adding backhoe thumb, how to power it

alaskakubota · Sep 12, 2008

I want to add a thumb to my 3130 with BH90 backhoe that I just had installed yesterday, and it kicks some good AZZ. Anyways, just had to say it works good, I want to add a hydraulic thumb to it. I have 2 power beyond outlets on my tractor because the backhoe runs on one, and the grapple works on the second. So I will be adding a third power beyond to run the thumb. How can I run the thumb sitting on the backhoe seat and not having to turn around and grab the lever? Is there a foot control that a guy could install that would run the thumb? Do other people use a joystick somewhere? Any help would be great.

J_J · Sep 12, 2008

You could use a 12v electric hydraulic 4 way valve, with a thumb switch on your joystick valve. They run about $100.00. About the only problem is you have full pressure at the git go, where as a lever valve could feather the action.

Willl · Sep 12, 2008

You could use a 12V diverter valve plumbed to your curl outputs on the hoe.

Put a foot switch on the floor to activate valve.

kennyd · Sep 12, 2008

alaskakubota said:
I want to add a thumb to my 3130 with BH90 backhoe that I just had installed yesterday, and it kicks some good AZZ. Anyways, just had to say it works good, I want to add a hydraulic thumb to it. I have 2 power beyond outlets on my tractor because the backhoe runs on one, and the grapple works on the second. So I will be adding a third power beyond to run the thumb. How can I run the thumb sitting on the backhoe seat and not having to turn around and grab the lever? Is there a foot control that a guy could install that would run the thumb? Do other people use a joystick somewhere? Any help would be great.

Just to clarify: You do NOT have 2 "power beyond outlets" Power beyond is defined as a "loop" of constant hydraulic flow that is used to power attachments that have their own valves, like backhoes and log splitters. Power beyond does NOT have handles to control them.

What you have is two hydraulic "remotes" and want to add a third remote. Remotes have their own valves to control cylinders on attachments.

Please understand that I am not criticizing what you wrote, I only want you under understand the differences and proper terminologies.

I assume to operate you backhoe you need to hold one handle open on one of your remotes?

I electric diverter is a great choice, it basically "splits" one circuit into two electrically. Do a search for "diverter" for a lot of good reading on the subject.

kennyd · Sep 12, 2008

J_J said:
You could use a 12v electric hydraulic 4 way valve, with a thumb switch on your joystick valve. They run about $100.00. About the only problem is you have full pressure at the git go, where as a lever valve could feather the action.

I agree with everything BUT the $100 part-I have not seen any that cheap.

J_J · Sep 12, 2008

kennyd said:
I agree with everything BUT the $100 part-I have not seen any that cheap.

They are out there.

Surplus Center Item Detail

J_J · Sep 12, 2008

J_J said:
They are out there.

Surplus Center Item Detail

I have purchased similar valves off Ebay including DO3 sub-plates. for $96.00.

Inkomodius · Sep 12, 2008

Bradco makes a kit for adding a grapple which would also work in a thumb application, it pretty simple to hook up, dont know how much it is but thought it is slick.
http://www.bradcoattachments.com/_i...&ext=pdf&name=4in1 Compact Tractor 0611-2.pdf

scroll to the bottom and of the PDF and it shows it there.

alaskakubota · Sep 12, 2008

I have a few questions about this. Looking further into this, would I get the hydraulic flow from the hydraulic remote or where do I tie into this? Does anyone have any pictures of this switch that hooks up to my lever? Sorry for so many questions, just dont know enough about this and want to do it right. Who has put a thumb on and made it work?

kennyd · Sep 12, 2008

alaskakubota said:
I have a few questions about this. Looking further into this, would I get the hydraulic flow from the hydraulic remote or where do I tie into this? Does anyone have any pictures of this switch that hooks up to my lever? Sorry for so many questions, just dont know enough about this and want to do it right. Who has put a thumb on and made it work?

If you go the diverter route, then you would install it AFTER the control valve that operates the curl circuit (or any other circuit-even one of the outriggers will work) So basically you would have hose run from the stock control valve, to the input of the diverter valve, then hoses from the diverter to the original cylinder AND to the grapple cylinder. If you search "diverter" like I said before you should see plenty of pictures of handles-but they will mostly be on the FEL joystick, as that is what most of the diverter threads are about, adding a circuit to a FEL to operate 4n1 buckets, grapples and snowplows.

If you go the electric valve route like JJ posted, then that would get installed on the main lines that feed you backhoe now, and you would need a 3 position rocker switch (ON-OFF-ON) to operate it versus a single mopmentarty switch to operate a diverter valve.

Harris53 · Nov 27, 2008

I just finished (today) putting a 12v diverter valve on a Ford backhoe from the bucket control circuit to power a power angle snowplow. With the 12v switch in the off posistion the bucket works normally, with the switch on the plow will angle left/right. Now, if I, instead, tied into the pressure line from the pump to a directional control valve to the plow would that have worked?

3RRL · Nov 29, 2008

alaskakubota said:
Sorry for so many questions, just dont know enough about this and want to do it right. Who has put a thumb on and made it work?

I made my own thumb and made it work.
I know you're wanting to use hydraulics so this may not be of interest to you, but this is an alternative ... no hydraulics, all mechanical articulating. Here is a thread on how I made it and some pictures of it. I think there's also a video of it in the thread.
It works great!
Homemade Articulated Mechanical Thumb

mike@watervillegenealogy · Mar 15, 2010

Sounds good on the surface, but Surplus Supply may be cheap but cheap doesn't help when the company is useless. No support there. I highly recommend paying the long dollar and staying away from Surplus Supply. By the time you get done with them it will cost you more.

kennyd · Mar 15, 2010

mike@watervillegenealogy said:
Sounds good on the surface, but Surplus Supply may be cheap but cheap doesn't help when the company is useless. No support there. I highly recommend paying the long dollar and staying away from Surplus Supply. By the time you get done with them it will cost you more.

You brought up a two year old thread to bash a supporter of the site:confused2:

You are the FIRST one I have heard complain about them.

GATC35 · Mar 16, 2010

I have used Surplus Center for many many years and have never had one single issue with them. In fact once I screwed up and ordered the wrong valve, they took it back with no problems and sent the new valve out the same day. Everytime I have called their technical support has been excellent. So I'm with Kenny not understanding the bashing of Surplus Center.

Gizmo2 · Mar 16, 2010

I just started using Surplus Center (twice so far) have had no issues.

dfkrug · Mar 16, 2010

I have used SurpCntr many times since about 1995. I would hardly call
them cheap, but I would say they are an excellent supplier and I have
plugged them on TBN before. (Note to SC: please send me a discount
coupon!)

If I had to go more often to industrial distis for hydraulic stuff, I would
likely be doing less hyd projects.

Once SC sent me the wrong part (an electric motor), so I contacted
them and they sent the correct one right away.....they did not even want
the wrong one back.

I admit that I do not call in for tech support, mostly cuz they provide
lots of tech details of their products on the website.