Backhoe Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

[montelatici]

Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

They are selling for about 300+ bucks on Ebay with shipping. Is it a useful tool or does it get in the way of normal backhoe digging?

 

[MOPAULY]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

To me it's not worth the price for what it does. I've seen some that flip up out of the way when not in use. Neat, but not worth that much $$$ to me.

 

[Bob_Young]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

I think a thumb would be very useful for cleanup chores: picking limbs out of a waterway, cleaning up a construction/demolition site, untangling a deadfall, holding logs up for the chainsaw, loading trash onto a trailer, building rock walls. Just ordered up a Woods BH90-X with a hydraulic thumb that added a pretty penny to the overall price....I've got a lot of cleanup work ahead.

Can't vouch for the ebay BX thumbs however. The BroTek (?) thumb looked pretty sturdy to me when I was considering a BX.
Bob

 

[RayH]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

Ive thought about buying the BH thumb but I think I would get more use from a loader thumb.

 

[montelatici]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

"Ive thought about buying the BH thumb but I think I would get more use from a loader thumb."

I was not aware of these. I will look for them.

 

[RayH]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

"Ive thought about buying the BH thumb but I think I would get more use from a loader thumb."

I was not aware of these. I will look for them.

Look for "grapple" I dont think its actually a "thumb" when its on a loader.

Something like this would be more useful to me than a "thumb" Tractor Loader Bucket Grapple
even if it was not powered, just like BroTec's BH thumb but wider for the loader bucket.

 

[madmoe]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

I got the BroTek thumb for my BX24 from Bro-Tek: Tractor Add Ons. Its great, as you can see it folds out of the way and doesnt get in the way when your digging. Its well made and the color matches perfectly, it looks like its a factory addon. I also highly recommend the skidplates that BroTek offers. The thumb and skidplates are very easy to install, it only took about 45 minutes to install both skidplates and the thumb.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

IMO, the BX24 is not large enough to really make proper use of a thumb.

 

[montelatici]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

"IMO, the BX24 is not large enough to really make proper use of a thumb."

Well, that solves the problem!

 

[Volfandt]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

IMO, the BX24 is not large enough to really make proper use of a thumb.

LOL, well don't tell my little BX23 that
Adding a thumb has been a very good thing to me. I'm basically a one man operation and the thumb is like haveing another stronger helper. Mainly in cutting up tree's and libs and grasping and depositing large rocks. It's not a grapple, but it can grasp quite a bit of material to put it where you want it.
Theres been a few folks thats posted their home made thumbs an dplans in the case the $$$'s are more than you want to spend.

 

[montelatici]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

Does that thumb remain "fixed" i.e. no movement and the shovel clamps down on the log and presses it against the thumb? Does it get in the way for digging purposes? Seems a good way to pickup heavy things.

 

[john_bud]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

Does that thumb remain "fixed" i.e. no movement and the shovel clamps down on the log and presses it against the thumb? Does it get in the way for digging purposes? Seems a good way to pickup heavy things.

There are 3 types of thumb. The cheapest is fixed in position and the bucket curls to meet it, pinning the load between the bucket and thumb. It is useful, but can be a pain. You have to mechanically undo it and put it out of the way when digging. The cheaper ones don't get out of the way very well, can bend, have limited postion settings etc. Still, better than picking up a rock or log by hand! But beware of "cheap" and know that it may be cheap and low cost.

Next up is a mechanically mobile thumb that moves to meet the curling bucket. The thumb motion is driven by a linkage to the bucket. These cost a fair bunch more than a fixed thumb, but are also a fair bit more useful.

The best thumb is one that has it's own hydraulic cylinder, usually controlled by a foot switch, joystick button or separate lever. They cost the most, but are the most useful. Skilled operators can pick up stuff without damaging it that is just amazing. In addition to the cost, the weigh the most and on a small hoe can slow things down a bit.

