5 minute backhoe thumb project

[davel8257]

2 King Kutter Grader Box blade knives
2 Grade 8 1/2" x 6" bolts, nuts and washers

Attach box blade knives with bolts, tighten, check for clearance (my Kioti KB2485 cylinder just clears the 1/2" bolt).

There's no adjustment. But, it works if you can finagle the bucket into position for a good grab.

 

[tnjind]

Outside the box. I like it.

 

[otlski]

Awesome. Good move on the grade 8 bolts.

 

[Big Barn]

Best 5 minute project I've seen. Good thinking.

 

[rScotty]

Whazzat wierd piece hose-clamped to the bucket cylinder?

 

[kf4uda]

Simple but effective....Good job!

 

[tjkubota93]

Whazzat wierd piece hose-clamped to the bucket cylinder?

Looks like his slow moving vehicle reflective triangle bracket

 

[davel8257]

Yep; SMV bracket. I need to remove the factory sign and either put it back there or on the ROPS.

 

[trihounds]

Outside the box. I like it.

Haha - well played!

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Have you tried moving it closer to the bucket and moving the lower bolt one hole up to see how the teeth match up for like getting brush and limbs of a say a ditch? That is an awesome functional idea.

 

[davel8257]

It's pretty close to the original bucket. Since I bought the smaller bucket, I may try moving it down.

 

[davel8257]

I took a rough measurement and there are no other hole positions that will work. The next set of holes put it way down on the boom; too close to the bucket. I'm going to work with what I've got for a while.

 

[Big Barn]

I took a rough measurement and there are no other hole positions that will work. The next set of holes put it way down on the boom; too close to the bucket. I'm going to work with what I've got for a while.

Use the existing hole pattern and slide the assembly down the dipper to where you want it. You could fab up a triangular wedge using flat bar to make up the difference. Maybe even tack the wedge to your "thumb"

 

[davel8257]

I was really going to do something like that to begin with, but before I headed out to buy the steel, I held up knife to the boom and was surprised at how well the holes lined up for the placement that I needed.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I would use 6" - 10" pieces of 3/8 flat bar between the bolt and the stick, both top and bottom. A few years ago there were several threads on bolt on thumbs that bent the stick.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I would use 6" - 10" pieces of 3/8 flat bar between the bolt and the stick, both top and bottom. A few years ago there were several threads on bolt on thumbs that bent the stick.

What about going with 4 pieces of angle if bending the stick is of a concern?

 

[Big Barn]

I would use 6" - 10" pieces of 3/8 flat bar between the bolt and the stick, both top and bottom. A few years ago there were several threads on bolt on thumbs that bent the stick.

I can see that happening.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I think four pieces of angle would also be good.