Bro-Tek Thumb

[farm23]

On the "Thumb for mini hoe" thread the Bro-Tek thumb was mentioned and I have purchased one. The Bro-Tek was developed for use on conventional CUT with a top link. I actually purchase the top link from Bro-Tek because the closest Farm Supply is some 30 miles away. The thumb works as expected and was very easy to install. Many of you have made your own but I did not have the time or skill. I would reccommend the product. An advantage is with the top link you have infinite adjustment of the opening between the thumg and bucket.

Here are some pics.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey, that's pretty neat.

 

[RegL]

Farm23, where did you buy the bro-tek thumb.

 

[KentT]

That adjustable top-link is a great idea! And, those are some great "clean pictures" -- show us some dirty ones!

Seriously, please report back once you've used it a while...

I personally consider the thumb the "most return on investment" of any money I've spent on attachments...

It simply adds a totally new dimension to the tool. It is SO much more precise to pick things up and move them, in comparison to the grapple bucket, plus you can reach higher, farther, etc.

For example, it makes a great tool for clearing out overgrown fencerows...

 

[BobRip]

That look very nice. It is a very simple design and light weight. I wish I had seen it before I built mine. I might try the adjustable link. I have one somewhere.

 

[ddonnell]

I saw a thumb with a hydraulic cylinder instead of a fixed or adjustable link on it. What would be the advantage to that?

 

[farm23]

Regl, I saw the thumb on the "Attachment" site of Tractorbynet and sent a email to "bro-tek@hotmail.com. Richard @ Bro-Tek answered immediately and I sent him a pic with a ruler so he could make sure everything would fit.

The thumb has proven very useful in picking up rocks out of my creek and moving large logs. I use all the attachment I own and my favorite is the one on when I am using the tractor.

I'll send pics on another thread about a 2" hitch I have on the rear.

 

[farm23]

The hydraulic cylinder would allow you to move the thumb from your seat, but it would require you to add a valve and piping.

 

[KentT]

I saw a thumb with a hydraulic cylinder instead of a fixed or adjustable link on it. What would be the advantage to that?

It would allow both the thumb and the bucket to move, when you were grasping things to pick them up.

Look at your hand, for an illustration. Pick something up while trying not to move your thumb. With a fixed thumb, only the fingers (the bucket) can move to grasp things against the thumb. Now, pick it up again, moving both thumb and fingers...

With a fixed thumb, you tend to position the thumb as closely as possible to the object, then curl the bucket to pull the object up tight against the thumb, then lift it... If both the thumb and bucket would move, you could precisely "pluck something up" without dragging it on the ground (using the bucket) toward the thumb...

 

[Phils]

That looks great farm23!!

Can you share with us what it cost?

Phil

 

[RegL]

Regl, I saw the thumb on the "Attachment" site of Tractorbynet and sent a email to "bro-tek@hotmail.com. Richard @ Bro-Tek answered immediately and I sent him a pic with a ruler so he could make sure everything would fit.

The thumb has proven very useful in picking up rocks out of my creek and moving large logs. I use all the attachment I own and my favorite is the one on when I am using the tractor.

I'll send pics on another thread about a 2" hitch I have on the rear.

I see in your profile that you have the 1430, same as me, so I guess it will work. I know it folds back but do you find that it's in the way at all when digging?

 

[farm23]

Phil s, the total cost including freight and the top link was $380.00. It wouldbe less if you had your top link or bought one locally. I figured it was cheaper and more convenient to get one from Bro-Tek than driving 40 miles.

RegL I have the thumb positioned so the bucket can close all the way. I have not done any digging yet and may fine it easier to remove than clean up. It will remove with two bolts so removing will not be a problem.

 

[JD-Beach]

While watching one of the Saturday morning home-improvement shows today, I noticed a small excavator with a hydraulically operated thumb. ... has there been any pursuit of this type for a PT? It would be a neat attachment.

 

[KentT]

While watching one of the Saturday morning home-improvement shows today, I noticed a small excavator with a hydraulically operated thumb. ... has there been any pursuit of this type for a PT? It would be a neat attachment.

The problem is that it requires another hydraulic circuit up front that doesn't exist, in addition to a control for it. The Aux PTO circuit on the PT is already being used for the bucket curl on the minihoe...

It could certainly be done on a PT, but I'm not aware of anyone who has done it.

 

[ddonnell]

Could you possibly tee off the aux. lines to the bucket to power the thumb cylinder and essentially have both cylinders closing toward each other simultaneously for the pincer effect with the one control lever? I don't know enough about the aux. pto output to know if there might not be enough fluid flow to power both cylinders at the same time. Maybe put in a shut off valve to the thumb for those times that you wouldn't want it to move?

 

[CurlyDave]

I saw a thumb with a hydraulic cylinder instead of a fixed or adjustable link on it. What would be the advantage to that?

Being able to reposition the thumb without leaving the seat is much faster than manually adjusting the thumb, getting back on the tractor and picking something up.

It allows you to pick up and move objects of vastly different sizes quicky and easily. Think about moving a pile of rocks of all different sizes. With a hydraulic thumb you just pick up the next logical rock and move it. With a manual thumb, there is going to be a tendency to pick up all the rocks which will fit into the current adjustment without regard for properly managing the pile.

It is also much safer. Every time you dismount from the machine, especially at a site where you are working, you expose yourself to many more hazards than if you stay in your seat.

 

[KentT]

Could you possibly tee off the aux. lines to the bucket to power the thumb cylinder and essentially have both cylinders closing toward each other simultaneously for the pincer effect with the one control lever? I don't know enough about the aux. pto output to know if there might not be enough fluid flow to power both cylinders at the same time. Maybe put in a shut off valve to the thumb for those times that you wouldn't want it to move?

Theoretically you could do that... how well it would work in practice, I don't know...

 

[MossRoad]

While watching one of the Saturday morning home-improvement shows today, I noticed a small excavator with a hydraulically operated thumb. ... has there been any pursuit of this type for a PT? It would be a neat attachment.

You could but an electric diverter valve up on the minihoe boom and plumb both the curl of the bucket and the cylinder of the thumb into it. Then you would have to run electric and control wires from the diverter valve to the PT operator's station and attach it to 12V and a switch. Then, flip the switch to control either the bucket or the tumb with the aux PTO valve handle.

 

[Beechwood]

You could but an electric diverter valve up on the minihoe boom and plumb both the curl of the bucket and the cylinder of the thumb into it. Then you would have to run electric and control wires from the diverter valve to the PT operator's station and attach it to 12V and a switch. Then, flip the switch to control either the bucket or the tumb with the aux PTO valve handle.

The other alternitive would be to buy a Sauer Danfoss single spool valve with open center and install it to the left side of the steering console. Disconnect the tank return line from the OEM Sauer Danfoss 3 spool valve ( with open center ) and plug that port, then install the tank return line to the tank return port on the new single spool valve. Then plumb the new single spool valve pressure port to the power beyond port on the side of the OEM 3 spool valve, and WA- LA a new hydraulic circuit for a hydraulic thumb or what ever. If I'm wrong please correct me.

 

[J_J]

The other alternitive would be to buy a Sauer Danfoss single spool valve with open center and install it to the left side of the steering console. Disconnect the tank return line from the OEM Sauer Danfoss 3 spool valve ( with open center ) and plug that port, then install the tank return line to the tank return port on the new single spool valve. Then plumb the new single spool valve pressure port to the power beyond port on the side of the OEM 3 spool valve, and WA- LA a new hydraulic circuit for a hydraulic thumb or what ever. If I'm wrong please correct me.

Do you know for sure that the 3 spool valve has a power beyond circuit?