TWIDDLING MY THUMB

[escavader]

Here i welded up the thumb arm assembly

 

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another

 

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Heres the thumb arm pin holder.It will be the first thing welded on the tractor

 

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Dry run on the bench,ok shes ready

 

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Got the tractor in the garage.Made a mark with the bucket curled up completely so i wouldnt get it too far forward

 

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After un hooking my battery,iI clamped it on,and welded it.If you recall i was gonna clamp it on,then i got lazy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

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ok,thats welded on,now i put on the thumb arms,and connected it to the rear pin holder,in its storage hole.This is so id know where to place it

 

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I installed the brace,hooked up the battary,heres a garage test

 

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open

 

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try again

 

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arms locked at 90 degrees,closed up.The arms are longer than the bucket,so they wont go in,like a previous poster told me not to do

 

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folded up

 

[escavader]

I was unsuccessful with folding up the support arm too.I made it strong instead of foldable /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifI will replace that with a piston soon though Well all i got now is to drill the bolts to accept a hitch pin.The pivet bolt is gonna have a dbl nut.Then a little paint ,primer.Ill show you a pic tommorow. A rock lifting test -pics going into the kubota section now.WHEW /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gifTHE POSTING WAS HARDER THAN THE THUMBBUILDING /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ALAN

 

[HomeBrew2]

REALLY really nice job !!!! Fist class all the way !!!! My hat's off to you, CHEERS!!!!!!

 

[nobull1]

Very nice job, I look forward to your next project.

 

[3RRL]

Alan,
Great looking job. You did a nice job documenting too. Can't wait to see the rock lifting test tomorrow.

 

[dfkrug]

I can't believe I delayed so long to build my thumb. I finished it the other day, and it works great! I looked at many other thumb implementations and plans before I designed mine. I was worried that a mechanical thumb would be disappointing since I have used hydraulic thumbs on excavators before (sweeeeet). I used a std CAT 1 toplink for adjustability and upgradability to hydraulic. It is plenty strong for this application as it experiences way less stress than a toplink used with a scraper box. I wrapped the fwd bracket around the dipper stick since I was concerned that the pull stresses here would distort the 3/16 dipper steel. My photo shows lifting a 400# log.

 

[dfkrug]

Another photo. I used replaceable teeth because I pick up a lot of rocks. The 2 teeth mesh with the middle tooth on my 12-inch bucket. I saw no need for serrations on the thumb and that proved out. I am able to grasp very large rocks and logs quite securely. I can remove the thumb in a few seconds by pulling 2 pins.

 

[SnoFalls]

good job! ... I can't imagine doing without the thumb on my BH ... SOOOO useful!

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Man! Too cool using a top link!! I think I've got to make one now since I've got a couple of those laying around! Thanks fo rthe pics. BobG in VA