Thumb Design

[Squizzy246B]

I'd be greatful if anybody could post pics of their thumbs...(Thats HYDRAULIC thumbs for you clowns:yup ...I can see all the pics of operators digits turning up:rolleyes: ).

I am not going to order my new mini with a thumb but rather I have been looking at designs and will get me local guy to fabricate something for me.

For whatever dumb reason thumbs are not so popular down under:confused: and I don't think that many of the machine shops the dealers use have a lot of experience in making them. I'm really after the details of the hinge and attachment points.

TIA

[xkvator]

:thumbsup...i have Bobcat's hydraulic thumb on my 331...i couldn't imagine having to get off and put it in work position every time i need to use it.

[Squizzy246B]

Thats what I have gathered. I used a 312 with a factory thumb awhile back and that was enough to convince me not to have another excavator without a hydraulic thumb. I have a big pitched stone wall to build shortly and I aint going to lift all those boondies up there by hand. Do you have any pics?.

[Ford LT-9000]

Here is some pictures

www.cwsindustries.com/products/excavators/thumbs/images/hydraulicdirect.jpg

www.accuratefabricating.com/Product%20Pages/DirectLinkHyd.Thumb.htm

www.pacifictractor.com/images/equipment/pt1117a.jpg

www.pacifictractor.com/images/equipment/pt1117b.jpg

[Squizzy246B]

Here is some pictures


Thank you very much, appreciated.

[Squizzy246B]

I have these but I don't like all the welding around the end of the stick. The hinged design seems much better off the pin:

[digger242j]

...(Thats HYDRAULIC thumbs for you clowns ...I can see all the pics of operators digits turning up ).

Ok...

[Squizzy246B]

Hey, I didn't take the photo, I pinched that of a US website...and haven't you got a bed to go to?? or has Mrs Digger kicked you out again?:rolleyes:

[digger242j]

Monday morning, the Kobelco 70 I sometimes operate is getting a manual thumb. I'll be sure to get some pics.

I kinda like the ones LT posted with the thumb attached to the main bucket pin, instead of welded to the bottom of the boom...

[Squizzy246B]

I kinda like the ones LT posted with the thumb attached to the main bucket pin, instead of welded to the bottom of the boom...

Me Too:yup

[digger242j]

And yes, I do have a bed to go to. Mrs. Digger is working the midnight shift tonight though, so I won't have any company. :(

(And since I'm not a truck driver, my chances of finding any at this hour are pretty slim...) :rolleyes:


:laugh

[Ford LT-9000]

All the ones I posted are made by the same manufacture of the quick connects. The thumb does pivot off the bottom of the stick the same shaft holds the quick connect.

Pretty well all of the excavators sold in B.C. come with a bare stick no buckets so the customer chooses who evers quick connect it gets put on the machine.

Manufacturers here make all the parts to fit and can ship it too you and you install the quick connect system. The only problem you need to buy the quick connect buckets.

[CascadeScaper]

LT9000, is Accurate popular up there? I keep seeing more and more Hitachi's down here with Accurate thumbs, buckets, and couplers. Where are they out of?

[Dwan Hall]

I'll try to get out to mine later today and take some pictures. It is a "PSM" brand and like Accurate pivot on the bucket pin. There is also a pressure valve in line so you can adjust the closing pressure. I have mine adjusted so the bucket curl just overrides the thumb.
In choosing a thumb make sure it is narrower then the smallest bucket you plan on using. if not you limit your digging depth to the thumb with. There are also progressive linkage thumbs which allow the thumb greater movement or a longer travel but I have no experience with them.
An excavator without a thumb is only 1/2 a machine.


Dwan

[Ford LT-9000]

Accurate manufacturing is in Surrey B.C. which is near Vancouver they are a smaller company compared to CWS. Accurate builds good stuff its pretty much the same as CWS.

I forgot Weldco Beales makes thumbs aswell and buckets etc.

[atgreene]

Mine is a pin on style. If I had it to do over again it would be a weld on. My old weld-on style had a bigger opening and allowed me to move larger objects.

[xkvator]

http://www.werkbrau.com/products/?cid=8&scid=143&pid=113

[will_gurt]

Monday morning, the Kobelco 70 I sometimes operate is getting a manual thumb. I'll be sure to get some pics.

