Integral Thumb Bucket or Grapple??

[BertB.]

At work for a while now we've talked about how cumbersome the hydraulic thumbs are on our machines. There is an option however but at $30,000CAD its really too expensive for our operation. So I'm calling on our fabricator people here (Hello Druid and Mog) to give an opinion on modifying an existing digging bucket that we would buy used to produce our own integrated thumb bucket. Here's a couple links for inspiration and so you know what I'm talking about.

http://www.amiattachments.com/attachments.php?link=excavator-grapples

http://www.amiattachments.com/attachments.php?link=excavator-thumbs

http://www.rocklandmfg.com/index.php?page=krypto-klaw

http://www.woodcracker.com/prod/woodcracker-g/

 

[Smiffy]

Would that not have the same problem getting in the way or do you intend that its easier to remove than a normal thumb ?
If you want the ability to grab things but less obtrusive what about a 4 in 1 bucket

http://www.bmc-buckets.co.uk/stock/4-in-1-excavator-bucket

 

[V8Druid]

this sort of thing Bert ??

trying to remember the name of the Scandy guys who make them too .... they do removable set ups .... it'll come to me - 3 letters IIRC


OK - got it MOI gripen

pin to the top of the bucket in suitable brackets

 

[Grahams]

Names in the picture - Moi Gipen http://www.moi.no/brosjyre/brosjyre_moi_gripen_2007.pdf or https://www.wee.no/skuffer-koblinger-belter-klyperskufferno/graveskuff-med-hydraulisk-klo
Graham

 

[V8Druid]

Names in the picture - Moi Gipen http://www.moi.no/brosjyre/brosjyre_moi_gripen_2007.pdf or https://www.wee.no/skuffer-koblinger-belter-klyperskufferno/graveskuff-med-hydraulisk-klo
Graham

aye, I know Gra ......... the grey matter kicked in ................ eventually ..... really like the system ..... one o' them's on the to do list along with several sets of brackets

 

[Grahams]

The idea of just pinning it to the back of the bucket when needed appeals.

 

[Shovelhands]

The bucket has got to be just the right shape though, by the look of it? If you’ve got to unplug the hyd lines, then it takes seconds to drop the bucket off and fit something else, I think a one piece bucket with gripper would be best and possibly more robust. Imo...

 

[V8Druid]

The idea of just pinning it to the back of the bucket when needed appeals.

appeals to me too Gra

The bucket has got to be just the right shape though, by the look of it? If you’ve got to unplug the hyd lines, then it takes seconds to drop the bucket off and fit something else, I think a one piece bucket with gripper would be best and possibly more robust. Imo...

most of my larger buckets (70s that go on/under my Miller) are similar profile James, but any variations could be adjusted for with differing mount brackets , to put the pivots in the right place on each .... realistically, I doubt I'd want it on anything bigger than me toothed 4 footer, but'd set it up to suit the 3 footers I have primarily

get me black stuff spread, the drainage finished off around it all and I'll have time to get a few lil' projects sorted, hopefully.

 

[BertB.]

Yeah buying an existing set up is just too pricey for us especially since it would go on the older machine. And it always seems like stuff from Scandinavia is priced quite high. I'm just thinking of modding an existing bucket and building it ourselves with some outside help. The current thumb works fine for the most part but I spend a lot of time with simply folded up as I don't really need it and when I'm using the laser with the receiver it actually can get in the way and complicates getting things set up, its also quite difficult to remove due to its weight. What I was thinking of doing is buying a used 60" digging or clean up bucket of decently robust construction and fabbing up the bracketry for the back of the bucket and getting a couple cylinders made up for it.