If you look in the build it yourself section you can find some of the mechanically mobile thumbs built by people on the forum. Very nice. On a small hoe, that is probably the best way to go. Just my 2 cents!


jb

 

[KeithInSpace]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

On the surface, it seems that a reasonably informed person can take some of the discussions about adding spooler valves from elsewhere in this forum and make the BroTec unit a hydaulically operated unit without much brain damage. Oversimplifying? Dunno.

Figure a "dumb thumb" will suit 90% of the need as I find my self either DIGGING or NOT DIGGING and consider my machine set up appropriately. But stump pulling is one of those times when the hydro adjustment would be really nifty. Quick shift from "dig" to "yank/pluck".

 

[Volfandt]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

I am probably the last one to stand in the way in ingenuity and/or modifiying something to be better but with that said, and given the capacities of the BX23/BX24 BH, going to all the added cost of adding hydraulics to a simple thumb would not generate a good ROI, unless of course one has the material laying around.....
On the thumb I use, an easy twist if the top link adjusts the thumb to where it's needed and when I'm done with it a simple fold up and pin keeps it out of the way for digging. Very simple and easy to use.
I've not had need to adjust the thumb during operation once its set but then again I'm only useing it for simple home type usage. It would be interesting to see a hydraulic setup tho, and I'd say it would be handy, even if it is unnecessary.....
Oh and btw, my back hasn't been strained not once since I went with a BH & thumb to handle the heavy stuff

 

[KeithInSpace]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

On the thumb I use, an easy twist if the top link adjusts the thumb to where it's needed and when I'm done with it a simple fold up and pin keeps it out of the way for digging.

That Bro-Tec thumb should be a required purchase. The utility it adds to a BH is astounding and it is so darn simple. I would tend to agree...for the size of the BX, hydraulics seem a little excessive.

I would be very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very disappointed if for some odd reason it didn't fit the Woods BH6000. But where there's a will (read: hammer and welder), there's a way.

Nice rock, too. It's worth $300 just to pluck up a single rock like that JUST ONCE when you really need to...all the other years of use/abuse before and after would then be free!!!

My wife actually said yesterday: "I'm really glad you have your Tractor. Outside projects seem to get done so quickly and nicely." Ahhhhhhhhh...music to my ears...

 

[bird1968]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

Hi Keith,

No grinding or welding required, I've got the Woods BH6000 unit done months ago.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

Answering the orig question, a thumb is one of those things that really doesn't have disadvantages. It just comes down to, would it be useful to your operation. I just finished my 3rd season of using my super-cheap thumb for rock harvest and brush/branch/log moving. The first 2 seasons I used it all the time but, this year no so much. The prior 2 were extremely wet years. This year is the first in another of our drought cycles so, digging rocks w/ BH then moving them w/ the FEL was a lot faster. (I'm just piling them, not placing them in a wall, etc). Also, collecting logs/limbs w/ my brush forks on FEL is a lot faster than w/ a thumb. But, previously, w/ my creek full of water and mud everywhere, the thumb was faster/easier.
As mentioned, for placing rocks and use as a vice for sawing logs, etc, a thumb can't be beat, at least price-wise.

 

[mpowrd]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

My wife has solved the dilemma of thumb versus bucket grapple by insisting we get our upcoming BX24 with both! She really wants to move and place rocks, and we have several acres of natural wooded area with lots of trees dying from sudden oak death so there is lots of fallen wood to clear up.

Besides, when I'm looking at north of $16K for the TLB, what's another $2K for the tumb and grapple? Not terribly expensive given the utility I hear people speak of for both accessories.

 

[john_bud]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

My wife has solved the dilemma of thumb versus bucket grapple by insisting we get our upcoming BX24 with both!

Wow! What a smart wife - and a lucky guy!

jb

 

[kubotalinc]

Re: Can anyone explain the disdavantages of buying a "thumb" for the BX24 backhoe?

I have installed the bro tek thumb and fron and rear skid plates and there ripper tooth that replaces the bucket , I use the thumb all the time its handy to reach around and pick up a giant rock while sitting forward and its strong enough to pick up an entire fisher plow setup while the down riggers are up and the ripper tooth is handy for breaking up frost too!