I kinda like the ones LT posted with the thumb attached to the main bucket pin, instead of welded to the bottom of the boom...


WELL????????? MR. DIGGER, How'd the install go???? How about resizing them photos you took of the install this morning.

[digger242j]

WELL????????? MR. DIGGER, How'd the install go???? How about resizing them photos you took of the install this morning.

How about you be patient? I've got a picture of you from about 15 years ago I've been thinking about posting. :yup

Besides, you neglected to bring me a can of pop to practice on....

:bouncegri

[Squizzy246B]

How about you be patient? :bouncegri

No way...produce the goods:rolleyes: :cool:

[will_gurt]

How about you be patient? I've got a picture of you from about 15 years ago I've been thinking about posting. :yup

Besides, you neglected to bring me a can of pop to practice on....

:bouncegri

I have very little patience SO YOU BETTER HURRY!:roll


Was I suppose to bring this soda for you to drink??? I liked what you did to the ones that you brought today,it sorta resaemmbled this smiley :bash

[digger242j]

Ya know, you two, the best way to get me NOT to do something is to nag me about doing it. Ask Mrs. Digger. I can be very contrary... :nono

:cool2

[Jeff D.]

Ya know, you two, the best way to get me NOT to do something is to nag me about doing it. I learned that in the "WWII week-end" thread.:yup Ask Mrs. Digger. I can be very contrary...And how well has that approach been working for you??:rolleyes: It's been my experience that a women can take that to a level that the "man brain" can't even comprehend.:crying

[tylermckee]

Keep the pics we dont want to see your damn manual thumb.

[digger242j]

Keep the pics we dont want to see your damn manual thumb.

Reverse psychology doesn't work either. ***

[Squizzy246B]

I had all intentions of this being a serious thread:Banghead

but since Digger has interjected..or rather been unable to salvage some form of repute through his inadequacies with the digital camera....then I'll have to revert to begging:rolleyes: :)

Does anybody else have some good Hydraulic thumb pics??...Please if not...just post away with your holiday pics...and Jeff...don't sweat it too much..most but not all of the gene pool does have an opposible thumb...its what spearates us upright walking bipeds from the truck driv.....errr...the other primates.:rolleyes: :wink2 :bouncegri

[tylermckee]

my left thumb is double jointed, ill snap a pic later today. It helps me pick up odd shaped objects sometimes.

[digger242j]

...but since Digger has interjected..or rather been unable to salvage some form of repute...

I can salvage all the ill repute you want... :yup

Besides, I didn't necessarily say I was going to post those pics here. I might start a new thread about manual thumbs, or I might post them to an entirely different website, and let you all google for them. :)

To get more or less back on topic, having used the fixed thumb for most of yestersday and today, it was certainly helpful, but now I'd really like a hydraulic one...

[Squizzy246B]

I can salvage all the ill repute you want... :yup
..

Ummm... "salvage"... have you read some of the threads you have been participating in latley:eek: :wink2 :bouncegri

[Squizzy246B]

my left thumb is double jointed, ill snap a pic later today. It helps me pick up odd shaped objects sometimes.

Thats weird, my left thumb is double jointed but only for opening...it goes past 90 deg :confused:

[digger242j]

have you read some of the threads you have been participating in latley


Certainly NOT! I find that trying to follow the discussion only distracts me as I compose my replies... :yup

[Jeff D.]

.......have you read some of the threads you have been participating in latley:eek: :wink2 :bouncegri Yes, many of us certainly have made a new standard for "reaching bottom".:bouncegri



Squizzy, how much was that one "USA" thumb you posted pictures of?

As little digging as I actually do, and with the age of my backhoe, I don't know if considering a thumb is worth it for me, or not?

Then again, it sounds as if they are the best thing since slided bread, so I would like to try one. Possibly a weld on, manually adjustable one could be picked up reasonably enough to warrent the purchase?

Digger, what's the story behind your's? Did you hear any price figures for it?

[Squizzy246B]

Squizzy, how much was that one "USA" thumb you posted pictures of?

As little digging as I actually do, and with the age of my backhoe, I don't know if considering a thumb is worth it for me, or not?

