Hi Rob. First of all let me say a Hugh thank you for your service. You guys are the best sir. I'm not a member of the military BUT our two sons are. One started out as Navy (11 years)then just this last two months went over to Air Force. The other son is in the Army (13 years)and stationed in Pet. Stay safe my friend.
I'm a recent subscriber (2019), so this is the first one of your older (2014) videos that I've watched. I had to replace a leaking hydraulic quick coupler on my M9540 (about the same time that this video was made), and my local hydraulic hose shop had an extremely hard time matching the treads. He discovered that it was some obscure British size thread. Luckily he had one in stock, but he spent close to an hour in the back figuring it out. Just goes to show that sometimes it is best to go straight to a specialty shop rather than a box store.
Thanks Tracy. You are correct but in some cases like the one we are in I had no other choice but to do it the way I did because we live on an island out in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean and our choices are limited at best. That being said, the project in this video has worked flawlessly and I’m very happy with it. Keep well 👍
@@7863348 Didn't mean to criticize; the last part of my comment was directed towards do it yourselfers like myself. I always learn a lot from watching your videos.... and they are both informative and entertaining.
Thanks Tracy. No offence taken. There are times I wish I lived on the mainland so I could have more choices but I’ve leaned how to do many “work arounds” lol. Happy to hear you enjoy the videos. Thanks for watching.
Well Paul you've outdone your self , Fantastic!! Do you think you would be interested in showing us your auto repairs as well. When I machine parts I have an articulating arm for my shop vac hose to suck in all the cuttings, especially because I have to clean it up myself. LOL.
Thanks Steve. I never really thought about doing an automotive video. And to think I'm doing that most of the time lol. If I get an exotic vehicle in or a weird repair I'll do one. we have three regular heavy duty shop vacs in the shop. That's what we use to clen the tooling up. They sure make a mess :)
Thanks Paul for sharing this. Is there a reason you did not hook up an auxiliary valve to the hydraulic feed that goes to the backhoe, rather than plumbing to the third function valve in the front?
Hi Paul, Thx for all the tips. I'm into this thumb conversion on my 19 bx23s, the kubota quick connects are npt on mine. Does yours have flatface couplers? For my needs i went with a rear double spool valve that'll also run my 3pt blower this winter. Ps: is that an 8in stroke on your cylinder?
How do you disconnect the hoses if you remove the backhoe to use the 3 point, and also this would work with a hydraulic top link for the 3 point as well yes?...so I would have down force on my rake or box...????
Been watching your videos all evening Paul and this one was definitely a highlight. Great job. Learned a lot even though I'll never tackle this as much as I'd like to have a hydraulic thumb. Cheers.
Thanks. Sorry to put you through having to watch all those videos lol. The thumb is a great addition to the machine. I've really enjoyed having it on there. Thanks for watching.
I’m not sure if it’s still up. I used to do a lot of those videos to show folks how to do things but then everyone would start calling our shop interrupting our work asking for advice on how to do things, trouble they were having with their tractors and just about everything else so I pulled most of them down and it stopped the calls about 80%. They basically ruined a good thing with all the harassing calls. I always liked to share but it just about ruined our daily business.
The 1/4 hose "works" but, it will cause "excess" back pressure and this creates heat in the oil. Basically, all 90s and turns have some restrictive flow issues and that creates heat. The less restrictions, the less heat, the better your system will react under loads. Consider adding a pressure gauge to your system if you start "over loading" system. It is not cheap but, you, with your skills can make one (just a gauge with the ability to determine flow also)... Around $900.00 normally but, you'll get that down to under $300.00; with your skills. Thanks for the video.
Thank you Blake. We try and think outside the box with our designs. Adding them to an awesome machine such as the Kubota makes it all worth while. Thanks for watching.
Aren't both "live" if the system was installed by Kubota? Hydraulic oil would be flowing to which ever switch is activated, right? Well thought out install of your additions.
Great videos you guys make. Went on your website hard to navigate the drop down menus disappear before I can click on them. Searching the BX items was difficult trying to use the contact us button was impossible. Perhaps it's just me but if others are having the same issue you losing a lot of viewers. Keep up the high quality mod's love it. My new BX 23s seems to be running cold do you have any video' on that subject? Paul
Just a thought you may have been able to pick up a pressure and return port on the backhoe control manifold. Shorter hoses then and possibly nothing to worry about when taking the backhoe off. Looks great though. Nice job.
