My new backhoe thumb

rcrcomputing · May 31, 2008

I'm no welder, and use junk steal to build stuff. But MAN is this thing useful!!
The body is u-channel steal I robbed from an big old satellite, the teeth are from some angle I had laying around. All the rest is junk I had laying around. Some of the 1/2" steal is two pieces of 1/4" welded together. After I was done, I looked at some threads and realized this thing was a bit over-done. But it works really well and folds back just fine for storage!
Though you guys might like to see it.

Mowbizz · May 31, 2008

rcrcomputing said:
I'm no welder, and use junk steal to build stuff. But MAN is this thing useful!!
The body is u-channel steal I robbed from an big old satellite, the teeth are from some angle I had laying around. All the rest is junk I had laying around. Some of the 1/2" steal is two pieces of 1/4" welded together. After I was done, I looked at some threads and realized this thing was a bit over-done. But it works really well and folds back just fine for storage!
Though you guys might like to see it.

Yup...that'll do the trick!!

Overdone?...not really...heavy duty is always better...

RedDirt · Jun 1, 2008

Most thumbs have "teeth" and a lot of folk go to some effort, plasma cutting and such, to get them. I like your simple approach with the small angle welded across the "C" channel.

brandoro · Jun 1, 2008

Looks good. Gives me a couple more ideas. I have been thinking about a thumb for my BH as well but have been planning to make a bolt on in case I felt the need to reposition it or maybe remove it altogether.
How did you decide where to place it and do you think you might ever prefer it mounted at a different point on the stick?

rcrcomputing · Jun 1, 2008

I'd seen a couple of thumbs and mentally made a note of where they positioned it. Then eyeballed it with movement of the bucket. The only thing I had to change/add is another tooth right where the tooth of the bucket hits the thumb. When I pulled the first 4x4 fence post out of the ground, I snapped it in two when I grabbed it because the backhoe tooth did not meet the thumb on a tooth. That gave it the scissor effect.

Notice the angle at the top of the thumb. That was part of the old satellite, so I just went with it. Again, this thing works great and I've been using it now for several weeks. But as I see other thumbs, some are basically the same, but simpler.

Also, the pipe tended to go to one side or the other, so I drilled and inserted a smaller pipe into it to stop side to side movement. It is sched 80 pipe.

While I would strive to make it simpler and "prettier" if I did it again. the basic design is great. I can pick up anything the tractor can pick up lifting the front end of the tractor with ease.

It's tested extensively with logs, piles of brush etc. But I've only done a few rocks so far. I built it for rocks (pictures coming later).

I love this thing. Really! I'm running around nowadays without my toothbar, because this thing is MUCH better at picking stuff up. I'm about 5' 11" and can lean WAY back (not real easy to do), and it the controls, pick something up and continue on my way.

As for the teeth, I've seen all the curved ones etc.. But am unsure what the advantage would be other than you'd break more posts as you pulled them out of the ground. This thing has plenty of grip.

I'm long winded because I finally get a chance to show it and talk about it to folks that appreciate such things. I'm making a grapple next for my FEL. Just have to find some more junk metel for the arms...

snoboy · Jun 1, 2008

Awesome job! Got love it when a guy can build something so useful. My self I didn't weld back when I bought mine. I originally bought the 8x24 thumb from USA attachments which I have used a bunch. My problem is that an 8x24 thumb @ 110lbs. is wayyy to big for my tractor. I got a buddy that's gonna buy it from me and put it on his full size backhoe so I went ahead and ordered this one which is the correct size @16x5 and 40lbs. It was $244.00 delivered to the door. Now that I can weld I can get it installed when it arrives and install the other one on my buddy's rig. The ebay add for mine is gone now but it's the same thing.

25" THUMB / BACKHOE / SKID STEER / EXCAVATOR / - eBay (item 200228340535 end time Jun-07-08 09:29:31 PDT)

I think you'll agree that this mongo thumb sorta gets in the way.
Pic 1
The tape measure is out at least 2 feet.
Pic 2
Pic 3
Loaded and ready
Pic 4

MikePA: Changed HUGE inlline pics to links.

3RRL · Jun 2, 2008

rcr,
Nice work and good thinking in making that yourself. I like to see any home made project and yours is no exception. Your welds are good enough that it will never come off, I'm sure. And I really like your "teeth" the way you made them.
Great job.

rcrcomputing · Jun 2, 2008

Snowboy, at least when I say I have a thumb, you can say "no, I have a thumb!!"

Thanks guys! For all the good comments.

I didn't realize how ugly the thing was till I posted pictures. Thanks for not mentioning it. hehe

But it works!

