Do you own a mini excavator? If so, for which tasks do you use it? Maybe your work includes handling heavy and irregular objects on the construction site. If that’s the case, then owning a hydraulic thumb clip could help you work with more ease and precision.
Even if you still plan to buy your first mini-excavator, it’s not too early to think about buying a hydraulic thumb clip with it. This is one of the best attachments you can get for your new mini excavator. But how do you attach thumb to mini excavator? This article will show you, so stay tuned!
Why You Should Use A Hydraulic Thumb
As usual, before we show you how to attach thumb to mini excavator, let’s first learn a thing or two about this attachment and its uses. A hydraulic thumb clip looks like a curved arm with two serrated tins/teeth that serve as gripping points.
What’s unique about hydraulic thumbs is that they aren’t used on their own. They are actually used along with a bucket, providing a better and more precise grip when grabbing and handling large and irregular objects. Basically, the object or material that you are handling is in the bucket, but the hydraulic thumb is keeping it in place.
This bucket+thumb duo can help you with numerous tasks, from construction site cleanup and demolition to forestry and landscaping jobs. Another great thing about this attachment combination is that you can easily switch between the grabbing and digging tasks without having to switch the attachments.
Easy Way To Attach Thumb To Mini Excavator
Now that you understand the use of hydraulic thumb a bit better, it’s time to learn how to attach it.
Prepare Your Mini Excavator
First, you will need to park your mini excavator on a flat and even terrain and then turn off its engine. This will ensure that it won’t move while you attach the thumb clip. This is also the time when you should bring your hydraulic thumb clip and place it nearby. Gather some necessary tools or equipment, such as safety goggles and gloves.
If you have the thumb clip user manual, you should read it. It can provide you with some useful info and tips that are specific to that thumb clip model. Even though our tips should be enough to guide you through the installation process, we can’t cover all the specifics of all thumb clip models.
Attach Thumb To Mini Excavator
Bring the hydraulic thumb close to the mini-excavator in a way that its locking pins are aligned with the pin holes of the excavator’s arm. Push the pins into the pin holes and make sure that they are fully in and well secured.
Next, connect the hydraulic hoses to the corresponding hydraulic ports. Make sure the hoses aren’t twisting or getting in the way of other moving parts. Inspect them for possible leaks and other issues that might be preventing your newly installed hydraulic thumb from functioning properly.
Test The Attachment
Now, it’s time to check if everything is working as it should. Go back to the control panel of your mini excavator and turn the engine on. Then, slowly raise the excavator’s arm. Raise it up and down several times. Next, move it forward and backward several times, and then curl and extend the thumb few times as well.
If you have attached the thumb correctly, everything should be working smoothly. However, if you notice any issues, such as the excavator arm or thumb not responding to your commands, you will need to turn the engine off and inspect the attachment. If needed, detach the thumb and then reattach it, as it might solve the issue. If not, refer back to the user manual or contact the seller.
Safety Checks
Even if you were successful at attaching the thumb clip to your mini-excavator and everything is working properly, don’t forget to do one more check. Even if everything looks good, take a minute or two to do some safety checks, especially around the moving parts. By doing this, you can prevent some future malfunctions or safety hazards. As a matter of fact, you should make a habit of doing quick safety checks each time when you plan to work with your mini-excavator.
Choose A Perfect Hydraulic Thumb for Mini Excavator
Are you still looking for where to buy your hydraulic thumb clip? Make sure to buy the one that will be compatible to your mini-excavator. That’s even easier to do if you need to buy a mini-excavator since you can buy both at the same time, from the same place. Here are our recommendations:
23 HP 1.3 Ton B&S Engine Mini Excavator
If you are looking for a mini-excavator with slightly more power than usual, take a look at this one. With 23 HP and a max digging force, this mini excavator will be the right choice for you.
13.5 HP 1 Ton B&S Engine Mini Excavator
For those who prefer smaller and more compact mini-excavators, this one is the perfect choice. It is easy to control and maneuver, especially in the tight spaces.
Hydraulic Thumb Clip Attachment for 0-2T Mini Excavator
Moving on to the thumb clips, let’s take a look at our first suggestion. This hydraulic thumb is compatible with mini-excavators of up to 2 tons. It offers a smooth and precise material handling and an enhanced grip thank to its serrated design.
Hydraulic Thumb Clip Attachment For 1 Ton Mini Excavator
This hydraulic thumb clip attachment is intended to be used with smaller mini-excavators, up to 1 ton. However, you can still expect a strong and firm grip, admirable functionality and versatility, and a durable attachment that will be able to complete even the toughest tasks.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you learn how to attach thumb to mini excavator. It is fairly simple; you just need to follow the steps above. Over time, you will gain some practice and be able to do it even with your eyes closed!
