Thumb for CB05 Backhoe

[nrguenth]

Hi all. I'm looking at this 18" Heavy Duty Backhoe Thumb Mini Excavator Hoe Clamp | eBay thumb to put on my CB05 backhoe, not least because of the assistant that is included with each purchase. I have a couple of questions.

1. Does anyone have any experience with this vendor? Bonus points if you've mounted this on a CB05.
2. Does anyone know of any other thumbs I should consider for this backhoe? I emailed BXpanded about whether theirs would fit, but never got a reply. Anyone know if that one would fit?

Thanks much!

 

[Kevin Krieger]

Hi all. I'm looking at this 18" Heavy Duty Backhoe Thumb Mini Excavator Hoe Clamp | eBay thumb to put on my CB05 backhoe, not least because of the assistant that is included with each purchase. I have a couple of questions.

1. Does anyone have any experience with this vendor? Bonus points if you've mounted this on a CB05.
2. Does anyone know of any other thumbs I should consider for this backhoe? I emailed BXpanded about whether theirs would fit, but never got a reply. Anyone know if that one would fit?

Thanks much!

I'm wanting to know the thumbs that would bolt on also for my gc1710. The Bro tek looked like the backhoe couldn't be stowed completely for travel. The Bxpanded sure looks slick if he makes one for Massey

 

[nrguenth]

Bump for visibility. C'mon guys. CB05 has been around for awhile. Anybody got one? Didja put a thumb on yours? Thanks!

 

[Kevin Krieger]

With the Brotek you have to remove the top link for the thumb and then it stores. Harry at Bxpanded said that as soon as his dealer has one in he was going to look into it. I hope it is soon and I will wait.

 

[irvingj]

Don't know about a CB05, but here's what the Bro-Tek looks like on my 2310. Richard Breau was great to deal with; even stopped by to meet him and his wife when we were traveling in NB a few years back. Great guy, and his wife makes a great Eggs Benedict!

That thumb is one of the handiest mods I've ever made to the tractor. As long as I have weight in the FEL bucket, that thing will pick up & carry quite a good-sized log.

As was pointed out earlier, the adjustable link can be removed and the thumb can be put in a retracted position; however, if you look at the last pic, I leave it like that. Although the BH bucket will not fully retract, the boom will. I just leave it like that most of the time.

In the one added pic, you can see the size of the poplar log I used the thumb to raise for cutting to stove length with a chainsaw.

 

[Toddao]

Mine ,I welded on a Wallenstein thumb, tried their bolt one first, but didn't fit, my fault. So I got the weld on one, it is great

 

[Kevin Krieger]

Mine ,I welded on a Wallenstein thumb, tried their bolt one first, but didn't fit, my fault. So I got the weld on one, it is great

Does Wallenstein make a bolt on one that will fit. Not sure about you're comment saying that it was your fault that the bolt on one didn't fit.

 

[Toddao]

My measurements were off and the bolt one didn't fit,

 

[MoMower]

Irving, what was the cost of the BroTek? Thanks

 

[irvingj]

I looked, but darned if I could find an actual invoice. Got it in January of 2009, and I think it was around $350. Shoot an email to Richard; he does all his sales through ebay, so you can get his contact info there. He's very good about answering. irvingj

 

[irvingj]

Found it, MoMower. Since it was ebay (PayPal), I went back to my 2009 credit card records and found it. $390, which included shipping. Let me know how much the price has gone up in 5+ years.

irvingj

 

[MoMower]

will do, thanks Irvingj

 

[Kevin Krieger]

Irving, what was the cost of the BroTek? Thanks

He wants $370 for the thumb. This does not include the category 2 top link which is $40. There is also a $30 shipping and handling so might as well get the skid plate for $130 since the $30 handling/shipping is only one time. Irving I believe said the top link was included when he bought his so they have increased $50.

 

[Toddao]

Better pics of mine,

 

[irvingj]

Yes, I did get the Cat 2 adjustable top link with mine. Initially, I had some trouble getting the thumb to fit as M-F had changed the design of the boom a bit, but Richard was great to work with and we came up with a solution together. He then incorporated the "new" measurements in his design, but of course we now have the CB design. I'm sure Richard has kept up with the changes.

I'll repeat, one of the most useful add-ons I've purchased for the tractor; very nice to have.

I spent some time digging with the BH at a neighbor's house last week (drainage issues), and I just pulled the two pins and removed the top link and the "jaw" and set them aside. Very quick & easy to do. ijk

 

[rjmack]

I ended up building my own thuimb, I guess it's handy enough when I need it, but that happens so rarely that it basically just collects dust.

it seems like the backhoe is just too small in the sense that it doesn't have enough reach to make the thumb of any real value.

 

[irvingj]

Yes, I'll admit, as far as "real" excavation is concerned, the backhoe's reach is limited. I think I measured it at 9' at its maximum extension, in a roughly horizontal direction.

I often find myself wishing I had my brother's extendable backhoe, which is, of course, on a much larger tractor, but accept that as one of my 2310's limitations; just involves a lot more moving of the tractor.

I use the thumb mainly for holding logs up so I can whack 'em off with a chainsaw -- and for that, it's great, not to mention just grabbing and carrying things.

Just a few of the limitations I've learned to live with, while avoiding the expense and storage space required of a larger machine.

Guess that's more than my allotted 2 cents, but there it is. Still love that machine, for my small-acre/homeowner operation. :thumbsup: