Chinese Mini Excavator: DIY Hydraulic Thumb

[@cupofjotv8195]

Thanks for your time in this in-depth video. For me it makes more sense to just buy this for $190 that fits with the machine but watching you build this was definitely educational. Great work!

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! For sure if you can get it that cheap, thats the way to go. Up here where i live, finding the attachments to buy the is the trick, though they are getting to be more common now! I like to build things..lol

[@TheAefril]

I am so impressed with how close you came to colour matching using spray paint! You are a legend sir!

[@FabbinAdventures]

Lol, well....legends are born everyday!. I also was amazed! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jkrolik2007]

Just got an H12. What’s great is that these machines are so simple and cheap you don’t worry about modding them.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Exactly, and easy to fix

[@inthebackyardwithdel438]

Very nice job on the thumb ! 👍🏻

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thank you sir! And thanks for watching and commenting!

[@inthebackyardwithdel438]

Yes sir , I am looking at getting one of these just to help with firewood cutting . Holding the logs up . I have bad arthritis and I love to cut wood . It would save on the back a lot . They sell these near my house for 7000 dollars .

[@FabbinAdventures]

It will definitely work for that. Thats a big part of why i got one too. I aint getting any younger and we have a ton of dead fall around our yard we want to clean up. By the time you bend over and pick up and cut 1 or 2 of these trees in this yard we are played out. I cut up 3 or 4 trees by myself with the mini x and it was nothin!

[@TheDavidarlen]

Really nice job on the Thumb.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks, it works great!

[@HandyAndHandsome]

I've had mine for a couple of years now , the tips on the thumb bend in over time I suggest welding in a plate . Also princess auto has a bucket you may think of using .

[@FabbinAdventures]

yeah I`ve bent mine already too. i`ll have to look at princess auto to see what they have for buckets, thanks for the heads up.

[@CGrahamWorks]

Douse it fit this spacing needed for the min h12? Sorry if wrong terms, just going to pick mine up on Friday

[@FabbinAdventures]

@CGrahamWorks im not sure what you are asking.

[@CGrahamWorks]

@@FabbinAdventures there is one bucket at Princess auto, I am unsure if the bolts line up to the head of the excavator

[@FabbinAdventures]

@CGrahamWorks no kidding? Im going to edmonton this weekend i'll have a look. Can't go to the city and not go to princess auto..lol Thanks for the heads up!

[@Mikefestiva]

Man that turned out great 👍 I definitely would consider one of these especially for the size, really easy to haul on a small trailer. Is this about a 1 ton mini?

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks Mike, it sure is alot more handy than the manual thumb! Can't wait to put this little guy to work this summer. Yes they consider this one a 1 ton mini x. Thanks for watching and commenting dude!

[@rodneyball6017]

You have very cool tools and ideas but I did love your paint matching skills 40 seconds 10 seconds lol would have never dreamed of doing that with a spray can and a little pump sprayer genius very genius.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Lol, well, i was quite surprised it worked. I walked around the shop looking for something to spray paint into to mix with full intentions to shake it up then brush it on, then figured id just try the pump and it worked! Was definitely no pre planned. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@DAS-Videos]

You are very talented. And that metal cutting machine was so cool.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks, a lot of years in the metal fab industry helps..lol Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@backdoormanintheend]

Very impressive. How hard can you pinch something? Do commercially built systems have some kind of pressure relief valve so that it doesn't exceed a certain spec? Some thumbs will "give way" to bucket pressure and not be damaged.

[@FabbinAdventures]

It squeezes plenty hard for what it is. Enough to pick up some heavy logs. Yes the big machines have a pressure relief from what i understand. Im not sure that these little things need it especially since i'll be the only one running it and am aware of its pressure and limits. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@smca7271]

Thats a great build,one thing to watch is the bucket can can put a huge force on thumb (even bend the thumb cylinder) so they usually have a relief on the thumb set lower than the bucket force,so it pushes the thumb instead of bending it...but if your dont overdo it,should be good.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Well, ive worked it pretty hard already and it hasnt bent anything, if i push with the bucket hard enough it seems the thumb retracts a little, so im not too worried about it, doesnt seem to have the power to hurt anything...sofar. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@R94GC]

just posted a video to my channel of me testing one of these mini excavators with a TMK 150 tree sheer. I was mind blown how well it handled 5-6" diameter trees!

[@FabbinAdventures]

No kidding, whats your channel, i'll check it out!

[@R94GC]

I just subscribed! its new but I'm going to be posting some videos of my little excavator and also my attempt to go off grid and create a sustainable life style. how to do it etc :)@@FabbinAdventures

[@FabbinAdventures]

@R94GC nice, i'll check it out after work

[@FabbinAdventures]

Whats your channel name?

