Home Made DIY Excavator Thumb for a Bobcat 322

[@outdoorlifecampground]

Loved your video.....I'm a fellow Canadian working on my own mini excavator.....I'm not of Dutch decent, but I am also "economical"....!

[@andygna2281]

Super to zrobiłeś i wytłumaczyłeś pomimo tego że nie znam angielskiego teraz jestem w stanie samodzielnie sobie to wykonać do mojej minikoparki bardzo Tobie dziękuję ❤ Pozdrawiam serdecznie z Polski

[@eloyjrmartinez2657]

Great video, and great job, sir.

[@jerryweigl4730]

I learned a lot from your video. You gave a thorough and methodical presentation. Good for you. I plan on building a thumb for my backhoe.

[@bobsrepairshop]

Well done, loved the content and explanations. I'm in the process of rebuilding the thumb on my 5 ton Kubota, and this helped a lot.

[@Rover19666]

Great job, enjoy your new project

[@marka9049]

Outstanding! This video is what I'll use to build mine. Thank you!

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

Thanks for watching. It was a great project and a very useful attachment. I use it all the time.

[@marka9049]

@@fromthewoodsyyc I have referred to it several times today as "the build" has begun thanks to your video inspiring me.....I just didn't know where to start until I saw yours! I have a Bobcat B300 and that's what it's going on.... little bit bigger hoe than yours but identical design. I just ordered a 16 cylinder as I'll need a little extra stroke for my thumb.... my pins are 1.50" so I got some 1/2 plate for the thumb. I should've made a video but my welds and lathe work would get beat up lol.

[@dough6393]

Great video sir!

[@klaasdebaas007]

Nice job.

[@davidianero5528]

Nice job I just purchased a thumb for my mini excavator I’ll fallow your method to fit my bracket to the boom very talented sir and we’ll put together video

[@stevethomas8158]

An excellent video! One small suggestion would be to use a mag drill for your holes even if you have to borrow one from a friend. My Haugen mag drill will punch those holes out in 5 seconds each . Great overall job on your project.

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

Thanks for the nice comment. It was a fun build and definitely a useful attachment, I use it all the time. A mag drill would be nice but that is a tool I would only use only once in a while. I have already been told I have too many tools. Also I should have used 1/2" Plate for the tines and a shorter stroke cylinder.

[@450rhino1]

Excellent demonstration. Very informative. I subscribed so I can learn more builds.

[@bunkerhunter75]

Well done collegue!💪💪💪greetings from Italia 🇮🇹

[@nvrst]

Most excellent how-to! Have you managed to bend the thumb sides or is it holding up OK? I had pretty disappointing experience with similar design made from pure Chinesium.

[@alphonsotate2982]

Beautiful job

[@loggggon]

Nice job

[@jordanwolters4992]

Great video. I like how your thought process works.

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@JoeVolcano42]

Did you consider (or need) and over pressure valve so the bucket doesn't fight the thumb? (The bucket should win...) I have seen some that don't have this and they had a bent hydraulic rod on the thumb cylinder. Great job!

[@robertd6925]

:57 and here I was thinking i was Irish lol.

[@ryans5518]

Great video. What size bore did you use for your cylinder inch and a half or two inch?

[@andrelachapelle3494]

I'm a fellow Canadian also, I liked your video and I'm in the process of looking for a thumg also for my tractor, would you be willing to share your template. Thanks in advance.

[@dandahermitseals5582]

Interesting

[@thorleifsvensson3974]

Hi, what a nice video you made about your construction of the thumb. I have the same machine as you a 322 Bobcat. I am half finished with my wooden template. I have a hydraulic piston that has a 400mm stroke. But it is only 20mm thick on the piston rod do you think it will be bad will it fold?

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

Thanks for watching. If I had to do it again I would make the tines out of 1/2" plate. Also I would go with a shorter stroke piston. Mine extends a bit further than I would like. It would change the location of the upper bracket location. I don't know about the rod sizing if it will affect performance. Some of the logs I lift with my machine are pretty heavy which surprised me. I bought what I thought would work and saw on other machines. So I can't comment on the 20mm rod. Hope that helps.

[@thorleifsvensson3974]

Hello again, how have you done with the hydraulic oil flow that is on the extra socket where you connect the thumb. I have way too high flow and pressure there now. The thumb doesn't move smoothly and slowly it's way too fast. Then when you get to the end positions, the engine next wants to die because someone is sitting over the flow valve. It makes it to the other hydraulic pistons on the excavator.

[@cowofthemonth]

Find somewhere to get the plate steel components laser cut

[@jpd5036]

What type of steel did you use?

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

I used mild plate steel. But I should have gone with 1/2" plate rather than 3/8.

[@alessiobrugnara6289]

Hi, is there a need to install a relief valve for the aux line or is it already built in? Thanks

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

Not sure. I did not install any other hydraulics other than what was factory installed. The engine will strain if you continue to push pedal against a load.

[@jogio4256]

Hello, nice project :) can you send some project plan? I would like to make one for my excavator to... thanx ;)

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

Thanks for watching. No plans unfortunately, kind of made it up as I went. Plans changed as I went along. The only things I would change is to go with 1/2" thick metal for the tines and a shorter stroke cylinder. other than that it works really well. Wondering how i got along without it.

[@davidkornelson7867]

what would be your reason for a shorter cylinder @@fromthewoodsyyc

[@fromthewoodsyyc]

@@davidkornelson7867 The ram I have on there kind of over extends the thumb so a shorter stroke would work better for the geometry.

[@robertd6925]

19:00 have ground the arm. Would have been stronger

[@Not4Knowing]

You didn't show The machine wants in the video. What the heck machine are you putting this on and how is it mounted? How did you not put the machine in the video? What the heck

[@paweisyn7446]

[@kjruff7786]

Nice job on the thumb! If you're using a smaller welder and you want better penetrating welds, pre heat anything thicker than ⅜" after you tack it up.