Thumb Thumb for JD TLB110

[CurlyDave]

I have 40 acres with a lot of rocks, some just lying on the ground, some partly burried, and anywhere I dig about 20% by volume seems to be rocks. So far they range from softball size up to washing machine drum size, with bowling ball size being fairly common.

Most of them can be picked up with the BH, but it is difficult to separate them from the surrounding dirt and I end up gathering them up by hand & throwing them in the FEL. This gets old in a hurry.

Would a thumb make picking them out of dirt significantly easier or would it be only a marginal improvement?

I could also use the thumb for handling tree trunks, stumps & such, which I have in abundance.

JD wants about $2500 for the thumb, which is not out of the question if it is "highly useful", but requires some justification. The tractor already has the hydraulics installed for the thumb.

Also, I have both 12" and 18" buckets for the BH. JD claims the thumb can not be used with the 12" bucket, but would I have to remove it to use the 12" bucket, or just not use the thumb?

Any recommendations?

 

[dubba]

I have a 110 with the JD thumb.

It is fairly useful on most everything once you get used to having it.

A couple of things about the JD thumb,

2500 Dollars? I hope that's installed. I paid 1450 installed at my JD dealer.

The JD thumb is (IMHO) a total piece of crap. It does work, however the Cylinder is too small, it lacks power, doesn't travel far enough, & has a tendency to break off the grease fittings due to clearance issues with itself.

I bent the "ears" over on it in about 2 hours. All mild steel as far as I can tell.

A much better thumb is made by Addington Equipment, which is what mine will have shortly.

I can take pics of the issues I have had with mine if you wish.

Just my .02

 

[CurlyDave]

I would love to see the pix.

 

[bam747]

Don't have any advice on a BH thumb, but given the quantity an size of your typical rocks, have you thought about a rock bucket for your FEL? Maybe with a grapple? Here's a link to a Bradco Rock Bucket, but there are many other manufactures of rock buckets.

 

[dubba]

pic

 

[dubba]

pics

 

[dubba]

another

 

[dubba]

nutha

 

[dubba]

again

 

[1948berg]

This thumb is made in Norway, it is ready for welding on to any bucket. It will follow the movement of the bucket. The one cyl. type is like dubbas. To get an idea of the prices devide the amount in Norwegian kroner with 7
http://www.fpro.no/index-filer/Page552.htm

 

[1948berg]

I forgot, it also can be hooked on and off, just locked with 2 screws, no welding at all!

 

[dfkrug]

Thx for posting the photos, dubba. I am amazed that the JD factory thumb is so poorly designed. The 110 is a great machine, though out of the league of most of us with non-industrial tractors. That said, I love the new mechanical thumb that I fabricated for my Prairie Dog hoe. Every hoe should have a thumb!

 

[zigmond]

im thinking of getting a mechanical thumb for my 110
from http://cgi.ebay.com/THUMB-SKID-STEER-EXCAVATOR-BOBCAT-16-05_W0QQitemZ7602150888QQcategoryZ26199QQcmdZViewItem
buy it know of 250.00 and they have all different sizes.
i have a 24" bucket do you know what size i would need/best ?
thanks ziggy

 

[dfkrug]

Helix has been selling those thumbs on Ebay for a while. Since you have to weld the brackets onto your dipper stick, make sure the thumb is long enough to reach outside of the teeth of your bucket. If you are going to be picking up rocks, I recommend welding some harder steel onto the thumb teeth. I used small backhoe teeth.

 

[zigmond]

my bucket is 24 inch from dipperstick to the teeth
do u think 20x5 inch thumb will work?
good idea with teeth i going to do that thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifjavascript:void(0)
javascript:void(0)

 

[zigmond]

any company in u.s.a. carrying that thumb?

 

[Fergy42286]

How exactly is the hose for the thumb run, because i just got my 110 Friday and the thumb hose is already wearing against the bolt on the hoe. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Any help is apreciated.
Brian

 

[dubba]

I'm guessing that your having this problem?

I'm having a hard time not flaming JD over this one... I just stopped by my dealer & mentioned the problem & they fixed it under warranty. All they did was make the hose 4" longer.

 

[Fergy42286]

Exactly my problem, I called the dealer already and they said they would fix it. I will tell them how they fixed yours, I'll get them to put protective sheathing around the line as well. Other than this little glitch, i love this machine. Thanks