get in the way, it is tucked up pretty tight against the dipper when "stowed".

OK, then the thumb hinges off the dipper - or shares it's pivot point with the bucket, right? So to pick up something, get the bucket under it, then close down the thumb. After that, you can't roll back the bucket without losing your load because the thumb won't follow it. Somehow I had this idea that the thumb might be part of the bucket, but instead it's part of the dipper. So if you want to just dig, you tuck the thumb up against the dipper and have at it, right?

 

[hazmat]

You got it

Se pic here woodsonline

 

[dfkrug]

Does a thumb get in the way when digging?

Sometimes it can be in the way. Other times it actually HELPS
with digging, and it can increase the dumping height. I once rented
an excavator for backfilling over a 20' wall. The thumb was required to
hold the dirt in the bkt at full lift.

On my CUT, my fixed thumb was not designed to retract all the
way back to the dipper, so I sometimes dig a different (though
quite effective) way if I don't want to bother removing the
thumb. My articulated thumb is even more effective than the
fixed thumb, and my hydraulic thumb (slaved to curl cyl) is more
effective than that. Neither of these thumbs retract far enough
to be truly out of the way. I have not found that to be a problem.
I plan to do some trenching for a neighbor in a week or so and I
will determine if leaving the thumb on will not impact my overall
productivity.

 

[Willl]

No, most of the time I forget it's even there.

 

[3RRL]

I have found what Dave said is true.
My articulating thumb helps when digging and does not get in the way. It helps get dirt out.
LOL...I do have a "park" position for it out of the way, but have never used it yet.

 

[cny]

I have a Woods BH7500 (not the new X model)
I emailed Woods aand asked if they had a thumb for my BH

They responded with...

"We do not offer a thumb of any kind for the model BH7500 backhoe.
Thank you,
Steve Wells
Special Accounts Coordinator
stevew@woodsequipment.com"

Do you think I can make the thumb for the BX70 work on the BH7500? The bucket is a 16" Gannon (16" wide & 18" from stick to tooth tip)

I like the idea of using the existing bucket pin