Thumbing It
- Thread starter KentT
- Start date
- Views: 3678
tracdoc
Platinum Member
I would be interested in getting one, Tim.
tracdoc
Platinum Member
I would be interested in getting one, Tim.
OP
KentT
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 2,928
- Location
- Sevierville, TN
- Tractor
- 1993 Power Trac 1430 w/Kubota diesel engine
Before a bunch of you guys order these thumbs, I want to point out a couple of things:
1. The thumb shown in the eBay listing is not the exact one that I received. My 16" thumb had 5 teeth, instead of the 7 shown, and we cut off two of those 5 to shorten it...
2. The mounting brackets for the thumb are wider than the boom of the 425's minihoe, so they'll stick out slightly on each side. You'll need to "fiddle with" the exact alignment to get the bucket teeth's to mesh correctly with the 5" wide thumb. I have mine set to where the side edges of the thumb will go between the bucket teeth, allowing the two to close as much as possible, yet not "pinch" at the ends of the teeth. The sides of the thumb go down between the teeth, as shown in the linked closeup picture below. Because of the irregular location of the teeth on the PT bucket, this meant that the thumb mounting bracket is not exactly centered on the boom -- it sticks out about 1/4" more on one side than the other. The side shown below is the shortest overlap -- the bracket sticks out a bit farther on the other side of the boom. I just use the thick spacers (similar to thick washers) that are provided with the kit to make sure the bar that braces the thumb stays centered on the boom...
Closeup of thumb installed
I just wanted you guys to be aware before you purchased, and not be surprised.
Also, if you're going to use a thumb on the minihoe for a 1430 or larger tractor, I'd suggest reinforcing the boom to help prevent twisting or bending it. The PT-425 is much lighter and the PT pucker kicks in much sooner, so you can't stress the minihoe's construction nearly as much as you could on the heavier machines...
Even on the PT-425, be aware that you can now stress the minihoe in ways it wasn't originally intended...
Enough for the obligatory "notes, cautions and warnings" -- if you still install one, I think you'll be just as pleased as I am with the results... I'm anxious to see what it will do with stone for the retaining wall I've been planning.
1. The thumb shown in the eBay listing is not the exact one that I received. My 16" thumb had 5 teeth, instead of the 7 shown, and we cut off two of those 5 to shorten it...
2. The mounting brackets for the thumb are wider than the boom of the 425's minihoe, so they'll stick out slightly on each side. You'll need to "fiddle with" the exact alignment to get the bucket teeth's to mesh correctly with the 5" wide thumb. I have mine set to where the side edges of the thumb will go between the bucket teeth, allowing the two to close as much as possible, yet not "pinch" at the ends of the teeth. The sides of the thumb go down between the teeth, as shown in the linked closeup picture below. Because of the irregular location of the teeth on the PT bucket, this meant that the thumb mounting bracket is not exactly centered on the boom -- it sticks out about 1/4" more on one side than the other. The side shown below is the shortest overlap -- the bracket sticks out a bit farther on the other side of the boom. I just use the thick spacers (similar to thick washers) that are provided with the kit to make sure the bar that braces the thumb stays centered on the boom...
Closeup of thumb installed
I just wanted you guys to be aware before you purchased, and not be surprised.
Also, if you're going to use a thumb on the minihoe for a 1430 or larger tractor, I'd suggest reinforcing the boom to help prevent twisting or bending it. The PT-425 is much lighter and the PT pucker kicks in much sooner, so you can't stress the minihoe's construction nearly as much as you could on the heavier machines...
Even on the PT-425, be aware that you can now stress the minihoe in ways it wasn't originally intended...
Enough for the obligatory "notes, cautions and warnings" -- if you still install one, I think you'll be just as pleased as I am with the results... I'm anxious to see what it will do with stone for the retaining wall I've been planning.
OP
KentT
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 2,928
- Location
- Sevierville, TN
- Tractor
- 1993 Power Trac 1430 w/Kubota diesel engine
Before a bunch of you guys order these thumbs, I want to point out a couple of things:
1. The thumb shown in the eBay listing is not the exact one that I received. My 16" thumb had 5 teeth, instead of the 7 shown, and we cut off two of those 5 to shorten it...
