peck buckets and thumbs

[minimax]

Does anybody know the link to "peck" buckets and thumbs website. I have been seeing there stuff around but can't find a website or where they are made.

minimax

[Scag48]

Never heard of them. What wrong with CWS?

[TAF]

Peck Weld
(253) 537-6301
9610 Portland Ave E
Tacoma, WA

I have one of their thumbs and am very happy with it. Steve Peck is the owner and will accomodate your needs. He treated me great!

[minimax]

There is nothing wrong with CWS but they don't make pro-link thumbs for machines smaller than a 60 size machines.I was just wanting to know about peck's stuff but I ordered a new deere 35D mini x with a HPF pro-link thumb on it:) :)

minimax

[thepawnshop]

You'll love that mini....I just traded mine in recently on a 50D but I bet I'm gonna miss that little 35! Congrats!

[RockSet N' Grade]

Mini....what is the degree of arc on the HPF pro-link? I am getting so much conflicting information on pro-link set ups I am having a bit of trouble sorting fact from fiction from pure salesmanship.....

[minimax]

It is about 172 deg. on there pro link and about 130 deg. on a non link.

minimax

[Scag48]

You'll love that mini....I just traded mine in recently on a 50D but I bet I'm gonna miss that little 35! Congrats!

You traded the 35D? You done buying equipment yet? Why don't you just get a 120 and get it over with! :drinkup:

[coopers]

HPF makes good stuff for minis. I like CWS or PSM for the bigger guys.

[Scag48]

I like CWS, but I think PSM does it just a little better. HPF has them both beat when it comes to forestry tools such as guarding, clamshell buckets, heel grapples, and logger style thumbs.

[RockSet N' Grade]

MiniMax, on that progressive link system. When the thumb is folded back to the stick, does it fit flush/flat or does it hang out a bit?

[minimax]

The thumb folds up petty well but they still hang out a bit.I don't have a pic of the thumb folded up but could get you one when my machine comes in march:) :) But heres a pic of the thumb for now.
70056
minimax
Photo from www.hpf.com

[Construct'O]

I'm wanting to get a thumb for the mini i bought 7000 to 8000 lb. but also want to get quick coupler.

What i have looked at are the non link kind since i want the quick couper which i have only seen one company that had where you could use the progressive link and quick coupler togather,but looked to be high $$$$$,so not to interested in it because of price and not that big of deal as fair as the progessive thing goes for what i need to be doing.

So looking at just the weld on thumb behind the stick not the linkage setup.Do want to get the hydraulic thumb.

Will be using it for light work because of size of the mini. Do many of you use the weld on thumbs and how do you like them ,and are you also using quick coupler with them???????? Thanks for any help !

[minimax]

What brand and size of mini do you have??

minimax

[Construct'O]

minimax
It is a Cat 303 CR with the long stick.I will be mustly working in just dirt.I looked at 8"x24" and 8"x30" I was thinking i would like wider one 10" or 12"

Wanted to get the quick coupler also that is improtant to me because i have auger and might get small hammer or compactor ,but don't have one yet and would be nice to be able to change quicker when need too.Plus different size buckets got 18" want to get 24"

Would use auger for drilling the holes for pole building.

[minimax]

So do you have pin on stuff ? I have a wedge QC on my 35c deere mini-X and I have four buckets a brush rake and a mower.I don't like stick mounted thumbs because the tip of the thumb does not stay with the tip of the bucket like a pin mount thumb the thumb stays the same though dumped to curled so you can grab something in close and curl it out and not loose it.Here is a pic of my QC,bucket and thumb setup on this machine
70069

Minimax

[Construct'O]

As of now it is pin stuff.I have looked at the wedgelock couplers ,so would have to go with there buckets also just like you have to use Deeres bucket because of the oem style coupler Deere came out with, right??????