I haven't commented on all the videos but I'm catching up on these older ones. Wow, I've got to say that I thought I was a pretty good fabricator but your skills and tools are amazing. I'm really enjoying and learning from the videos.
***** Well you got plenty of patients because there's almost 300 videos on the channel. I'm betting you ARE great fabricator. We all learn from each other and that's what RU-vid is all about. Glad your enjoying the videos.
Hi Paul love your videos just bought a bx23s going to do some mods I have a question how did you bleed the hydraulics did you just cycle the thumb and top off fluid or did you do something in particular
Great video Paul!! I have a 23s and thinking of adding hydro thumb, rather than using electrically controlled valve can i use a 3/2 manually operated valve?? Thanks
The hydraulic thumb on the BX looks like a dream! I get frustrated each time I have to get off the tractor to repeatedly pull the pins, banging on them, lining up the holes, just to grab a dang rock! Nothing but the best of workmanship, Paul! Going to have to get in line for this mod too. I think the extension to the cylinder is a bit over my skill and definitely tool level.
I know what you mean. I was the same way as well with the mechanical thumb. I'm actually looking forward to using it now. There were times I needed it and was to lazy to get off the machine for one item of use. As for the cylinder. I could make that for you if you don't have anyone local and all you'd have to do it add the 3rd function kit and hoses. Glad you enjoyed seeing it. Thanks.
Hey Paul. I am presently looking to purchase a small tractor and was considering the BX25D. What is the differance with the mechanical vs hydraulic thumb (power lbs/sq inch I would imagine). I will be moving logs and was hoping the mechanical thumb would work for me. What do you think? GREAT videos...thanks
MrStr81 The mechanical thumb is fine. You can't buy a BX with a hydraulic thumb so that's the only choice you'll have unless you do a mod like I've done. We love our BX25D so that should tell you something ;) Thanks for watching.
Nice addition. We just ordered a BH92 for our L4600, no thumb yet, but will need one later this year. They want $900 for mechanical thumb and almost $3000 for the hydraulic..$3k is too steep for me, 900 for the mechanical even seems a tad high. You think it's worth the $900 for a mechanical thumb to mod, or would you just fabricate the thumb from scratch? (in your opinion, if you had to do it again). I'll try to get some eyes on them at the dealer, but it doesn't seem like there's that much to em.
Hey Paul, great video and workmanship as usual. I think your kubota use "JIC" type hydraulic thread, so you could have bought JIC to NPT straight fitting (there are more hydraulic type fitting, do a quick search on google). Princess auto has them all but they only stock NPT quick connect.
Ya your right. The problem is I live on a rock out in the middle of the North Atlantic and couldn't get anything to fit so that's why I did what I did BUT it worked :) Thanks again!
Paul, I'm a little concerned about your possible carbon monoxide poisoning from running gasoline or diesel engines inside the closed shop. The hemoglobin molecules in side your red blood cells have a great affinity (several hundred times) to absorb CO over O2. And while CO does not stay affixed to Hb molecule permanently, it will slowly outgas from your blood over a few DAYS. Meanwhile you start and run the motors for only a few minutes, you do it a number of times while on a project, so your total body load is added to throughout the day. I don't think you smoke, so that's in your favor. But if you ever find yourself developing a headache in the afternoons or your thoughts get a little "fuzzy", it could be CO. Do your self a favor and rig up a remote exhaust system... maybe jazz it up with a fan in the exhaust line or something. Your brain (especially your brain) is a precious thing to waist... Great job with this mod by the way.
Two detectors in the shop that are designed to go off if co gets high plus there's an exhaust fan in the shop plus there's an exhaust hose that attaches to the exhaust of a unit and hooks on a port in the main door. 22 year and never poisoned yet. Thanks.
Paul I live in Indian River MI, Just wish you lived by me I would hang out in your shop just to learn stuff from you! Thanks for the tips. I have a old Ingersoll case 16hp looking to upgrade to a Kubota soon!
john Last Hi John. Id say we could learn from each other my friend. Glad your getting something out of the video's. Makes doing them worth while. Your going to like the Kubota but don't over look the other brands. They are some nice machines on the market these days. We were looking at the Kioti's the other day and we very impressed with their new line up.
