S
Steve Blackdog
Active member
So…I have pulled the trigger on the RSL Excellent to deal with.
Storrsy
Well-known member
You'll love it. Just pay heed to the fitting instructions as if you get it wrong it will irritate you for ever more!
Storrsy
Well-known member
Thinking about getting a rotating grab for impending Wacker. Id want a thumb too but happy to take it off if I was doing dedicated grab work. Here's the thing- my experience with rotating grabs on small machines isn't great- I used a local tree surgeons which was on site (bobcat E26) and found the grab really quite frustrating due to having to have it quite far out to actually get any lift height on it. Fine for small stuff but trying to wrestle a big boulder was hopeless as could only lift it close it but there just wasn't any scope to lift it because of the stack height. Anyone else running one on a circa 2 ton machine- I like the idea of it for walling but not sure I will actually like it in practice.
William127
Well-known member
Had a thumb on the kubota from day 1, moved a lot of timber with it (and the odd bin) and on the Case, both RSL manuals
Very useful, low cost, good lifting power, always to hand- so why haven't I fitted one on the 217?Think it's a mix of things- wanting to get something 'better' this time, not wanting something with potential to abuse on a machine that occasionally goes out on hire and probably me not wanting to take a welder to a newer digger
Well the job I looked at on Saturday has got me thinking that it is time for a thumb the 217r. Lots of self set Holly to remove, clumps of rushes to thin out on stream banks and general woodland tidying. Not tons of timber stacking.
Can't see an easier method than the ripper tooth/small toothed bucket combined with the thumb to loosen then lift them.
A grapple would probably be better for generally clearing through the woods but wouldn't work for pulling stuff out the ground, same with a grab
With hydraulic thumbs, are they easy to remove the thumb and cylinder, just leaving the back plates like you can with a manual?
Wouldn't have wanted it still on there last week doing deep footings, or on jobs where I'm just chucking tons of topsoil/type 1/sand about all day.
doobin
Well-known member
No, it will be especially hopeless on a 2t with ‘uk standard’ stupidly long dipper for the reasons you mention. Mine is bearable on the e19 because I specced short dipper and made sure to optimise the s30 hitch and top bracket.
I never tire of posting this pic, it demonstrates the problem succinctly. Literally any lifting will have to be done on the dipper rather than the boom.
Storrsy
Well-known member
Thanks Doobin. I've studied that same picture too and deduced that it wouldnt be suitable for me in that guise. I did think Wacker ET20 with VDS (adds 3 inch lift height) an S30 hitch etc but still reckon it won't be that far off the ground lift wise. Wacker have a non VDS with twin aux and shorter dipper which they say is standard European spec assumedly as many will be running powertilts or tilties. Trouble is I won't be so the short dipper is going to be a pig for grading envelope- at least the 2 ton Volvo I tried was with the short dipper.
Storrsy
Well-known member
Yeah easy enough to remove the thumb leaving just the brackets. It's literally two pins and the associated hoses. 5 minutes job. I can't emphasis enough though how .uch to go for the RSL ones over JB/hard life/others. The fact the RSL one is same width as the dipper makes it no problem at all for other tasks. I haven't taken the thumb off my TB125 for about 5 years minus one very steep fencing job where I needed to lighten the load with the post knocker on to.Well the job I looked at on Saturday has got me thinking that it is time for a thumb the 217r. Lots of self set Holly to remove, clumps of rushes to thin out on stream banks and general woodland tidying. Not tons of timber stacking.
Can't see an easier method than the ripper tooth/small toothed bucket combined with the thumb to loosen then lift them.
A grapple would probably be better for generally clearing through the woods but wouldn't work for pulling stuff out the ground, same with a grab
With hydraulic thumbs, are they easy to remove the thumb and cylinder, just leaving the back plates like you can with a manual?
Wouldn't have wanted it still on there last week doing deep footings, or on jobs where I'm just chucking tons of topsoil/type 1/sand about all day.
The JB etc ones are visually intrusive and exert twisting forces due to their excessive widths plus pain for narrow trenches. The design of them is just not as robust or user friendly as the RSL ones.
