BX hydraulic backhoe thumb build

[BXHoosier]

I have decided to build a hydraulic thumb for the backhoe on my BX24. I recently added dual rear remotes with the intention to use them to control a thumb. The 2 spool valve hooks up inline with the backhoe. Today, I mocked it up with 3/8” plywood. The upper mount will be welded to the dipperstick.

 

[BigG]

If your metal working is as good as your wood working I think you will be golden.

 

[stano]

Looks good. I had another look at your pics and you are fine. Hence the edit of my post.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I think you'll find out very fast that the rear remote don't work very well for BH operations, trying to grow another hand and arm to run it, is pretty hard to do.

You would be very easy to add a Electric valve that that is controlled by a button on a BH joy lever, that would keep your hands on the controls, not trying to reach behind you to run it.

 

[Yooper]

When you mock something up you do not fool around! CNC router?

 

[BXHoosier]

I think you'll find out very fast that the rear remote don't work very well for BH operations, trying to grow another hand and arm to run it, is pretty hard to do.

You would be very easy to add a Electric valve that that is controlled by a button on a BH joy lever, that would keep your hands on the controls, not trying to reach behind you to run it.

I am sure it will be a little awkward but I am mainly just doing this so I will not have to climb off to adjust the thumb like I do with the manual thumb I have now.

 

[BXHoosier]

When you mock something up you do not fool around! CNC router?

Nope. Just a 1” spade bit and a bandsaw.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

NICE !!!! Great thing about wooden prototypes is that if they don't work, they can heat your garage. Whole lot easier drilling wood than steel, let alone all them teeth !! CLEVER ram 'in AND out' locations !! I'd like to 'borrow' that method please !

Jay

 

[js5020]

Nice idea, I'd like to have hydraulics on the thumb myself for the same reason I don't want to get off and manually adjust it.

 

[Tarmy]

I am sure it will be a little awkward but I am mainly just doing this so I will not have to climb off to adjust the thumb like I do with the manual thumb I have now.

You will be very happy too. I converted mine too...most handy tool I have...

I would post a couple pics...but the site is not letting my...again....

 

[murph1068]

This guy has it going on...nice work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAp8_pWtq0o&t=795s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW1SnOXC4Cw&t=2107s

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Saw a TLB that had 2 'saw toothed' plates bolted onto both sides of the boom. He could easily grab and hold onto 20' lengths of 12" culvert.
Seems like a simple, easy,cheap method. If there was a market it'd be quick to CNC the parts.

 

[BXHoosier]

I ordered the cylinder and it should be here tomorrow or Wednesday. The upper cylinder mount is made and ready to weld to the dipper stick. A friend drew up the thumb plates for me and he is going to see if his friend can burn out the pieces on a plasma table.

 

[BXHoosier]

The cylinder came today and I made a pin to attach it to the dipper stick mount. I cross drilled the pin and mount for a retainer bolt and added a grease zerk to the pin.

 

[Yooper]

What size is the pin and what kind of steel did you use? Looks nice!

 

[BXHoosier]

What size is the pin and what kind of steel did you use? Looks nice!

Thanks
The pin is 1 inch cold rolled steel. Cold rolled has a single shear strength of 40,000 psi so the 1 inch pin in double shear is good for roughly 62,000 lbs.

 

[skeets]

Wildfire is a member here and if you follow his facebook page, he has come up with tons of mods for the big "K" tractors. And I do believe he sells some things as well. Top quality work and a great guy

 

[Wildfire]

Wildfire is a member here and if you follow his facebook page, he has come up with tons of mods for the big "K" tractors. And I do believe he sells some things as well. Top quality work and a great guy

Thanks Skeets for your kind words. Your not to bad yourself my friend

 

[BXHoosier]

Paul, your videos are great. I watched your thumb build and it gave me some info and ideas for my build.

 

[BXHoosier]

My thumb plates are programmed into the torch table and ready to cut. Hopefully I will have them early this week.