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Titan thumb choices

What setup should I start with?

  • Just Keep it simple and go manual

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Get the hydraulic model and figure out the hydraulics

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • Get the hydraulic model and see if Titan will sell me the fixed strut also

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Get the hydraulic model and make a fixed strut

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    1
  • Poll closed .

Black_Cirrus

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
34
Location
North Idaho
So I'm going to get a thumb for my backhoe, and I'd like to get the hydraulic model. But I'm not sure I'll have time to figure out making the hydraulics work before I need to put it to use. I do have a hammer/breaker circuit, but not sure what setup it is, but figure it's probably a one way valve due to the foot button. I put the options I see into the poll, but am open to other options on how to proceed.
 

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
9,342
Location
The shore of the illinois river USA
I have had both a manual and now a hydraulic. Manual thumbs are always in the way if they are not in the stowed position.
One smashed hand or finger when deploying or stowing a manual one will make you wish you had never used it.
I converted a manual -Titan super duty to hydraulic and it was really easy to do.
I posted a thread about it a while ago.
The versatility of hydraulic is unlimited.
My advice is to buy a manual and install it.
It won't take long to figure out the plumbing.
There are other style thumbs that are quite different from the Titan. They are also quite pricey !
 

Birdseye

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2020
Messages
247
Location
Topeka Kansas
I ordered a manual one a few days ago , plan to do the reinforcement suggested here, maybe convert to hydraulic after I use it . Step by step.
 

NH575E

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,183
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
I have had the 36" manual for 6 years. Haven't moved it to the stow position for 5. You can learn to dig with it at the 90 degree setting. Just depends on how you position the tractor to the work.

IMG_1316.JPG
 

Black_Cirrus

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
34
Location
North Idaho
NH575, your posts are the ones making me think I could get away with the manual thumb. But Tinkerer and several things including fact the wife operates the backhoe sometimes makes me want hydraulic.

So I bit the bullet and ordered the hydraulic thumb kit this morning. I have breaker plumbing, so I'm hopeful I can convert that for reasonable to thumb use. I looked best I could and I'm pretty sure it's one way, but my knowledge of hydraulic parts is limited. So I'll get the thumb mounted and see if I'm making a manual strut or using the hydraulics.

I really want to get some brush piles gathered and burned before it dries out to much.
 

NH575E

Senior Member
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Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,183
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
Hydraulic will be the best choice no doubt. Just more work to plumb.

The manual diverter valve another member installed looked like a good way to go.

I used a electric solenoid selector valve for the third function on my little tractor. It works pretty good. I just have to push a momentary switch to change from one function to the other on the same lever. I've not seen any of those with a large enough port size though.
 

NH575E

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Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,183
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North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
I searched back to find Tinkerer's thread on his hydraulic conversion. It looks like the best I have seen. When I need to replace my stabilizer hoses I may convert.

He used a manual Parker #DS12 selector valve on one of the stabilizer circuits. If your machine didn't work for putting the handle through the side you could easily rig a cable to operate it.

Here is the link: https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/my-manual-thumb-to-hydraulic-conversion.87899/
 

Black_Cirrus

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
34
Location
North Idaho
I'd like to put it on a foot pedal, but I haven't found one yet that's 2 way, and not pilot control. But I just searched ebay and a couple hydraulic sites. Found a part number for the oem extendable dipper pedal but just found diagrams and not prices and I'm sure a new one, if available, is more than I'm willing to spend.
 

NH575E

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Dec 30, 2015
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North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
That is what I used on my small tractor. #8 ports are only 1/2".
 

Black_Cirrus

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
34
Location
North Idaho
Have you considered an electric switch ? It could prolly be mounted on the bucket lever or anywhere convenient.
LINK to one here.View attachment 256326
I have, I really haven't had much time to look into it. My lack of experience with hydraulic parts means I was struggling with what to look for. I know the hoses going to/from the hammer valve are 3/4". Not sure if adapting down is ok, or do I want to upsize valve.
At this point I'll get the thumb here and see what cylinder and lines it comes with and then I have more choices to make.
I'm wondering what will happen if I just hook up the lines. Will it hurt anything? My logic says that I should be able to push thumb against bucket but I suspect it will not have holding ability when I release button.
 

