Backhoe owners

[69bronco]

Anyone have an extendahoe with a mechanical thumb?

[Weekend_Sawyer]

Extendahoe yes. thumb no. And so many times I wish i had one.
Guess I'll have to get one.

Jon

[47sawdust]

I've got the thumb but not the extendahoe,so I'm no help.

[pinefeller]

Yes, awesome hang on ill find some pics

[pinefeller]

[69bronco]

Thanks Pinefeller,  that's just what I was looking for!

[pinefeller]

fyi you cant buy this particular model, there is only one in existence.  but any prefab one of the right length should work

[moosehunter]

I would like one but my extenda hoe is internal as opposed to external as pictured above.  With the internal style that type is not practical because the extendable boom could not retract.
At a hard hat show a few years ago I saw a split bucket that had hydraulics in the pivot pin. Looked like the answer but expensive.

[Weekend_Sawyer]

Good point Mike, I think our case is the same way.

[pinefeller]

get a longer pin for the bucket then use CAD and make up a template for the sides.(thats Carboard Aided Design, by the way) ;D thats how i built mine.

[Ljohnsaw]

CAD (that's Cardboard Aided Design) ;D

I do the same thing!  I recently picked up some corrugated plastic sheets.  Looks just like cardboard only stronger and waterproof!

[pinefeller]

haha now were cookin with gas :D

[Ljohnsaw]

69Bronco,
Can you put up a picture of your hoe so we can come up with some ideas for you?  I think Pinefeller's idea could work but I'd have to see how the bucket cylinder is set up and how much room there is to work with.  A picture from the side as well as the bucket end to see what the linkage is like and where a cylinder might fit.  The picture of Pinefeller's is a fixed thumb (with several positions) but I have a hydraulic.  Having hydraulic is the best! 8)

 

If I were to do it over again, I'd make the connection on the jaw closer to the pivot point so it would swing farther (or a longer ram).  It has enough power to hold but not crush a rock.  The bucket, however, will snap some rocks as the thumb refuses to budge.  I can grip rocks that are so heavy the hydraulics will stall if I try to lift when fully extended and will tip me over if I extend while holding them.  I keep the rocks as low as possible...