Storrsy
Well-known member
Oh also If your pairing it with a ripper the JB ones with dual tines won't match the ripper tine- crap if you want to pick out little bits. Ive been picking out scraps of membrane from this path job as I dig through it all- couldn't think of any thing better for the job tbh . Plus digging picking and placing boulders for the cross drains etc
William127
Well-known member
Thanks, wasn't sure if it just pinned on like the manual or had a bolt or 2 (and hoses, obviously). Easier to ask than squint at pictures
It was always going to be an RSL, from my experience, others opinions and the fact he's only a couple of miles away from me
Got to get the thumb and the s30 set up sorted towards the end of the month- been doing a mixed job today, digging, stump removal, brash handling, grading and trying to 'loose' hardcore. Without the thumb, ripper and rake I've had the last 10 years it's been highly frustrating
Storrsy
Well-known member
Oh sorry there is two 19mm nuts holding the pins in. But easy got atThanks, wasn't sure if it just pinned on like the manual or had a bolt or 2 (and hoses, obviously). Easier to ask than squint at pictures
It was always going to be an RSL, from my experience, others opinions and the fact he's only a couple of miles away from me
Got to get the thumb and the s30 set up sorted towards the end of the month- been doing a mixed job today, digging, stump removal, brash handling, grading and trying to 'loose' hardcore. Without the thumb, ripper and rake I've had the last 10 years it's been highly frustrating
I honestly don't think you'll be removing it as much as you think you might! Male sure you get the S30 before ordering the thumb. Else it might be too long. Although a thumb too short is more annoying then a thumb too long- too short and it will miss the bucket edge
Storrsy
Well-known member
Downside for you is it will be off a pedal. Not the end of the world but don't think it will flow as nice as off a prop roller
William127
Well-known member
Still easier than pre selecting the position of a manual one
William127
Well-known member
We'll see, I'd be perfectly happy not taking it off if I don't feel the needOh sorry there is two 19mm nuts holding the pins in. But easy got at
Not the end of the world
I honestly don't think you'll be removing it as much as you think you might! Male sure you get the S30 before ordering the thumb. Else it might be too long. Although a thumb too short is more annoying then a thumb too long- too short and it will miss the bucket edge
That all makes sense, hitch first
Storrsy
Well-known member
I know your in tilty territory now so perhaps short dipper doesn't bother you but before that how did you find you got on with it for general bucket work. Suppose short dipper would be ok with a tilting bucket and grab but not sure about the rest...
Also looking at S30 it really only shaves an inch or so off the height Vs a prolock hitch for example- is it really worth it?
craig
Well-known member
I don't know if the 20 is the same, but when I ordered my 24, I was going with a short dipper, but they said it wont reach the blade to clean up.
Storrsy
Well-known member
I've become somewhat of an expert on the differences in the Wacker ET18/20/24 now and I still don't own one! The ET 20 has exactly the same arm as the ET24. However the ET24 has only one blade option- fairly close in - whereas the ET20 can either have a short blade or a long blade with the latter being able to clean up against with a grading bucket. I would want it with a long blade as lifts the machine higher up when longer- levelling the machine etc.
doobin
Well-known member
Less reach but more power in the dig- swings and roundabouts! At the end of the day both you and I have larger machines for big grading jobs.
I went from pro lock to s30 on that machine as it happens. It’s not just about the height, it’s about the geometry.
I remember the first time I used an s30 hitch, one from @CPS on my e27. I was amazed to be able to scoop a full bucket off the top of the shingle heap, and then deposit it into a dumper which I thought id parked far too close to me. On the old whites hitch I’d have had no chance.
You have to try s type to see the benefits. I’d never ever go back.
Storrsy
Well-known member
Of course if you want to put tracks back on with out getting out the cab than a grab is far superior to a thumb
S
Steve Blackdog
Active member
Update: sadly, the thumb arrived and I got PV Dobson to take it to their workshop to fit it, but due to the design of the Whites Hydraulic hitch, the thumb had to go so far up the dipper that it flashes with the boom. RSL have been very helpful and have agreed to take it back. Still, I will be landed with a bill for the aborted trip to the dealer and the time they spent trying to make it fit without success.
ho hum.
ho hum.
Storrsy
Well-known member
Sorry to hear that but quite surprised as RSL usually ask for the length of the dipper between the fully crowded quick hitch and the point at which the dipper fixes to the arm for that very reason?
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