[@tundraICE1]

Thanks for the excellent video! I have 2 questions: 1. When you cut off the two upper 3-hole brackets - why not re-use them? Grind off the two bottom holes and leave enough for the pin and weld back on higher. Why re-make the pin if there is a pin already? Just curious how to do this without a lathe and CNC cutter. 2. Some other video mentioned the thumb fighting against the bucket when all fully closed - any thoughts on this. Thank you kindly!!!

[@FabbinAdventures]

The 3 hole bracket doesnt hold the ram far enough away from the arm to make room for the hydraulic fittings and gives the ram a little better angle to push on the thumb. The pin wasnt long enough to go all the way through so i had to make a longer one, a bolt coulda been used but i like their pin idea. I havent seen a problem with the thumb fighting the bucket, also not quite sure what you mean by that. You could get it all done with a big drill press, side grinder with cut off wheels and a welder. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@tundraICE1]

Thank you - understood!

[@chiefkyle1098]

Just noticed the AGT badging is upside down. That along with the issues you had with the engine, I'm wondering if the guy from Marketplace got them as factory defect models.

[@FabbinAdventures]

That is a very good possibility.

[@learningbyliving]

Thanks great video!

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@dcmotive]

I didnt hear a overall cost, maybe I missed it. I saw the parts list though. Is that complete? Maybe $200 in parts? You can get the ram kit from the mfr on most of these for around $300 ish, but they arent as clean as cutting off the mount like you did.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Yeah $250ish canadian, cant get them for $300 canadian here, more like $450 Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Mikefestiva]

Man I’m pretty close to buying one of these mini Excavators probably the one you have the QH 12 or there’s another model with slightly different specs, the other one has a hydraulic thumb already, a cooling fan and a Parker pump, other then that almost the same machine. I’m really looking forward to the next update video 👍 I have my Yanmar but this one will be better in tight spots and can be hauled more easily.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Im running it right now Mike, trying to dig frozen ground, wish i had a ripper..lol Guess i know what i'll be making next. The drain for my shop froze off in that -45C we had, so im diging it up to thaw and drain it. Tough digging, but im getting there with one tooth on the bucket like a ripper plus im using my big diesel heater and some sheet steel as a tunnel/deflector to thaw the ground. Only -12C today so i am making head ways. They sure are a pretty handy little machine, i have a fan to put in it and will be doing an oil change after todays work for sure. That manual thumb would have had to come off for the digging ive been doing today, but the hydraulic thumb is tucked nicely away! Thanks for watching and commenting man!

[@scottfoster2487]

Another option is to cut the top pin boss off and turn cyclinder 90 degrees and rewelded pin boss. Fun to have a machine that saves labour.

[@FabbinAdventures]

I did think of that, but not knowing what the inside of a hydraulic ram looks like i was afraid to cook something inside lol Guess i shoulds googled. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jang-pa]

수고하십니다. 유압실린더 규격 알려줄수 있나요 따라서 만들고 싶어요

[@dangregorian7751]

Lovely video. The color matching process very professional ❤🎉

[@FabbinAdventures]

Haha, thanks and thanks for watching and commenting!

[@dangregorian7751]

@@FabbinAdventures you are welcome. Most of The guys Will paint The spot with some primer and it is what it îs :)

[@FabbinAdventures]

@dangregorian7751 yeah i hear ya, unfortunately unless its epoxy primer they seem to rust right away. I like it to look as if it came from the factory, not some hack job..lol

[@Anonymous-vr9hp]

I used to run a backhoe on a farm. It had a linkage driven thumb as you curled the bucket it would pinch the thumb. It wasn't the best for digging but did well enough. Most jobs on the farm were manipulating object and for that it worked great.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Making this one hydraulic has made it quite a bit more usefull! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@sourcelee3539]

Great video! I have the same machine, will try DIY mine thumb very soon too. My QH12 runs very jerky sometimes even dangerous, any ideas? Thanks!