Another professional looking and functional addition. I would say Kubota could use you on their design team, however knowing how corporations work you would never be given the freedom to make these fantastic ideas a reality without a lot of politics. lol. Great job Paul. Thanks for the video.
Thanks tech. It's time for all manufactures to realize that Joe Public knows what he wants in a product. With our two tractors we've come up with more than 30 new mods never done before and these video's and posts I make on the forums prove that they are wanted accessories. There's a high potential there for Kubota to get the jump on the other tractor makers and lead the heard. I appreciate your kind words on our work but sadly I think your right about all the politics.
Hi Paul! What decal machine do you use to make up all the custom decals on all your machines? Has to be like 3M material I'm guessing. Just need a small unit w/custom features. Thanks George
George A. Woods Kathy does all that work. She uses 3-M vinyl most of the time and uses three or more commercial grade plotters/printers that I'll admit I know absolutely nothing about lol.
That switch turned out awesome. Good job. What was the brand of that etching primer( it didn't show in the video?. I have used several after bathing the al. in muratic acid and the paint still peels after a couple of years around saltwater. The stuff I used was a Napa brand and recommended for aluminum the last go round but also failed. Many years ago Pettit made an epoxy primer that stuck to SS and Aluminum but I can no longer find it anywhere.
+Douglas Thompson I think it was made by ProForm . I find it good. Sticks well www.acklandsgrainger.com/AGIPortalWeb/WebSource/ProductDisplay/globalProductDetailDisplay.do?item_code=PRFPF654
Silver Solder ! The best thing since sliced bread, once once the job is cleaned up and up to temperature it flows in really well with a nice radiused fillet, as for WD40, it must be made for cutting Aluminium, I buy it by the gallon. Your machine now looks too good to be used!
If I did put in a tee I'd also have to put in a shut off valve for each QC to stop the flow of fluid to the thumb or the Grapple or the two of them would be going the same time.
Milton Fludgecow Yes I've pondered it but with the lack of space in that area it would have looked terrible so I ruled it out. I just completed the Taping on the Iron-worker for you so that will be up tonight. ;)
Kubota should hire you to make aftermarket parts for them, I wish you would sell your mods as kits. Paul you have amazing talent, any chance we can get a silver solder video, that's a skill you don't hear much of or see
Hello paul, great video, why didnt you show how you eired it? I am wondering if you could post a short video about where you wired the switch to. That would be great paul, I love your designs man.
Well there's two reasons for not showing the wiring. The first one is timing. You have to remember that when I'm doing the videos I operate on a limited amount if time and to show every detail would mean a video so long that no one would even consider watching it plus at the time we has DSL internet and it took 20 hours plus to upload a 40 minute video. The other reason is I seldom show wiring in my videos because of liabilities. I pride myself in doing things right but if someone makes a mistake doing the wiring portion after watching me then the legalities are in question. I hope you understand. Thanks for watching.
I have no idea I guess where to go from here, I am about to take on this project myself, its only 4 wires correct paul? 1 hot, 1 to ground , and 2 to open and close.
I got mine at Island Hose and Fittings in the Kenmount Business Park. Dealer gave me alone of a few fittings that I used to make sure I got the right parts.
Paul: Graet video. I am sure you have already thought about this, but I am sure you could put together and sell a 3rd function kit of hydraulic block, hoses, hose sheaths, couplers, switch, wire loom and conductors for far less than the $750 U.S. I had to pay for my BX 23 when I added the "Everthing Attachments" brand grapple. It all worked perfectly, but you are so right that we are being ripped off just because someone took the time to assemble the kit of parts. Best - Michael
No. We started this business last year and we’ve been developing accessories for various Kubota’s but never got to this one yet and don’t know when we will.
Milton Fludgecow It's up ;) Hope I addressed your questions and concerns. I did it first thing this morning and people kept walking in on the taping. lol
Paul & Kathy Short Slow & Neat Gives Great Results, that's me too. When I can. Rethink a quick wiring video, just pointing out the basics. Add a disclaimer, we can figure out the rest, thanks.