Wallenstein Thumb Review on BX

[ats64mod]

The last two posts are very good additions to what I wrote, but I'd like to add a bit more...

I was just out looking over the Wallenstein Thumb on my BH75 - it's certainly a very elegant design and compact. However, compactness is its major downfall as the designer didn't give much thought to the forces being applied to his design... In order to make it fold up so small, they needed to curve the black top-link (making it far weaker than it might otherwise be when compared to the Bro-Tek unit).

Therefore, if one wishes to maintain the compact design, then the sketch I provided should work reasonably well (it doesn't solve the design flaw, but it does add more steel where it's needed - see updated design). If, however, one wants all-out strength, then a straight top-link will provide much more strength (as stated by wkasak) - thus creating the hybrid to which Tom_H alludes. In this stronger hybrid, the weak part of the design will now be the serrated jaws themselves. Unfortunately, after closely examining the unit, the top link on this hybrid design would have to be physically removed if one wishes to fold the unit when not in use.

Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect when I put mine to the test, but building the new unit could be fun...

 

[wkasak]

Funny you mention using a top link on the Wallenstein...I was thinking about that today as well. I will see what the manufacture has to say about my bent support and if I don't get anywhere with that then I might look into a top link to try...

 

[montelatici]

I don't know, I pushed my Wallenstein thumb pretty hard intermitently in conjunction with digging for two days 6 hours a day. I mashed (full hydraulic force) the bucket up against the thumb on occasion and applied full force to hold every kind of log and object. Is it possible that you accidently dug with the thumb extended? The application of bucket and stick hydraulics simultaneously would damage either type of thumb.
I was careful to do no digging with the thumb open.

 

[wkasak]

I installed the thumb...moved a pine tree stump...then attempted to fold it back up to do some digging...that's when I realized that it would not fold and pin together correctly. I did no digging with the thumb extended.

 

[escavader]

HI,
Just thought id show you a couple pics of mine.I know when i was building and designing i thrived for pics.As alot of you know from my stonewall building,this thumb has stood the test of time.Hope it helps.
ALAN

 

[HomeBrew2]

Ditto, 3 seasons now.
This rock, I couldn't lift w/ the FEL !
Mine also doesn't care if I jam it into the ground while digging
Amazing what some scrap form stakes and 4 bolts can withstand when the grometry's right

 

[kcook]

Ditto, 3 seasons now.
This rock, I couldn't lift w/ the FEL !
Mine also doesn't care if I jam it into the ground while digging
Amazing what some scrap form stakes and 4 bolts can withstand when the grometry's right

Impressive, any idea on the weight?

KC

 

[HomeBrew2]

Impressive, any idea on the weight? KC

Well, not really. That was the second one I lifted that pulled the front wheels clean off the ground ... this one was bigger and took a heaping FEL full of dirt to balance. I guess the specs list the FEL capacity as 460# so I guess it was something north of that.

 

[ats64mod]

HI,
Just thought id show you a couple pics of mine.I know when i was building and designing i thrived for pics.As alot of you know from my stonewall building,this thumb has stood the test of time.Hope it helps.
ALAN

Escavader,

That is one BEEFY thumb!!! Is that 1/2" plate steel? When folded up, does the top-link fold in as well, or do you remove and stow it elsewhere?

Nice piece - you could easily sell them on e-bay (especially if it could be modified to attach with bolts.

 

[Tom_H]

Just thought id show you a couple pics of mine.

Wo, Dude,

Now that's a serious mod. Nothing's gonna torque that baby out of camber. I'm thinking that if I get a bh, I'm taking it to a welder and just have one of those fabricated. HomeBrew, yours is slick too.

 

[HomeBrew2]

... HomeBrew, yours is slick too.

Yeh, I know ... but it ain't sexy, didn't cost 20 cases of beer or didn't take more than an hour to fab. Still waiting for a functionality/capability challenge, on the same type of tractor though ...

 

[escavader]

Escavader,

That is one BEEFY thumb!!! Is that 1/2" plate steel? When folded up, does the top-link fold in as well, or do you remove and stow it elsewhere?

Nice piece - you could easily sell them on e-bay (especially if it could be modified to attach with bolts.

Thanks,yes it was 1/2 plate.I cut it out with a plasma cutter[could of tryed a sawzall],then wear surfaced the teeth with my welder.The beefy top link gets stowed on the hoe floor in a special holder i made.If you notice with it folded up it protects my dipper stick from getting banged up when im squeezing a rock out of a hole.It also makes it a heck of alot easier to grip them,when you do.I got a post somewhere in the past on build it yourself,called twiddling my thumb or something like that.Homebrews thumb is just as effective,the point id like to get across to those who havent got one is,if you have any bit of welding ability you can build your own,and save alot of dough.It aint got to be exact like mine or homebrews,or who evers,scrounge up something for material[scraps is all we used] and use your imagination.I even made a cardboard cut out,to make sure it was ok.Its an awful good feeling when it works out and you made it yourself.
ALAN

 

[escavader]

Wo, Dude,

Now that's a serious mod. Nothing's gonna torque that baby out of camber. I'm thinking that if I get a bh, I'm taking it to a welder and just have one of those fabricated. HomeBrew, yours is slick too.

TOM,
If you got the smarts to run a computer ,you can weld up a thumb.Wish you were closer id lend a hand.Welders get the big bucks.There is alot of knowledge on TBN.We can help you through it.Thanks for the compliment,I love the thing.
ALAN

 

[FF Bob]

Hi guys brand new to this site ,took delivery of my new bx24 last week
i have one of these thumbs on order and your reviews have been very helpfull.

 

[escavader]

Hi guys brand new to this site ,took delivery of my new bx24 last week
i have one of these thumbs on order and your reviews have been very helpfull.

HI BOB,
Welcome to our hangout.Lots of good gearheads,and wrench heads on here.I see you got a 500 HO ,so does my wife.Fast atv.You can sell that plow now ,cause no one is gonna pry that BOTA wheel from your hands
ALAN

 

[FF Bob]

HI BOB,
Welcome to our hangout.Lots of good gearheads,and wrench heads on here.I see you got a 500 HO ,so does my wife.Fast atv.You can sell that plow now ,cause no one is gonna pry that BOTA wheel from your hands
ALAN

True ... You know your getting older ,when you have more fun operating a tractor rather than riding an ATV.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Homebrew2: I think the lip you designed into the lower part of your thumb is probably handier than the fancy teeth on the Wallenstein. I was just out trying out my new one, and though it is a great addition, I found it a little hard to grip larger rocks that were a little tapered. I think the lip you have would help rotate the rock enough to grip it better.........

 

[wkasak]

Just wanted to give everyone an update on my bent support brace. The ebay seller contacted the manufacturer and had a replacement sent to me. They requested the bent support back for analysis. Here are some pictures of the bent and new supports just so you can see where it failed and what to look for if it happens to you. I hope the new piece holds up better. Overall I am satisfied with the situation and resolution.

 

[8561]

Pretty rugged looking piece to have bent like that. Clearly, though, it's definately bent.

 

[mmar9987]

we have now made them stronger if anyone out there has a problem please email me thanks