Adding a hydraulic thumb to my 2004 John Deere 310g backhoe

Chris, this is a good write up of how to install the hydraulics. It's a little tractor, but still the same result.
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/125912-custom-hydraulic-backhoe-thumb.html
Joe H

Your machine by the pictures is plumbed for a hammer (one way flow). It most likely was installed by a dealer since it is not on the original build sheet. I would follow the advice of some the other posters since Deere parts to complete the install would be quite expensive.

Hey mg2361 thanks for checking that for me ! I do know a guy here that's quite knowledgeable on this kinda stuff I will ask him if its something he might know about . Looked on line for the additional parts prob spend 500.00 more but maybe not that much. Would I need 2 electric switch valves or just 1 ? Thank u everyone for the info Mark

All I can tell you is for the Deere setup it would be a control valve section, foot pedal and linkage and lines that will run out to the thumb. Very expensive. Deere does not offer electric solenoids for that machine. To go that route you would be designing your own system.

Mg. Thank you very much for all ur time and info. This is a live and learn situation for me I should have done my research before all the investment . I think I'm just gona turn it into a manual thumb and rack it up as a learning lesson. Thanks again for everyone's input. Great place to find out info!!

It's been great reading all this info. My 310 has this valve for hammer and I was hoping to use it, guess not? Damn.
2 spare lines on boom, one goes here. Other back into system.

I may go manual for now.
I did like idea of using hammer switch on dash to close thumb, and bucket to retract. But how does it hold pressure to grasp something then release pressure? Would there be a second switch/valve?
Thanks for all the info I found here, thanks for getting it going Mark

Yep, you'd have to plumb in at least one more valve that's why I would go with the electric solenoids for the valving and you can feed them with the hammer circuit...easiest to install without changing anything much in the machine - just add a couple switches