Thumb Hydraulic thumb for BX23 BH

[JimMorrissey]

Sam,

Who is your fabricator? Can you PM or post his contact info, if you don't mind. I'd like to see what kind of work he does and maybe get some pictures.

I need a thumb for my hoe (staic thumb). I like the price for a hydraulic one too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[davesisk]

A simple solution for how to plumb this up would be to use a simple double-port selector valve, either manual ($70) or electric ($180). See www.surpluscenter.com...they have both. You could use the selector valve, for instance, to switch the hydraulic flow between the bucket curl and thumb curl operations. With a manual selector, you'd have to push/pull a knob or lever to control which cylinder gets operated, or with a electric selector, you could mount a thumb button on the bucket curl joystick so that, for instance, pushing the button and moving the joystick curls the thumb, but just moving the joystick curls the bucket as normal. You could use a slightly different setup if you wanted to be able to use both bucket and thumb curl at once (assuming the tractor will run both circuits simultaneously).

HTH,
Dave

 

[nasdaqsam]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Please do post the results when you get your thumb built - I may be interested in buying a setup like that too if your fabricator is interested in building more. )</font>Sorry for taking so long to reply but I was out of town. I told my fabricator to keep track of everything so he could come up with a price on an out the door set-up.

He brought the thumb itself over to fit it. It looks great. It's a real tight fit because there is not much of a stick to work with once it is fully curled but what he has done so far looks great. I did not get a picture but will as soon as it is done.

Keep an eye out for future posts.

 

[nasdaqsam]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sam,

Who is your fabricator? Can you PM or post his contact info, if you don't mind. I'd like to see what kind of work he does and maybe get some pictures.

I need a thumb for my hoe (staic thumb). I like the price for a hydraulic one too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>Jim, His name is Ronny Breyette. I will post mine as soon as it is done. We just ordered the piston so it will be another week or so. Once you see mine you can decide for yourself if you like his work. If you do I will send you his info.

Take Care

 

[nasdaqsam]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A simple solution for how to plumb this up would be to use a simple double-port selector valve, either manual ($70) or electric ($180). See www.surpluscenter.com...they have both. You could use the selector valve, for instance, to switch the hydraulic flow between the bucket curl and thumb curl operations. With a manual selector, you'd have to push/pull a knob or lever to control which cylinder gets operated, or with a electric selector, you could mount a thumb button on the bucket curl joystick so that, for instance, pushing the button and moving the joystick curls the thumb, but just moving the joystick curls the bucket as normal. You could use a slightly different setup if you wanted to be able to use both bucket and thumb curl at once (assuming the tractor will run both circuits simultaneously).

HTH,
Dave
)</font>Dave, Thanks for the info. That was going to be our first choice for a set-up then we decided to just tee off the mains to a diverter valve. The pump should be able to handle it as it will be no more then running the stick and the bucket at the same time. Most of the time it will just be the bucket and the thumb together so it should work. We are still not certain on wether or not we will need to reduce the pressure.

Thanks again

 

[davesisk]

Not sure exactly what you mean in terms of the hydraulic hookup, but you generally can't tee off the pressure line...the fluid will take the path of least resistance, and neither side of the parallel circuit will then work! If you're saying you're going to put a diverter after the main pressure outlet but before the valves for the hoe, then that sounds like it should work, but you'll need additional valves to control the thumb. I'd just add another valve if that's the case (buy one valve instead of buying a diverter and a valve!) If I misunderstood, please post some more details.

Dave

 

[JimMorrissey]

Will be waiting to see how it looks.

 

[KubotaTrax]

Here is what u are looking for. I made it out of 1/2" * 3" flat stock. It will take you about 4 hrs to build and about 8 hours for the paint to dry! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Total cost is around $35 bucks.
I dont know what the reach is for a BX23 BH but my kubota is short and I was not going to spend $1000 for something I could build. I think it is 6.5ft so the dipper arm is about 21" to mount the thumb.
Hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[KubotaTrax]

The picture is for the Thumb...Not my son!!!..LOL. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[KubotaTrax]

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