My new backhoe thumb

[dfkrug]

I don't see any significant benefit to the curve, no, RCR. Since my
current thumbs were drawn in a CAD application, putting a little curve
and some teeth in it did not cost any more when the CNC shop cut the
1/2" plates.

As for deciding on how long to make the thumb, I made my current thumbs
as long as I could without hitting the main boom at full crowd. I allowed
a little less than an inch clearance at the closest point betw the boom and
thumb.

 

[workinallthetime]

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.

see thats what im thinking, a thumb and my grade blade at the same time. then you could pick a flea off the south end of a north bound hound with the set up

 

[workinallthetime]

well I started work on mine sunday, you can see the progress here
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/123185-yet-another-thumb-its-way.html

lots of welding and lots of cutting, but cant wait to use it

 

[workinallthetime]

As for deciding on how long to make the thumb, I made my current thumbs
as long as I could without hitting the main boom at full crowd. I allowed
a little less than an inch clearance at the closest point betw the boom and
thumb.

doesnt that limit the size of material you can pick up? Im wanting to pick up even small rocks with mine.

if anyone can would they post some pics of the teeth on their thumbs, im trying to decide on the layout

 

[dfkrug]

doesnt that limit the size of material you can pick up? Im wanting to pick up even small rocks with mine.

I AM somewhat limited from picking up very large rocks, but if I can
not get my thumb and bkt around it, it is prob too heavy anyway. I am not
limited at the small end, as you can imagine with this photo. When my
thumb is perpendicular to the boom, the middle bkt tooth meets the end
of the thumb near its tip. If I put much more curvature in the thumb, then
long thin objects like branches or pipes would not be firmly grasped.

 

[workinallthetime]

I AM somewhat limited from picking up very large rocks, but if I can
not get my thumb and bkt around it, it is prob too heavy anyway. I am not
limited at the small end, as you can imagine with this photo. When my
thumb is perpendicular to the boom, the middle bkt tooth meets the end
of the thumb near its tip. If I put much more curvature in the thumb, then
long thin objects like branches or pipes would not be firmly grasped.

ahh your "full crowd" coment had me confused, i thought you meant when the bucket was fully curled the bucket would clear the thumb.

i plan on mounting mine where when the bucket is at 90 degrees from the dipper stick the teeth will contact each other, much like yours in the pic

 

[3RRL]

I put a very slight curve to my thumb jaws, but teeth quite a ways up, not knowing what I'll end up grabbing with them.
You can see them folded out of the way and then how they meet the bucket teeth.



Here's how I made mine.

 

[workinallthetime]

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.

so from what your saying i really did not need to spend the time to make such agressive teeth on mine. how about the webing between the teeth, i noticed some have nothing and some are almost solid. Have you noticed any advantage either way? now that I have the rough in done and looking at some of the other thumbs a little closer on here i am thinking of 2 things, make it lighter and wider. light part is easy, wide part hmmmm

think im in the running for the tbn's ugly thumb contest,lol

 

[rcrcomputing]

so from what your saying i really did not need to spend the time to make such agressive teeth on mine. how about the webing between the teeth, i noticed some have nothing and some are almost solid. Have you noticed any advantage either way?

If you want to pull t-posts, or god forbid a 4x4 with those mean teeth, you'd better do something where the bucket tooth hits the thumb teeth.

think im in the running for the tbn's ugly thumb contest,lol

Not anymore.. YOU WIN! <giggling profusely>

 

[workinallthetime]

If you want to pull t-posts, or god forbid a 4x4 with those mean teeth, you'd better do something where the bucket tooth hits the thumb teeth.



Not anymore.. YOU WIN! <giggling profusely>

I grabed a sandstone by the corner and it just shattered, it was awsome. lol

now im going to have to do some dental work i guess, want the thing wider, lighter, and painted