Then again, it sounds as if they are the best thing since slided bread, so I would like to try one. Possibly a weld on, manually adjustable one could be picked up reasonably enough to warrent the purchase?

Digger, what's the story behind your's? Did you hear any price figures for it?

Jeff, Google is your friend, but from memory that one seemed cheap to me even though it was in USD. Just search the net and see what you come up with.

Rockland comes up: http://www.rocklandmfg.com/excavator/thumbs.htm

ahhhaah...here it is http://www.excavatorthumb.com/

I was actually looking for pics that show more of the finer detail...but since Digger is having a hissy-fit I'll just have to rely on those more generous members of this wonderful forum:rolleyes: :D :D

[Dwan Hall]

here is a cat thumb mount I saw yesterday. second picture is the upper mont. Thumb mounts on pin along with quick disconect.

should have my hoe back today with pictures but they are about the same

[digger242j]

but since Digger is having a hissy-fit

I AM NOT HAVING A HISSY FIT!!! AM NOT, AM NOT, AM NOT!!! :cussing :cussing :Banghead :mad:

:dizzy

Oh, I feel much better now...
:angel


Digger, what's the story behind your's? Did you hear any price figures for it?

I think I heard $1,200, but that's not firsthand info.

[will_gurt]

I think I heard $1,200, but that's not firsthand info.


The manual thumb that was installed this past Monday was $1166.00 including the sales tax. As for what the welder charged, I do not know.

[Grader4me]

lol You guys are totally nuts:laugh

[CascadeScaper]

The picture Dwan posted is the same thumb and coupler setup we have on our 303CR, except for the top pin on the thumb cylinder has a lynch pin that holds in it place for quick removal. Works pretty well for us, the thumb and cylinder can be completely removed in a matter of minutes via a couple lynch pins and a hammer to pound out the bushing pins.

[Squizzy246B]

lol You guys are totally nuts:laugh

We are too:laugh ...and this is supposed to be a serious thread:eek: ..full of informative industry discussion for the benefit of the good forum community.:)

[Dwan Hall]

Here is the lower pin assembly of a PSM thumb on a Takuchi TB070. Looks like all they did was put in a longer bucket pivet pin for the lower mount.

[Squizzy246B]

Thanks Dwan:thumbsup

[Dusty]

i like the longet pin ideal less welding

[Squizzy246B]

Thought I'd bring this one up again to see if anybody else has some good thumb pics

[digger242j]

Thought I'd bring this one up again to see if anybody else has some good thumb pics

You're just a glutton for punishment, aren't you?

For anyone reading this thread for the first time, and who has bothered to go back and read through all the silliness of page one, (because, I posted the pictures in their own thread, but neglected to point out that thread), here's the link to the thread containing pictures of the thumb installation we were discussing there:http://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=17832#post17832

It would probably work best to keep any further replies to Squizzy's latest post, in this thread.

[Squizzy246B]

You're just a glutton for punishment, aren't you?

It would probably work best to keep any further replies to Squizzy's latest post, in this thread.

No....you see, we are not interested in your crappy static thumb...you took too long to post those pics and tried to Hi-jack my thread in the doing!:D

We are after "Real" thumbs you see...hydraulics and everything.:cool2

See I know what you were up too..:nono

http://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=3472

[digger242j]

No....you see, we are not interested in your crappy static thumb...

I will have you know--that crappy thumb is not static at all. In the stowed position, it moves back and forth a good half to three quarters of an inch, every time you move the dipper, as evidenced by the accompanying clanking and clunking all damn day long. So there. ***

[Squizzy246B]

every time you move the dipper, as evidenced by the accompanying clanking and clunking all damn day long. So there. ***

I can see how that would be a problem for a personage in full command of their faculties.....however, in your case......:cool2

[nedly05]

I will have you know--that crappy thumb is not static at all. In the stowed position, it moves back and forth a good half to three quarters of an inch, every time you move the dipper, as evidenced by the accompanying clanking and clunking all damn day long. So there. ***

We have the same thumb on our 70SR, the USA deal. It works well, takes a pounding, but the slapping and banging when its stowed:Banghead AHHHH. I welded a big spring behind it to tame it down, but it just wore the spring out:Banghead Ours was $776 delivered from NC, and was welded on on a Saturday for free (by me). For the money it is great, but the slapping and banging.........