Excavator Thumb

[Matthew Storrs]

Although I do wish the rSL one had a bit more curve on the tines as would make it better for holding big timbers- that’s its main downfall

[Puffster]

I've an old Peljob EB12 which I got cheap and have been fixing up where necessary. Might be a 1.5t, not sure but starts easy and works well apart from left track being a bit lazy - need to fix the valve slice for it.

[Matthew Storrs]

16 minutes ago, Puffster said:

I've an old Peljob EB12 which I got cheap and have been fixing up where necessary. Might be a 1.5t, not sure but starts easy and works well apart from left track being a bit lazy - need to fix the valve slice for it.

Nice old thing! Looks more like 1.5t to me. You don’t have a 3rd service hydraulic line which means you’d need a manual thumb- bit of a pain TBH but at least it’s always on the machine when you need it. Grapple much better for timber work- brash though.

[woody paul]

Reboot, 

If you fit a thumb to a digger can you later fit a grab using the upper mount for link bar. 

 

[topchippyles]

1 hour ago, woody paul said:

Reboot, 

If you fit a thumb to a digger can you later fit a grab using the upper mount for link bar. 

 

Thread was over 2 years ago paul 

[Matthew Storrs]

1 hour ago, woody paul said:

Reboot, 

If you fit a thumb to a digger can you later fit a grab using the upper mount for link bar. 

 

No. The upper mount will be far too far up the dipper- the brace/link bar would be extremely long and easy to bend. If it’s closer then the thumb won’t close. Once you have a thumb, I found the need for a fixed manual grapple became completely redundant. If I was doing a mix of work. Keep the thumb on for day to day handinesss, and get a proper rotating timber grab if you have plenty of timber work. I love my thumbs!

[woody paul]

24 minutes ago, topchippyles said:

Thread was over 2 years ago paul 

Yes you are right, but couldn't be bothered to start a new one.

[woody paul]

9 minutes ago, Matthew Storrs said:

No. The upper mount will be far too far up the dipper- the brace/link bar would be extremely long and easy to bend. If it’s closer then the thumb won’t close. Once you have a thumb, I found the need for a fixed manual grapple became completely redundant. If I was doing a mix of work. Keep the thumb on for day to day handinesss, and get a proper rotating timber grab if you have plenty of timber work. I love my thumbs!

Thanks, I could always make an adaptor to bring link bar nearer. 

[doobin]

13 hours ago, woody paul said:

Thanks, I could always make an adaptor to bring link bar nearer. 

Not easily. How will you stop the pins from acting as pivot points? Any mechanism involving square or double pins will place a huge amount of stress on the original weld point via leverage.

 

Clevis points on dippers have to be bob on when hydraulic rams are involved, to avoid 'grounding out' and potential catastrophic failure.

[woody paul]

If to far up dipper arm some thing like an adjustable hitch with holes for pins on bracket and then hole in right place.