Installing A Titan Thumb On A Ford Backhoe Man Time! 

Those continuous welds distorted the channel, you need to alternate sides and ends to prevent or at least minimize it, that's why you always heavy tack and test fit before weld out to be able to address alignment.

Just bought the identical thumb for $250 delivered and plan to weld it on my old Ford 4500 tomorrow-thanks for posting this, a big help to this 69 Y.O. guy. I'm no pro welder but I think you might have gotten a bit better penetration with no undercutting on the boom side by cranking the heat up just a mite more, bisecting the angle between the boom and the piece being welded on rather than holding the rod nearly parallel to the boom, and sticking that 7018 right into the puddle and keeping the arc a little shorter...not that it is gonna make any difference really-your thumb is not going to fall off the hoe for certain-a very good job and I'll be happy if mine turns out as well as yours!

Exactly what I was looking for. Subscribed!

Nice work man. I bought the same to install on my Case 580 Super K backhoe only to realize the boom is ductile iron, not to be welded on. So now I'm figuring out a way to make it a bolt on thumb by welding heavy brackets to the thumb with a plate on the back of the boom.

My CASE 580C doesn't have the strap at the bottom of the arm so I'll mount the claw nearly touching the bucket, will let me pick up tiny sticks. TITAN punched the holes slightly out of alignment, nothing you did wrong. Good instructions, TITAN sure didn't have any, they referred me here.

I think that you might try leaving the pin connected on the toothed piece and instead remove the pin connecting the vertical piece welded to the boom and the diagonal bracing and then fold it up. The smaller top piece would then be positioned to allow the thumb to fold up no matter which of the three holes is connected to the diagonal bracing. Im not sure if that is the issue hard to tell without a close up of the arrangement.

If you want to go to the trouble, spec out a hydraulic cylinder and replace that solid link. Plumb in another couple of tubes and add hoses and you'll be able to control it from your seat. Very handy. Putting one on my CASE 580 currently. E-Bay has all the stuff you need.

Thank you for posting. I need the short part that you welded on very top. It didn't come with my 24" Thumb from Titan. Could you please tell me the name of it so that I can google it and find it? Thank you

Now I'm thinking I need one on my 555!

sometime on friday we weld on a jig..but go just a little to fastened maybe we didn't use lock pin when welding..sorry.next time smack it with a BFH..military term

I bought one for my backhoe as well but its smaller and i am going to weld it this week. Its going to be my very forst weld job but i am a certified RU-vid universaty and going to do it myself.

Ordered mine a year ago. Putting it on my Case 480 today. Yup ,pins are tight. 32" thumb. No top piece.. Is yours a 36" thumb ?

Has this been a worthwhile project?

Anyone tried this on a 1986 John Deere 310C? Brian Flaherty's comment below "I bought the same to install on my Case 580 Super K backhoe only to realize the boom is ductile iron, not to be welded on." really concerns me. I'm not sure if the John Deere 310C boom can be welded or not. Any ideal anyone? Is there a bolt on version of this item? Thanks for any help in advance. Tim

I bought the titan thumb. 1/2 steel broke on first log. I bought one inch and made my own jaws. Was not impressed with the titan thumb

I always tack up with a 6010 or 6011 then do the 7018 ,

you didn't tac the plate in place and then you did a full weld on each side you should have staggered welding from one side to the other side checking fit along the way in my opinion

This thing is awesome, I'm going to get one for my back hoe. I'd recommend TAC welding all 4 corners b4 u lay a big bead. It can warp the metal just enough to be annoying if u don't.

Hey how's it going nice job on that thumb I also have a 555D and it's getting this thumb on it can I get a titan part# so I can get it ordered. Thanks for the video. Liked and subscribed already Thanks Raul 805 Oxnard California

gotta admire his commitment to just weld it. why bother tacking it then checking fit up first? lmao. that thumbs mounted about 6 inches too high.

What's the width and length of the piece you welded to boom

I just bought the 24" for my BH. No instruction at all. It doesn't come with hat separate racket. Just the mounting plate, thumb and brace.

You forgot one thing Andrew Camarta said, you get what you pay for.

You only measure the bottom when you started it and didn't do the top to get equal.