BH as Clasp

Arcane · Jun 29, 2005

I'm using my JD 4115/FEL/BH to rip some big (6'x40') juniper shrubs away from my house and stone walls. Once I've cut or broken the trunks off, I'm grabbing bunches of trunks and branches in the crook of the BH arm joint and bucket, and dragging them to my burn pile a hundred yards away. Am I doing any harm to the BH by doing this?

This machine is a month old, and I can't begin to list all the things that I am planning to do with it. We had waited 16 months for a landscape contractor to get around to this project.

LarryRB · Jun 29, 2005

I do this now and then myself.. Just have to watch your hydraulic lines and bve careful. Where in CT/Ma are you? I have the same address, CT/MA

Soundguy · Jun 29, 2005

Get a thumb for it!

Soundguy

psuedofarmer · Jun 30, 2005

good question - i often wondered if this is a bad idea. having said that, i used the backhoe to carry large boulders. i wouldn't recommend doing it regularly, but as in my situation, it was far easier to roll the rock into the bucket, lift the stabilizers, and SLOWLY move to the rock pile to offload.

as others mentioned, it's not an ideal use of the BH (watch the lines, etc.), but works when absolutely necessary.

pf

Arcane · Jun 30, 2005

I've searched the TBN archives for sources for hydraulic thumbs, but everything seems way too big for my 12" bucket.

And I wonder if a thumb will just allow me to do more of what I shoudn't...

Soundguy · Jun 30, 2005

Just get a fixed or pin adjustable thumb.. forget the hyd ones.

We get LOTS of extra work done when clearing brush and limbs using a pin-fixed thumb on our track-hoes.

Soundguy

escavader · Jun 30, 2005

SOUND GUY,
I want to build a removeable thumb for a bx-23.I have studyed them on escavaders,and i am trying to figure out all the proper angles. Are you aware of any good pics of anyone who has one?I might buy one instead if the price isnt through the roof
ESCAVADER