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks, yeah i seen a video where a guy put a cushoning valve in his rotator circut so when you are rotating to dump your bucket of dirt you can let go of the handle and it will stop smoothly. I am gonna look into this as it sure would smooth out operations. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@grantunderhill6451]

@@FabbinAdventuresyeah I’m interested in that too , I find my Miva Va13E very jerky also. I’ll be watching for a video on it. I just had it a week so far and figure this winter I can do lots of upgrades. And I’ll say it again your videos are great,lol

[@FabbinAdventures]

I trenched in a power line for my buddies shop back in sept, and while it is jerky when you first get it, it is mostly because we are beginners. By the half way mark of trenching i was getting faster and smoother, so, practice makes perfect..lol I found while rotating and dumping relatively fast when i would stop rotating it would kinda "groan" to a stop and not really jerk. I don't know if it has anything to do with the aw32 oil i have in it, but i doubt it. It is still jerky if you get rammy though..lol

[@dough6393]

Good morning sir. well this video is "timely". I bought an EM-15 excavator back in November and am currently building a thumb, its complete except for the ram upper mount. The attachment points look the same as yours. I ordered the same ram (2" x 8") from Princess Auto as my local store in Red Deer didn't have stock. I am impressed with your plasma cutting tool! Where were you able to buy the hydraulic adapters? I really appreciate you listing the part numbers. Doug

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks for watching my video! I shoulda mentioned that i got all the fittings at my local napa store here in Edson AB, if edson has them im sure Red Deer will. They are quite the little machine hey?

[@dough6393]

I cant wait for spring to come and have some fun. I will check in Red Deer for the fittings once my ram arrives, supposed to be this coming week. I have subbed to your channel and will be watching you up coming videos.

[@FabbinAdventures]

@dough6393 i hear ya on that! Thanks for subscribing! I have lots of videos for you to watch while you try to stay warm! Shes a brisk one out here this weekend!

[@dough6393]

I will be sure to watch your other videos too. -44 C yesterday, -42 this am.

[@FabbinAdventures]

@dough6393 awesome! -44 this morning, -45 yesterday, we are paying for the nice December now!

[@StanleyLemek]

You have probably already mentioned this in another video - but what plasma cutter are you using on the arc droid? I have one and the plasma I have won’t work. Loving your videos here in Michigan. Thanks

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Im using an old miller spectrum 701, but finding consumables is getting tough and they are brutally expensive. I contacted yes welder to see if they would send me their cut 65ds to review, they agreed, but sent the wrong one. They sent the cut 55 instead unfortunately. I want to try it out with the arcdroid, it should work and the consumables are way cheaper and easier to get. Hopefully they take this plasma back and send me the right one, i should see it mid next week.

[@yohon8977]

Hey I'm new to your Channel, good stuff thank you. Everybody complains about the same thing with this machine the blade does not stick out far enough in front to pick up a heavy load. I think you could mock up a blade that sits on the original with maybe a couple pins ,back to the arms. Make it stick out another 1 ft, so you can pick up the loose dirt and a heavier load. If I had a shop and the tools I know I could do it.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Sofar i havent seen a need to extend the blade out. It could be taller and wider for sure. Sticking it out further would give more leverage for when digging. I will see this spring when i actually get to use it for digging whether it needs it or not. If it does, i'll be modifying ot for sure.

[@yohon8977]

@@FabbinAdventures hey thank you for your response, yes when you dig a trench you will find out that you cannot pick up all the loose dirt, because the bucket does not reach the blade to pick up the dirt. A lot of people are adding weights to the back which is absolutely asinine. I've been running excavators for almost 40 years, you will see that it definitely needs to stick out at least another foot thank you for your videos keep them coming I pay attention

[@FabbinAdventures]

@yohon8977 oh i gotcha now, yes i could see how it would be handy to have it stretched out a little further. I'll look further into this, i ran a rubber tire back hoe a little bit anout 10 years ago for a few month so that is the extent of my hoe experience. But i do like to make and modify stuff! Thanks for your experience!

[@giovannifoulmouth7205]

How do you control the thumb?

[@FabbinAdventures]

With a lever on the left side of the consol

[@johnfreeman1615]

do you know what the eye to eye measurement is when the cylinder is fully closed ?

[@FabbinAdventures]

16" www.princessauto.com/en/2-in-bore-threaded-head-utility-cylinders/product/PA1000000430

[@mmmark61]

Love the video and inspired by your work! Unfortunately I don't have the skill or the machinery to do what you did here. But I still like watching it. Otherwise, I have ordered a hydraulic thumb for my new H12 which I got off the trailer yesterday.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks for the kind words, enjoy your new machine! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Tunzbig]

Love the work as always bro, Top stuff :) Great tip with the pump spray bottle

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks man, though originally i was just looking for a container to mix the paint then brush it on. Once i had it mixed i figured i may as well try the pump, and it worked great..lol Learn something new every day! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Tunzbig]

its now stored in my brain for future use :D@@FabbinAdventures

[@FabbinAdventures]

Mine as well..lol

[@hobbs306]

did i just see camera magic? 17:39 you made the thing spin and i did not see the tracks move ??/ what the heck is that !

