lzicc
Platinum Member
Had a little fun this weekend. I dug out a big pine tree with the hoe, knocked it over roots and all and carried it off in two pieces with the thumb. I never realized how useful a thumb can be.
Gotta love the thumb
- Thread starter lzicc
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moship
Veteran Member
Can you provide details of the thumb and some pictures? Where did you buy, mechanical or hydrualic, cost, weld-on or bolt-on, etc...
They seem like a neat option and something on my wish list.
They seem like a neat option and something on my wish list.
AMR
Gold Member
adjusterr
Silver Member
Moship: go to Bro-Tek: Tractor Add Ons, check out the videos. I bought one for my L2250 Kubota and it works great. It bolts on to the boom and is designed not to slide on the boom. I have used it to lift and move rocks and logs and it has reduced my wood cutting time by a good 50% if not more. I drive up to my log pile pick up a 25-35' log, swing the boom around, lower to waist height and cut, no more bending over all day. Best part, $300.00. You will love this thing. Plus: Bro-Tek is great to deal with, ask for Richard. Good luck.
adjusterr
Silver Member
Richard @ Bro-Tek told me he could make a Thumb for any boom if he is provided the measurements. He seemed to already have most specs.
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20 20
Elite Member
lzicc; You probably know this but just remember a BH is ment to do the work with the out riggers down. This helps support the weight and keep balance. Not saying what you moved was too heavy but if it is used like that for a lot of heavy stuff you maybe replacing broke parts JM:2cents:
OP
lzicc
Platinum Member
Yeah, I know. I was transporting the tree to another location. Do you think that is to hard on the machine? The thumb thing is new to me, but I want to make sure that I don't do any damage either like you said. I liked the way I could position the tree parallel to the tractor so I could move it up the driveway.
20 20
Elite Member
Do you think that is to hard on the machine?
In a word YES, it can be, not saying lighter loads would be an issue but heavier loads could cause premature wear down the road. Another thing to keep in the back of your mind is safety/balance{again I'm sure you know this} carrying something to the side like that does give a "tip factor".
I liked the way I could position the tree parallel to the tractor so I could move it up the driveway.
I can relate to that I use a mini excavator the same way to move logs out to my trailer. I like the fact that I can move them through tight spots and not drag them through dirt. The logs get used for milling, clean logs are much better then dirt covered.
In a word YES, it can be, not saying lighter loads would be an issue but heavier loads could cause premature wear down the road. Another thing to keep in the back of your mind is safety/balance{again I'm sure you know this} carrying something to the side like that does give a "tip factor".
I liked the way I could position the tree parallel to the tractor so I could move it up the driveway.
I can relate to that I use a mini excavator the same way to move logs out to my trailer. I like the fact that I can move them through tight spots and not drag them through dirt. The logs get used for milling, clean logs are much better then dirt covered.
Firefighter Kubota
Platinum Member
AMR
Gold Member
The thumb I got from bro-tek is for my BH75
CHDinCT
Veteran Member
I'm looking for one for my BX25 BH but can't decide between the Bro Tek version or the EMP version. There's lots of good reports on the Bro Tek thumbs here but few on the EMP (I think it's relatively new). Looking at the two, I like that the EMP thumb is a bit wider and has a larger face to pin logs/rocks against, and the adjustable link looks much heavier than a Cat 1 top link. On the other hand, the Cat 1 top link would give me more range of adjustment.
Any EMP thumb owners out there that can provide some real life experience?
Any EMP thumb owners out there that can provide some real life experience?
moship
Veteran Member
CHDinCT,
Check out page 3.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/128216-kubota-bh75-damaged-bolt-thumb.html
Check out page 3.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/128216-kubota-bh75-damaged-bolt-thumb.html
CompactTractorFan
Super Member
I need to get me one of those...
CHDinCT
Veteran Member
Thanks. I actually read that after posting my request for reviews. Probably going to play it safe and go with the Bro Tek version. Haven't seen any negative reports on the Bro Tek thumbs.
CT Jay
Bronze Member
I don't know about riding around with that arm all the way out like that with a load hanging off the side, and no ROPS!! Hope the rest of your land is as flat as what's in those pictures! I know that if it goes over in that configuration...and to be sure, I hope it never does....the hoe will stop the tractor just like it was a big stabilizer......but still....
AMR
Gold Member
last summer about 7 PM on a Sunday night I was just getting settled with the kids and a neighbor calls and begs that I come down and pull a stump out for them. I had to wrestle my BH on my B3030 and ran down the road to help them. Well this stump was in the absolute worst place you can imagine, close to their house on a steep slope that pitched two directions and on the otherside of a nice brick walk.
Well I worked the stump out in about a half hour, it was a pretty big stump with lots of roots and a good root ball. I had no way to get it out of there but curl the bucket and pin the stump to the thumb and move the tractor with the BH extended almost full out.
I lifted the stabilizers and started to move the tractor and it sat back onto the BH lifting the front end at least 2 feet off the ground.
Thankfully I didn't freak out and reached back to push the BH down which put my front end down. I curled the stump in as close and low as I could to the machine, left the stabilizers about 6" off the ground, took a scoop of dirt in the front bucket and worked myself out there.
It was a very scary ride on this cross sloped hill with a giant stump and root ball curled up in the BH. I learned my lesson that day and thankfully escaped without damage to anything.
The worst part is that his wife, kids and buddies and my wife and kids all made for an audience that I would have preferred not to have.
Well I worked the stump out in about a half hour, it was a pretty big stump with lots of roots and a good root ball. I had no way to get it out of there but curl the bucket and pin the stump to the thumb and move the tractor with the BH extended almost full out.
I lifted the stabilizers and started to move the tractor and it sat back onto the BH lifting the front end at least 2 feet off the ground.
Thankfully I didn't freak out and reached back to push the BH down which put my front end down. I curled the stump in as close and low as I could to the machine, left the stabilizers about 6" off the ground, took a scoop of dirt in the front bucket and worked myself out there.
It was a very scary ride on this cross sloped hill with a giant stump and root ball curled up in the BH. I learned my lesson that day and thankfully escaped without damage to anything.
The worst part is that his wife, kids and buddies and my wife and kids all made for an audience that I would have preferred not to have.