2. The mounting brackets for the thumb are wider than the boom of the 425's minihoe, so they'll stick out slightly on each side. You'll need to "fiddle with" the exact alignment to get the bucket teeth's to mesh correctly with the 5" wide thumb. I have mine set to where the side edges of the thumb will go between the bucket teeth, allowing the two to close as much as possible, yet not "pinch" at the ends of the teeth. The sides of the thumb go down between the teeth, as shown in the linked closeup picture below. Because of the irregular location of the teeth on the PT bucket, this meant that the thumb mounting bracket is not exactly centered on the boom -- it sticks out about 1/4" more on one side than the other. The side shown below is the shortest overlap -- the bracket sticks out a bit farther on the other side of the boom. I just use the thick spacers (similar to thick washers) that are provided with the kit to make sure the bar that braces the thumb stays centered on the boom...
Closeup of thumb installed
I just wanted you guys to be aware before you purchased, and not be surprised.
Also, if you're going to use a thumb on the minihoe for a 1430 or larger tractor, I'd suggest reinforcing the boom to help prevent twisting or bending it. The PT-425 is much lighter and the PT pucker kicks in much sooner, so you can't stress the minihoe's construction nearly as much as you could on the heavier machines...
Even on the PT-425, be aware that you can now stress the minihoe in ways it wasn't originally intended...
Enough for the obligatory "notes, cautions and warnings" -- if you still install one, I think you'll be just as pleased as I am with the results... I'm anxious to see what it will do with stone for the retaining wall I've been planning.
1. The thumb shown in the eBay listing is not the exact one that I received. My 16" thumb had 5 teeth, instead of the 7 shown, and we cut off two of those 5 to shorten it...
2. The mounting brackets for the thumb are wider than the boom of the 425's minihoe, so they'll stick out slightly on each side. You'll need to "fiddle with" the exact alignment to get the bucket teeth's to mesh correctly with the 5" wide thumb. I have mine set to where the side edges of the thumb will go between the bucket teeth, allowing the two to close as much as possible, yet not "pinch" at the ends of the teeth. The sides of the thumb go down between the teeth, as shown in the linked closeup picture below. Because of the irregular location of the teeth on the PT bucket, this meant that the thumb mounting bracket is not exactly centered on the boom -- it sticks out about 1/4" more on one side than the other. The side shown below is the shortest overlap -- the bracket sticks out a bit farther on the other side of the boom. I just use the thick spacers (similar to thick washers) that are provided with the kit to make sure the bar that braces the thumb stays centered on the boom...
Closeup of thumb installed
I just wanted you guys to be aware before you purchased, and not be surprised.
Also, if you're going to use a thumb on the minihoe for a 1430 or larger tractor, I'd suggest reinforcing the boom to help prevent twisting or bending it. The PT-425 is much lighter and the PT pucker kicks in much sooner, so you can't stress the minihoe's construction nearly as much as you could on the heavier machines...
Even on the PT-425, be aware that you can now stress the minihoe in ways it wasn't originally intended...
Enough for the obligatory "notes, cautions and warnings" -- if you still install one, I think you'll be just as pleased as I am with the results... I'm anxious to see what it will do with stone for the retaining wall I've been planning.
bbabineau
Silver Member
KentT
Did you ever hear from the thumb manufacturer if they would manufacture a 12.5 in version?
If not, I may ask my local fab shop to make one for me.
Thanks
Bob
Did you ever hear from the thumb manufacturer if they would manufacture a 12.5 in version?
If not, I may ask my local fab shop to make one for me.
Thanks
Bob
OP
KentT
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 2,928
- Location
- Sevierville, TN
- Tractor
- 1993 Power Trac 1430 w/Kubota diesel engine
Bob,bbabineau said:
I haven't talked to them about it. It was TimInCt who asked the company if they'd be interested in making 12.5" ones, not me... Maybe he'll provide and update.
bbabineau
Silver Member
Tim
I will bring a drawing of the ones I have seen to my local fab shop to see if he will build one for me. Is he is willing, I will get a price so if others want one he can supply.
Bob
I will bring a drawing of the ones I have seen to my local fab shop to see if he will build one for me. Is he is willing, I will get a price so if others want one he can supply.
Bob
