progressive link vs on axle thumb

[BigEv]

Hello,
I'm trying to figure out the Pros and Cons of progressive link vs on axle (stick pivot) hydraulic thumbs and if it's worth the extra money over a regular hydraulic thumb.
I think I get it theoretically (pro link follows constant pressure for 100% of bucket rotation while the "on axle" or stick pivot is around 50-75% of the bucket rotation depending on brand).
Am I missing anything?
Any examples when one shines over the other or when that 30% difference is troublesome?
Thanks in advance!

 

[KSSS]

I am a big advocate of pro link. I believe that it is huge improvement over a direct link thumb. The increase in thumb articulation allows you to fully grab from farther away. Allows you more finesses in how grab objects. Doesn't pinch as bad as a direct link, so when moving culverts and other round objects it creates less chance of damage.

The extra mechanism gives you another grease zerk. I have never broken a prolink. They cost more, sometimes a lot more depending on who you work with. But over the lifetime of an excavator they give back a lot more than they cost.

The Prolink set up needs more stick length because of the extra articulation. So smaller machines may not have the ability to run prolink.

 

[Canadian_digger]

What size machine. I think for smaller machines a regular thumb is all that is needed.

 

[skyking1]

in most cases it is all that is offered from the manufacturer.
If you do a lot of grabbing stuff, a progressive is completely worth it. your range of grab is so much better and the ability to hold things through a wide range, and place things straight out away from you.

 

[Canuck Digger]

Depends on what you do and how often you use it. Once you have a pro link, you'll never go back. I'd say an anything 5/6 ton and up its worth it, but again, depends on what you do. Some of the situations where a pro link is superior is rock walls, grabbing brush piles etc.
Cheers,

 

[John C.]

The other nice thing about a progressive link is that it will extend out to the same line as the stick and close against the stick. Most of the direct connects on a short stick will only extend to a 90 degree angle to the stick.