Backhoe Manual thumb attachment

[Rdr202]

I just installed a thumb on my backhoe. I went with the Mahindra factory manual thumb for my eMax22.
I had considered an after market bolt on thumb on Amazon cost was under $200 but thought the factory one was a better fit and worth the extra cost.

 

[BIKER BOB]

I have a manual thumb on the BH on my 3215. Great tool for keeping stones/stumps from grinding against boom. Not to compare with a hydraulic thumb, but as much as it gets used it works great! Hope your experience is good with your new "toy", I mean tool!

 

[kneedeep]

I have Factory thumb on my 509 as well. Its heavy and I use a 4x4 block on the teeth to maneuver it in place to pin down and up. Makes it easy to do.

 

[Navasot]

No thumb but gets it done

 

[4570Man]

I have a thumb on mine. It works great for cutting firewood. I haven't found it to be very useful for much else.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I've had hoes with thumbs and without mechanical thumbs.

With thumb is better.

 

[Rdr202]

No thumb but gets it done <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=454444"/>

Thumb helps the dipper from getting banged up.

 

[JoeyDude]

I just installed a thumb on my backhoe. I went with the Mahindra factory manual thumb for my eMax22.
I had considered an after market bolt on thumb on Amazon cost was under $200 but thought the factory one was a better fit and worth the extra cost.

I had the Mahindra thumb installed when I purchased the tractor. Unfortunately, it bent on the first day with the very first rock I picked up. In all fairness, it was a big rock and right at the limit of the dipper. Since then, I've straightened the thumb several times and it continues to get re-bent with use.



I haven't used any heat to straighten it for fear of weakening the metal any further. Instead, I lash a five or six foot pry bar / rock bar onto the thumb and push it back into roughly the correct position. As you can see in the photos, it doesn't always bend exactly in the right spot but it's been close enough.

One day I might get around to heating and hammering it into better shape. If I do, I'm likely to weld a support bar close to the tip or perhaps a plate connecting the two tines.

 

[Rdr202]

I think after you heat it dip it in oil or water to cool it and harden the steel.

 

[oldpilgrim]

JoeyDude,

I can't imagine how something could be built so flimsily.

Here's a pic of the dirty thumb on my 3016, which is only slightly larger than your tractor. It doesn't seem like they would put something as badly designed as yours and as ruggedly designed as mine on tractors that are nearly the same size.

I'd complain to the dealer about it, if it were mine. There's no reasonable expectation that that design would ever hold up under normal use.

Maybe DavesTractor knows if the BH and parts on your's and mine are made from different mfgrs.

 

[tngw1500se]

I had the Mahindra thumb installed when I purchased the tractor. Unfortunately, it bent on the first day with the very first rock I picked up. In all fairness, it was a big rock and right at the limit of the dipper. Since then, I've straightened the thumb several times and it continues to get re-bent with use.

View attachment 459354 View attachment 459353 View attachment 459355 View attachment 459356

I haven't used any heat to straighten it for fear of weakening the metal any further. Instead, I lash a five or six foot pry bar / rock bar onto the thumb and push it back into roughly the correct position. As you can see in the photos, it doesn't always bend exactly in the right spot but it's been close enough.

One day I might get around to heating and hammering it into better shape. If I do, I'm likely to weld a support bar close to the tip or perhaps a plate connecting the two tines.

I've beat the crap out of my thumb on my Max 22 without damage other than paint.

 

[AchingBack]

For $355.00 including shipping, I am very pleased with my weld-on manual thumb, installed on my 2615, 3710 backhoe. It is very stout. Notice the solid flat plate bracing the jaws. No too much change of bending.

 

[MRCONCDID]

I had the Mahindra thumb installed when I purchased the tractor. Unfortunately, it bent on the first day with the very first rock I picked up. In all fairness, it was a big rock and right at the limit of the dipper. Since then, I've straightened the thumb several times and it continues to get re-bent with use.

View attachment 459354 View attachment 459353 View attachment 459355 View attachment 459356

I haven't used any heat to straighten it for fear of weakening the metal any further. Instead, I lash a five or six foot pry bar / rock bar onto the thumb and push it back into roughly the correct position. As you can see in the photos, it doesn't always bend exactly in the right spot but it's been close enough.

One day I might get around to heating and hammering it into better shape. If I do, I'm likely to weld a support bar close to the tip or perhaps a plate connecting the two tines.

I would weld a thick wall metal round or square bar between those to teeth, and while your there you could plate them as well for more strength.
MrC.

 

[BGSnow]

I had the Mahindra thumb installed when I purchased the tractor. Unfortunately, it bent on the first day with the very first rock I picked up. In all fairness, it was a big rock and right at the limit of the dipper. Since then, I've straightened the thumb several times and it continues to get re-bent with use.

View attachment 459354 View attachment 459353 View attachment 459355 View attachment 459356

JoeyDude - New guy here, so excuse diggin up an old post, but thats what us new guys do as we absorb information.

How thick is the steel on you teeth tines?

 

[JoeyDude]

How thick is the steel on you teeth tines?

The steel is 1/4" thick but I think the issue is that the teeth were over 4" long from the last support / crosspiece / gusset. Maybe they were closer to 5" long but it's hard to tell now that they are mangled. It doesn't take tons of pressure to bend the steel sideways at that length, particularly if it's low grade steel.

Note that my straightening procedure is to lash a 6 foot long pry bar onto the teeth of the thumb and press hard with hand / body pressure. It's far from perfect for straightening the teeth but it's better than nothing. Removing the thumb and putting it into a press would probably work a heck of a lot better.

My plan is to replace the entire assembly with an aftermarket unit. I've been talking to a manufacturer and there might be a better option. If it pans out, I'll post on the forum.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Plate between the tines is an obvious and simple fix. Also consider doubling up on the tines. Just a few dollars of steel and a few minutes of welding.

 

[Navasot]

Yeah im not sure why they do open tined teeth guess to let dirt through... never been a fan of fixed thumbs anyway hope you get it sorted out

 

[JoeyDude]

Plate between the tines is an obvious and simple fix. Also consider doubling up on the tines. Just a few dollars of steel and a few minutes of welding.

It's a simple fix when it's brand new. Not so much after it's been bent, straightened, bent, straightened, bent, straightened... It's time to replace with an upgrade.