Mini Ex thumb and bucket width

[oldafretired]

If the thumb is about 13" wide, would a 12" bucket work or should it be wider than the thumb?

 

[Snobdds]

The only thing I've had to watch for is how the thumb and the teeth on the bucket mesh. As long as there is no interference, any with bucket will work. I have a 24, 16 and a 10. They all have no interference and work just fine.

 

[oldafretired]

The only thing I've had to watch for is how the thumb and the teeth on the bucket mesh. As long as there is no interference, any with bucket will work. I have a 24, 16 and a 10. They all have no interference and work just fine.

So the sides of the thumb will just widen the trench a bit to fit without causing any problems?

 

[Snobdds]

Usually when your digging a trench, no need for a thumb and it should be in the up position. I only use the thumb when I need to pick up a log, rock or something like that. If I'm digging my thumb is up and I use the bucket curl to scoop the dirt up.

 

[BarnStangz]

The thumb on my Bota is 13 inches wide. I was going to get a 12" bucket for it (for tile and other trench work), but I don't like the idea of the thumb being wider than the bucket. I'll end up going with a 16". Currently there is a 24" on it. I like the idea of the bucket being wider than your thumb for better clamping ability and less bucket mangling. But I guess it depends on if you are going to do a lot of 12" (type) trench work. I think a 16" is the way to go. Little bit heavier duty and can do more than just trench. Just my $0.02.

 

[oldafretired]

The thumb on my Bota is 13 inches wide. I was going to get a 12" bucket for it (for tile and other trench work), but I don't like the idea of the thumb being wider than the bucket. I'll end up going with a 16". Currently there is a 24" on it. I like the idea of the bucket being wider than your thumb for better clamping ability and less bucket mangling. But I guess it depends on if you are going to do a lot of 12" (type) trench work. I think a 16" is the way to go. Little bit heavier duty and can do more than just trench. Just my $0.02.

The Kubota dealer said the 12" bucket will work with the thumb. He said the teeth on the bucket flare out and end up wider than the thumb. Kubota makes a 18" bucket for the U55 but the teeth won't mesh with the thumb.

 

[boggen]

wide buckets = wide trenches, that are total waste of extra digging and more so what it takes to re-level and finish the soil on top. for finished lawn, to trenches that goes through driveway. only dig as wide as you need to.

there are better "trenching buckets" out there.

if digging trenches, i would would be willing to put in extra effort to remove the thumb. so i do not nock down the stinking side walls and have to dig out more dirt. granted digging with a machine is all good. till it means more and more time, dealing with the after math of it all.

if you were digging out a basement, ya nice wide bucket. lots of dirt to move in a single scoop.

for me a thumb more good for moving culvert pipes around to get under driveways, grabbing branches / trees that were cut down. perhaps being lazy and cutting firewood (pickup tree and start sawing away at it)

what instances would you want a thumb to be wider than the bucket?

to note it, double check bucket types. some buckets are not re-enforced along the sides, and could possibly warp bucket sides when grabbing stuff, while other buckets have more of a straight cutting edge per say. dull cutting edge but cutting edge non the less, to help grab / sink into trees and branches, pipe, culverts etc....