[@FabbinAdventures]

Right?! Im not exactly sure how i did that maneauver either..lol Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@phillipodell3834]

I'm sorry sir, I don't have all the nice tools you have so I ordered mine on E bay 280.00 but you do nice work.

[@FabbinAdventures]

Well thats fine, not every one has the tools or skills to make stuff like this. Nothing wrong with buying prebuilt parts. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@dr.dansgarage]

That's great, nice work! I'm thinking about buying one of these mini-ex. It seems the prices are lower than a year or two ago.

[@FabbinAdventures]

From what i understand the big auction companies are buying a ton and auctioning them off. Ive heard of guys getting them for less than $4000. How can you go wrong other than supporting China, but the way i look at it, is i didnt buy from China, i bought from a private guy who bought it from the auction..lol Stay tuned to the channel as i'll be turning out a bunch of videos and my thoughts on the unit once spring rolls around. -44C is no fun playing out side..lol

[@randyholly2594]

what a nice job!

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks! Im in the middle of fabbing up and filming a 36" snow/light duty bucket. Video should be out in a week or so.

[@robgug]

nice job! thanks for the video

[@FabbinAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting, there will be lots more videos on it so stay tuned!

[@rex4x4]

My buddy has this exact same machine ..... I love using it.

[@FabbinAdventures]

They are fun for sure!

[@VergorioVergara]

Or you can just buy one that fits in the ears that you cut and comes with hoses and all for around $370 , it’s not even worth all the time you wasted and expensive machinery you have to have

[@FabbinAdventures]

Ha, i built it cheaper than $370, so yeah it was worth it and with better quality parts and hoses than the chinese stuff. Even if it cost the same or more, you still get the better quality components. You should have thought about your rant a little more bud.

[@VergorioVergara]

@@FabbinAdventures i guess you don’t value your time much and also not every one has a computerized plasma table , a precision lathe , milling machine , high end welder , just laying around in their 5,000 square foot shop like it’s nothing which was part of my point , so if i need $ 1 mil infrastructure to make a $370 part it doesn’t make much sense to me ,that if it breaks you can afford to buy another one which by the way they don’t break that much , so think better before you reply BIG BUDDY !

[@FabbinAdventures]

@VergorioVergara haha, i wish i had a high end welder and a 5000 square foot shop, how bout a chinese knock off welder and 1600 square ft shop, cheapest cnc plasma i could find, $300 plasma cutter. I charge $75/hr for custom work and i enjoy building stuff because i can and its better than sitting on my ass watching tv. I've built so many things that my tools have paid for themselves over and over again, so building this thumb really only cost me material, time and consumables, and it is way better quality than the sub par chinese stuff, there is a reason they can build and sell that set up for $370 and make a profit. There is no need to be jealous of a guys shop and tools, its taken me years to get to this point, and non of my stuff is high end. I could have done it with a side grinder and a cheap welder in a drive way if i had to, but i have the tools/time to do it the way i did, no need to get butt hurt man, enjoy life pal.

[@VergorioVergara]

@@FabbinAdventuresnot nothing hurt nor jealous i know i can’t afford these tools but you don’t have to down play it just to try to make your point make sense , plasma table with any type of cnc control is not cheap , you may have a cheap welder ok but i saw that lathe you uncovered and i know for a fact the smallest table top lathe online is 1200 a 1500 That one you have is quite a bit bigger , good for you that you have all that and time to make it bit that doesn’t invalidate my point , “ for most people “ it’s cheaper to just buy one that’s already plug and play because most people don’t have all that , and if the sent it to you to have made with your labor and parts would easily double to triple that , it just works for you if it’s for yourself , you can try to make me look bad all you want but you know what i said it’s reality

[@FabbinAdventures]

Not trying to make you look bad, and your right, if i had to make one for someone else it would run around $600 probably. But what im saying here is you don't need a bunch of fancy tools to make this mod, a drill, a cheap welder, a side grinder and it could be done. The fact that it took me more than 30 years of saving and buying a tool here and there so i could make something or fix something is why i have all these tools now. Some are new, but i buy lots of second hand equipment. I'm cheap..lol so i buy used or cheaper decent "non big brand" equipment. Non of my stuff is top of the line. The lathe is a knock off and is my highest dollar piece i have which i bought brand new on sale for $4500 which i made payments on for a few years, the cnc plasma was the same, about $3500. I'm not trying to down play anything, some guys have way fancier stuff worth way more money. I like to fab stuff, thats what i do for fun, some guys blow their money at casinos, thousands of dollars!, some guy probably knit sweaters..lol but i dont kive them a hard time for that. So just because i spent my money on a few cool tools and use them occasionally doesnt make me any better or worse than the guy who can make the same thing with hand tools...i was there once too.