Kubota BX 25 Want to add a thumb to BT601 Backhoe, Looking for advice.

[Joe.G]

Hi, I want to add a thumb to my BX 25, Ideally I would add a hydraulic one but I am unsure on cost and if it is worth it.
I found this one,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0732SFZQ4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A2OSE6G7MS58ZO&psc=1

I am open to other ideas as well. Any info on the hydraulic ones?
Is the one in the link worth it?

Thank you

 

[fried1765]

Hi, I want to add a thumb to my BX 25, Ideally I would add a hydraulic one but I am unsure on cost and if it is worth it.
I found this one,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0732SFZQ4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A2OSE6G7MS58ZO&psc=1

I am open to other ideas as well. Any info on the hydraulic ones?
Is the one in the link worth it?

Thank you

Link looks like China junk!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

really F1765, ? , you can tell what grade steel is under the powder coat ??
I spent almost 12 years designing,building spectrometers to analyze steel and could never tell by looking .
At $138 it's a bargain as there isn't a lot of stress on the thumb when holding objects.

 

[Joe.G]

Green that is what I am thinking Is not going to have a ton of stress for what this machine can do. I have no problem spending more if need be.

 

[GibbyESS9]

I dont have a BX25 but I do have a manual thumb on my BX23S. Had it installed when I bought the tractor. I use it way more than I thought I would. Ripping small weed/trees out of the ground, Picking up logs to cut firewood like a gentleman.
My neighbor up the hill is much older than me and just installed one on his TYM after thinking about it for years. He LOVES it. I would go for it.
Cheers
Jim

 

[yorkies77]

BXexpanded has one they make that is more expensive $369.00. It's made here not in China, I have bought several items from them and they are all high quality. You get what you pay for.

 

[fried1765]

Hi, I want to add a thumb to my BX 25, Ideally I would add a hydraulic one but I am unsure on cost and if it is worth it.
I found this one,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0732SFZQ4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A2OSE6G7MS58ZO&psc=1

I am open to other ideas as well. Any info on the hydraulic ones?
Is the one in the link worth it?

Thank you

BXpanded seems to have a very good reputation for small BH mechanical thumbs.

 

[OntheRidge]

I have a hydraulic thumb on my L47, love it. The one in the link you provided looks too short to be useful. Good Luck!

 

[Joe.G]

on the Ridge I did notice that it appears to be shorter. How do I add a Hydraulic thumb?

 

[Mark_BX25D]

About 4 or 5 years ago I spent a lot of time researching bolt-on thumbs for my 601. The only one that seemed to have consistently good reviews was the BXExpanded.

All of the Amazon ones had plenty of people complaining about one of two things:

1. Didn't fit. (Some returned them, some modified them.)
2. If it fit, the thumb slipped under load, and they could not get it to stay in place.

I would like a thumb, too, but I don't like the odds on the Amazon junk, and can't justify the price of the BXExpanded model.

That's partly because I can't find any info on how much I can expect to be able to lift with it. I'm looking at it primarily for lifting big rounds to the splitter.

 

[BXHoosier]

I had one of the cheap universal fit (Titan) manual thumbs on my BX24 for a while. It took quite a bit of modification to make it fit, clear the bucket curl cylinder, and stop it from sliding on the stick. I got tired of fighting with it and ended up making a hydraulic thumb.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm, so order it, get it, use/abuse it for 25 days, then return it...get money back from Amazon......
it may work very, very well for the OP's actual use

 

[Mark_BX25D]

It took quite a bit of modification to ... stop it from sliding on the stick.

Got to thinking about this sliding problem after I posted, then saw your post.


I think I may have solved it in my head. Welding it in place is obvious, but some of us might want to be able to remove it.

So, bolt it in place, do some work with it to make sure it's where you want it. Once that is finalized, weld on some stops to keep it in place. Some 5/16" bar stock cut to an appropriate length should do it. Tack it in place, remove the thumb assembly, then weld it down. Repaint as needed. Then replace the thumb assembly and there you go - no more sliding.

This is absolutely brilliant and works perfectly in my head.

What am I missing here?

 

[BXHoosier]

I had thought about welding some stops onto the stick as well. It would definitely have fixed the sliding issue.

The modifications I made to the thumb were posted here.

Kubota BX24 Mechanical Thumb Bolt Position Question

So. I received the mechanical thumb from Amazon the other day(wish I could say the same for the long list of parts from the dealership for the tractor). There are no specific instructions that come with it. While it does make sense how to install it for the most part, I want to make sure...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[fried1765]

Hi, I want to add a thumb to my BX 25, Ideally I would add a hydraulic one but I am unsure on cost and if it is worth it.
I found this one,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0732SFZQ4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A2OSE6G7MS58ZO&psc=1

I am open to other ideas as well. Any info on the hydraulic ones?
Is the one in the link worth it?

Thank yo

Check with Ox Thumbs in Carrolton, GA.
They build thumbs.

 

[Joe.G]

OX looks like a good option, AM I able to use the Hydraulics from my machine or do I need to add something?

 

[TheOldHokie]

OX looks like a good option, AM I able to use the Hydraulics from my machine or do I need to add something?

You use the tractor hydraulics and add an extra valve to operate the thumb.

Dan

 

[Joe.G]

I'll have to research adding an extra valve to see what that involves, Any good links to doing this?

Thank you

 

[TheOldHokie]

I'll have to research adding an extra st rk?wotobwant itquestion is what that involves, Any good links to doing this?
Thank you

The topic has been discussed numerous times. Not hard to do The biggest question is how to you want it to work?

1. Manual lever added along side or nearby the OEM set?
2. Electric pushbutton on an existing lever?
3. Foot pedal?

Cost starts around $300 for a manual valve and hoses.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I'll have to research adding an extra valve to see what that involves, Any good links to doing this?

Thank you

If you do a search on TheOldHokie's previous posts, you'll uncover a wealth of information regarding your question, and all things regarding tractor hydraulics.