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
9,342
Location
The shore of the illinois river USA
1/2" hoses are very adequate for thumb speed in my application.
It would be interesting to see the result of using the hammer lines.
I'm not sure it would be a good thing to put the amount of pressure on the hammer valve, with the pressure that the thumb would create with the bucket pushing against it.
 

oceanobob

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
751
Location
oceano california
Occupation
general contractor
In my reading of thumb hydraulics, I have learned there are many methods. But I was interested in the relief valve aspect to prevent overload damage to parts - know some folks who bent the ram on the thumb.
My U17 Kubota has an aux circuit which is pretty much like the solenoid activated circuit for a hammer that is on my backhoe: a starting point for sure.

Pretty much convinced myself a crossover relief is not the best solution because the thumb ram is not equal displacement. Have perused some pressure regulating valves with a piloted control....

No definitive ideas yet however, project in the making.

One solution that has caught my fancy for the backhoe is to have a hydraulic thumb as a part of a bucket - and built stout to take full pressure (avoids concern about system relief setting). Convert extendahoe circuit to run the attachment with a manual valve (and pin the extendahoe if necessary).
 

Black_Cirrus

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
34
Location
North Idaho
convert extendahoe circuit to run the attachment with a manual valve (and pin the extendahoe if necessary).

I don't have an extendahoe but the control pedal maybe the correct type and I do have holes in the floor for it. So if I found one it might be the best option, but I have a Volvo BL60 so it's not the common parts...
 

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
9,342
Location
The shore of the illinois river USA
In my reading of thumb hydraulics, I have learned there are many methods. But I was interested in the relief valve aspect to prevent overload damage to parts - know some folks who bent the ram on the thumb.
If the thumb cylinder rod diameter is the same as the bucket cylinder rod I don't think one will damage the other.
The relief valves in my stabilizer and bucket circuits seems to be adequate protection from any damage to the cylinders.
 

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
9,342
Location
The shore of the illinois river USA
I have had the 36" manual for 6 years. Haven't moved it to the stow position for 5. You can learn to dig with it at the 90 degree setting. Just depends on how you position the tractor to the work.

I found out quite quickly that when my manual thumb was in the working position it was royal pain in the a@@ when the boom was extended very much.
With the boom flat out it was nearly impossible to start digging because the thumb tine was sitting on the ground.
 

Black_Cirrus

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
34
Location
North Idaho
I have a bunch of granite boulders, that have been dug up around the place and am planning to turn them into more retaining wall. That and the brush piles are why I got the thumb. I can see lots of angles not playing nice. I hope to start my install this weekend.
 

NH575E

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,183
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
I found out quite quickly that when my manual thumb was in the working position it was royal pain in the a@@ when the boom was extended very much.
With the boom flat out it was nearly impossible to start digging because the thumb tine was sitting on the ground.

I found the same at first. You are correct that the thumb is in the way with the boom extended.

Most of my digging allows me to position the tractor closer to the work. I try to get positioned so the thumb end is pointed towards the tractor as I begin. This allows me to dig 3' down before it gets in the way. Digging the hole closer to me I can keep digging in 3' depths for clearance for the thumb. It limits my straight on digging of stumps to the depth of the bucket but I can dig as far as I want to the sides and the area between the stump and tractor. I can usually dig 6' down around most stumps then pull them. I may have to pull or push the tractor back and forth to get it where I need it to dig. If I have to dig deeper on the far side of the stump I reposition the tractor to the side of where I was. A monster sweetgum will require repositioning several times.

It just took a little practice and I'm not on a clock when I work.

A hydraulic thumb will be the most time efficient.
 
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