Toothbar and thumb using rear remotes

[Billy Bee]

I want to install a toothbar and thumb on my TC33. I don't want to go with a grapple bucket, as I have a pin on bucket and it would be a PITA to change back and forth. I have read everything I could find on grapples and thumbs, and I believe a toothbar and thumb will do what I want to do. I've read about the 3rd functions and I want to keep this project in my budget. Buying agrapple bucket and 3rd function is more than I want to spend. If I use the rear remotes is it just a case of plug and play? What is a good way to measure hose length so there is enough length when bucket is all the way up and in the dump position? Will I need a restrictor to slow the clamping process or can you feather the remote lever? The reason for this project is because I am having 27 wanut trees logged off my place and there will be lots of tops to deal with. Also I have other downed trees and brush to deal with.
Thanks for your help,
Bill

 

[Gordon Gould]

I want to install a toothbar and thumb on my TC33. I don't want to go with a grapple bucket, as I have a pin on bucket and it would be a PITA to change back and forth. I have read everything I could find on grapples and thumbs, and I believe a toothbar and thumb will do what I want to do. I've read about the 3rd functions and I want to keep this project in my budget. Buying agrapple bucket and 3rd function is more than I want to spend. If I use the rear remotes is it just a case of plug and play? What is a good way to measure hose length so there is enough length when bucket is all the way up and in the dump position? Will I need a restrictor to slow the clamping process or can you feather the remote lever? The reason for this project is because I am having 27 wanut trees logged off my place and there will be lots of tops to deal with. Also I have other downed trees and brush to deal with.
Thanks for your help,
Bill

I ran my ATI grapple off the rear remotes for a long time. It works fine. Plug and play as you say. I put 90* elbows on the QC's in the rear so the hose started out pointing down. I ran the hose under and along other lines I could find. I used 1/4" lines and did not need any restrictors. I also put a set of inline QC's near the bucket so I could take off the grapple/thumb w/o having to remove the long lines from the back. I found that an old garden hose and some tie wraps gave a good way to figure the measurements for hose lengths. I used some bungees to manage the hose slack when the bucket was rolled back.




gg

 

[Billy Bee]

Thanks GG that is what I was hoping to hear. Do the 1/4 lines act as a restrictor? I have lots of bungees and zip ties as I don't want anything dangling to get caught on something.
Thanks again
Bill

 

[Gordon Gould]

The long 1/4" lines do offer some restriction compared to 3/8" lines but you couldn't consider them as restrictors really unless you needed a lot of flow, say to a hydraulic motor or large diameter cylinder.

If your rear remote valves are mechanical with a linkage to hand operated levers you should be able to feather the thumb. If the valves are electric solenoid valves then you have no feathering capability. Just try it. If the thumb is to fast it is easy to add restrictors in the line. Just disconnect the hose from the QC fitting and insert a short restrictor between.

gg

 

[nybirdman]

I added a tooth-bar and a Green's Machine thumb;very happy with the work it can do.Can't help with the rear remotes ,I have the third function.

 

[Aquamoose]

Keep in mind that using controls for the grapple that is not in the same place as the loader joystick would take away the speed efficiency than if you had an electronic solenoid control mounted on the joystick. It’s much more convenient and you might be working the grapple more often than you think. The electric solenoid setup doesn’t bother me at all. My hand stays on the joystick the entire time & I couldn’t imagine anything else.

 

[LouNY]

I run my grapple and my snow blade angle off one on my rear remotes, works fine.
I ran the lines along the side of the chassis up to where the loader valve lines where then bundled them along with the loader
lines up to a quick connect on the front of the loader. I used 1/2 inch lines I can modulate it with my remotes so it doesn't slam open or closed.
One other benefit if I get an auger or something with a hydraulic motor one of my rear remotes has detent so it will hold in a position.
It doesn't take long to get used to reaching for the remote and working the loader joy stick together.

 

[Billy Bee]

I know that having the 3rd function on the joystick would be faster and more convenient, but I am retired and have more time than money. I am sure I will get used to using the remote lever. A 3rd function and installation would cost more than what I will have in the whole set up, It is a "make do" set up, but I think it will work very well for what I want to do. By the way i'm going to get a Titan toothbar and a Greens Machine thumb.
Thank You For Your Help,
Bill

 

[Billy Bee]

Got the toothbar and thumb installed and had a chance to play with it a little bit. Most of the time I work alone and this is like having a helper. I used to have to get off the tractor to roll large rounds into the bucket to transport to the splitter, now just grab 'em and go. No getting off and on the tractor to hook and unhook chains when lifting a log to bucking height. Haven't moved any brush yet , but I can see where this will be a vast improvement over hand loading into a wagon to bring to the burning pile. The one thing that takes a little getting used to is lack of visibility,but I am getting better. So far I'm lovin' it, should have had one a long time ago.
Bill

 

[nybirdman]

Got the toothbar and thumb installed and had a chance to play with it a little bit. Most of the time I work alone and this is like having a helper. I used to have to get off the tractor to roll large rounds into the bucket to transport to the splitter, now just grab 'em and go. No getting off and on the tractor to hook and unhook chains when lifting a log to bucking height. Haven't moved any brush yet , but I can see where this will be a vast improvement over hand loading into a wagon to bring to the burning pile. The one thing that takes a little getting used to is lack of visibility,but I am getting better. So far I'm lovin' it, should have had one a long time ago.
Bill

I have the same set-up;works great.

 

[Billy Bee]

Birdman, I actually used the picture of your set up to install mine. My bucket is rounded on the top like yours, so I looked at how you mounted angle for the thumb mount. I also used flat stock for gusseting like you. Referred to your picture a few times while I was figuring out how to mount the thumb.
Thanks for your help,
Bill

 

[nybirdman]

Birdman, I actually used the picture of your set up to install mine. My bucket is rounded on the top like yours, so I looked at how you mounted angle for the thumb mount. I also used flat stock for gusseting like you. Referred to your picture a few times while I was figuring out how to mount the thumb.
Thanks for your help,
Bill

Great;I really like my set-up.I welded the nuts to the bottom of the angle and can remove the thumb easily if needed.The only limit with this set-up(compared to a full grapple) is the "open" size.

 

[kenmac]

I have the green machine thumb on my yanmar. It has been a life saver many times over

 

[kenmac]

Great;I really like my set-up.I welded the nuts to the bottom of the angle and can remove the thumb easily if needed.The only limit with this set-up(compared to a full grapple) is the "open" size.

If you bought the Titan tooth bar. Did you have to cut it down to get it to fit the Kubota bucket ? I had to cut mine, as it was a little too long for the Kubota bucket

 

[MRCONCDID]

I cut 1.5 inches out of the center of mine. took about an hour, saved me a couple hundred bucks. I beat on it today, and it held up great no issues.
I did v out the cut, clamped it down did a root pass and a final over the top after it cooled a bit, then flipped it over and did the same to the other side, ground down the bottom side smooth, painted and installed it. I did have to remove the cutting edge. My last tractor I never removed the toothbar, never in 11 years.

MrC.