Window Geek · Jun 4, 2008

RCR, ugly may be in the eye of the beholder, but I just beheld simple, straightforward design.

Heavy duty? yup. just like the back hoe. Nice job!

Runner · Jun 4, 2008

rc,

Ugly is in the eye of the BEERholder.

Nice work. I'm planning one for my BH too and your's looks like a good one to model.

Thanks for sharing.

workinallthetime · Jun 5, 2008

I am about to embark on my own thumb journey, lol. I love the fact that you use whatever you have around to build stuff, cause thats what I do. I found some online to get the basic idea and even called one company. these guys wanted 1800.00 for the mechanical thumb and 3000 for the hydro. one. Im thinking my b3030 really doesnt need a 1800.00 thumb. between the scrap metal, a mig welder, a torch and some redneck engeering i can build this baby for about 30.00 (pins).
good job man, build ya a grade blade to, you will love it

rcrcomputing · Jun 5, 2008

workinallthetime said:
I am about to embark on my own thumb journey, lol. I love the fact that you use whatever you have around to build stuff, cause thats what I do. I found some online to get the basic idea and even called one company. these guys wanted 1800.00 for the mechanical thumb and 3000 for the hydro. one. Im thinking my b3030 really doesnt need a 1800.00 thumb. between the scrap metal, a mig welder, a torch and some redneck engeering i can build this baby for about 30.00 (pins).
good job man, build ya a grade blade to, you will love it

I'd look at the simple welds on dkrug's here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...e-mechanical-thumb-fixed.html?highlight=thumb

Then, you could swith-hit between articulated and not etc.. I choose to weld a long piece on to make sure it stayed on! And didn't look at his till after I was done.

For a grade blade, I REALLY need some metel!

escavader · Jun 5, 2008

GOOD JOB,I THINK ITS PERFECT.Mine is welded on and im not sorry i did it either.Takes some thinkin doesnt it

?
ALAN

rcrcomputing · Jun 6, 2008

escavader said:
GOOD JOB,I THINK ITS PERFECT.Mine is welded on and im not sorry i did it either.Takes some thinkin doesnt it ?
ALAN

You just HAD to put your two cents in huh. Which made me look up your profile to see yours, find your "quick hitch in the bucket" trick. Now I'm reading all up on it and seeing how to integrate into a rake I'm going to make with rebar and trampoline springs...

And yes, tractoring makes my brain tired... Or at least tractorbynet does.. ha

wedge40 · Jun 6, 2008

Here is the one I like best.. No welding required on the backhoe.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/114194-kubota-bx24-thumb.html?highlight=thumb

Wedge

Shmudda · Jun 6, 2008

Wedge,

Thanks for the complement here......

That thumb was the best thing I have on this machine so far as its really useful. Didn't take long to design neither!

Craig

dfkrug · Jun 6, 2008

rcrcomputing said:
As for the teeth, I've seen all the curved ones etc.. But am unsure what the advantage would be other than you'd break more posts as you pulled them out of the ground. This thing has plenty of grip....

Looks fine, RCR. Simple, effective, and you got to recycle some leftovers.

My first thumb was straight, too, and the subsequent ones all had just
a slight curve. I also found that I had plenty of grip with either no teeth,
or just a few small teeth.

workinallthetime · Jun 7, 2008

at what point do you measure to get your over all length of the thumb ? I looked at mine and I am figuring around 24". some like that bolt on job look real short and some look like they are the same length as the bucket at about 90 degree on the curl. I would think you would want it just slightly longer but i duno

any input would be great, im rounding up metal this week.

rcrcomputing · Jun 7, 2008

workinallthetime said:
at what point do you measure to get your over all length of the thumb ? I looked at mine and I am figuring around 24". some like that bolt on job look real short and some look like they are the same length as the bucket at about 90 degree on the curl. I would think you would want it just slightly longer but i duno

any input would be great, im rounding up metal this week.

I did as you say and made it the same length at 90%. When it closes, the middle tooth of the bh hits right at the second tooth from the bottom.

I originally had the very bottom cap at the end of the channel stick out a bit further than the rest. That also disfigured 4x4's when I pulled them out of the ground.

There are times when I wish I had a horizontal piece to fit over the teeth, like when I'm reaching down the side of the dam and plucking small cedar trees. Hard to grab a tree that's only 1" diameter.

rcrcomputing · Jun 7, 2008

dfkrug said:
Looks fine, RCR. Simple, effective, and you got to recycle some leftovers.

My first thumb was straight, too, and the subsequent ones all had just
a slight curve. I also found that I had plenty of grip with either no teeth,
or just a few small teeth.

Thank you! Have you noticed an advantage to the curved design?