Factory Thumb for GC1700 CB65 Hoe, works good, install is a breeze.

[GC1710]

I negotiated the thumb as part of the deal on the new GC purchase, it arrived yesterday! I liked the factory thumb because it uses the pin locations of the factory hoe and adds very little weight. Install took about 20 minutes, only issue was some excess weld bead stopping the thumb from going into its storage position....quick grind and all is well.....picked up this stump after digging and yanking on it....I'm happy....can't wait to use it to hold logs while I cut them with the saw!

I think I am going to weld some teeth that protrude on the end of it towards the bucket....it's sort of a flat piece with teeth but things can get "squeezed out"...thinking with teeth protruding towards the bucket at 45 degrees will stop that problem...and gives me an excuse to weld...

 

[LevesqueOnline]

Thats pretty sweet, do you know what they are worth? I dont find Massey is very good at advertising accessories like kubota.

love my GC though

 

[GC1710]

Thats pretty sweet, do you know what they are worth? I dont find Massey is very good at advertising accessories like kubota.

love my GC though

72533793M This is the Thumb kit part number you can give a dealer or look up on the AGCO parts website (which is a decent part/diagram tool).

I believe dealers will quote you between $400 and $499....I negotiated a service manual, the thumb, and a woods RC4 rotary cutter all for $800 ($500 off on the woods/massey instant rebate deal). So I can't tell you exactly what I paid. I think the brotek is also very nice, but this is made with what seems like chromoly on the storage tube and is really light, but heavy duty where needed.....if you have a welder I think some teeth on the end would be a really good addition.

 

[Bremse]

I love the thumb. I believe list is around $399 but I also negotiated it in my tractor purchase and while it's price is broken out on my invoice, the price for this line item was somewhat arbitrary to arrive at the negotiated package price.
Can you take a picture of the side profile of your backhoe in storage position (locking pins installed), bucket curled in, and thumb fully retracted? I saw some pictures on the net where it looks like the thumb retracts a lot more than it does on mine. I double checked my install and everything seems good and the thumb works and is far enough out of the way but I'd like to confirm. Thanks!

 

[GC1710]

I love the thumb. I believe list is around $399 but I also negotiated it in my tractor purchase and while it's price is broken out on my invoice, the price for this line item was somewhat arbitrary to arrive at the negotiated package price.
Can you take a picture of the side profile of your backhoe in storage position (locking pins installed), bucket curled in, and thumb fully retracted? I saw some pictures on the net where it looks like the thumb retracts a lot more than it does on mine. I double checked my install and everything seems good and the thumb works and is far enough out of the way but I'd like to confirm. Thanks!

This doesn't meet all your pic specifications, but this is with the thumb in "storage mode" and the bucket curled about 65%. Do note I have the 10" bucket, not that it matters.

 

[frugalangler]

Yep, I also did the thumb as part of my package, and I also liked it being integrated into the bucket pins. It works absolutely great w/ the BroTek ripper tooth to pluck stuff off the ground. I'm in a project ripping out a bunch of landscape timbers, works great to pluck them and drop on trailer!

 

[Bremse]

Thanks for posting the pic. I wonder if my adjustable bar is longer. My thumb definitely does not open that far. I'll have to measure next time I'm out by the tractor but I seem to recall it being around 20" retracted and 32" extended.
I'll try to attach a pic from when I had it newly installed last year.

 

[GC1710]

Thanks for posting the pic. I wonder if my adjustable bar is longer. My thumb definitely does not open that far. I'll have to measure next time I'm out by the tractor but I seem to recall it being around 20" retracted and 32" extended.
I'll try to attach a pic from when I had it newly installed last year.
View attachment 521040

Just realized you're from Indiana, I lived in Indianapolis for roughly 10 years, several friends down there. Actually friend with the last name Rettig lives in Brownsburg. Small world!

Looks like they redesigned it, but I bet yours does have more travel in the farthest setting. You could cut yours down if you don't need the longest setting.

 

[Bremse]

Yeah, small world indeed.
I'll have to take a picture of the thumb fully extended some time and see how far it comes down.
If you get a chance, would you mind measuring the support tube and rod (fully retracted and fully expanded)?
Here is a picture of the thumb kit before installation.

 

[GC1710]

Yeah, small world indeed.
I'll have to take a picture of the thumb fully extended some time and see how far it comes down.
If you get a chance, would you mind measuring the support tube and rod (fully retracted and fully expanded)?
Here is a picture of the thumb kit before installation.
View attachment 521168View attachment 521169