I would probably go with the pin quick couple(aftermarket not Cat) so i could find pin style buckets easier and cheaper.As far as the progessive linkage thumb because of cost and using the pin quick coupler style i thought the weld on thumb would be a better way to go because of cost at this time and my AGE!!!!!!!!!! Getting to be almost as old as dirt !

So with the progressive linkage the way i understand you,it moves togather when you curl the bucket right???? something like self leveling bucket stay at the same place as boom when you raising and lowering.Right!

As far as that goes,when ever i got something between bucket and thumb i would probably just use the stick and boom to raise and dump, then just move the thumb out of the way to dump.

I realize there is faster ways and things that make it easier and faster,but this isn't my main machine, so thinking something that will work ,with the least expense.Also because of age ,speed isn't verything i have to worry about.Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!!

[Scag48]

Those HPF progressives on minis are straight up awesome. Definately going that route on a mini next time, I really don't like the Cat thumb, coupler, and bucket system. I hate pin grabbers, they're great if you're a big company with 5 machines that can run the same size buckets, breakers, compactors, etc., but they're a waste for smaller machines. They cost breakout force and somedays getting the pin to release is a nightmare. Wedgelock is so much easier.

[RockSet N' Grade]

ConstructO....I have an 18,000 lb mini with a thumb on it with a wain-roy coupler. I have been researching and having engineered drawings done to switch over to a progressive link thumb from my direct link. I really like the wain-roy style coupler system, and even though there are "newer" systems out there, I will remain with this system. No loss of break-out force, very simple and safe. All sorts of folks make buckets for whatever style coupler system you use. Constructo, I'm an "oldie" also, but convinced that a good thumb is the best single attachment you can buy for your machine and yourself.....get one that operates with a hydraulic cylinder, don't settle for a weld-on that you have to manually operate.

[RockSet N' Grade]

MiniMax....what is the distance from the center of your pivot bushing (connects boom to stick) to the center of the pivot where your bucket/thumb connect to end of stick? Thanks

[Construct'O]

Rocket N' Grade i will check out the wain-roy coupler.I have checked out amulet,atco,werk-brau,JRB,wedgelock and the list goes on.I really like the Wedgelock and if i was going to spend the extra money it would be my choice and get the buckets to go with it.

The wedgelock system looks to not have the wear problems as would pin coupler set up.

Will be getting hydraulic thumb for sure which every way i decided to go.

Minimax i demo 35D this summer,it was a nice machine and it had the oem wedge quick coupler .It was simple and tight.It didn't have the thumb so didn't get a chance to use it.

Would still like to hear from others about the weld on hydraulic thumb,likes and dislikes,durabulity,and so on.Thanks

[minimax]

The arm is 4'4" long

minimax

[Construct'O]

Minimax just got off the phone from calling around so got more questions,and ideals???? If i go with pin coupler will need longer fingers on thumb to off set the distance of coupler added on.

Other option i'm checking is just trying to get thumb and mounts,since i have a nice hydraulic cylinder and trying using it.Could you possibly measure the size cylinder (bore)and length between where the cylinder is mounting with the cylinder sucked in for me.Also the size of the pins.I still need to measure mine to compare.Which i plan to do today.

One place i talked to is using 3" bore and 12" stroke but didn't have the lentgh of cylinder sucked in.Thanks for the help and pictures.

I can see where the wedge coupler and thumb combo keeps the weight down and don't have the distance factor as using pin coupler and thumb.

[ksss]

The Wedge lock system as is on the Deere mini is a good secure coupler. The issue I have is there is nothing quick about it. The pin grabbers do wear out. It will cost 700 to rebuild my WerkBrau coupler. It is getting loose but not to the point it has to be rebuilt. I would imagine that when the machine hits 2K on the hour meter it will need to be rebuilt. I would rather have a more user friendly coupler like a pin grabber than a PITA wedge lock system. I know that I am short on patience, but I would rather pay to have a pin grabber system rebuilt every coupler thousand hours and be able to switch attachments in about a minute than spend the extra time with a wedge lock system.

[minimax]

I worked all day cleaning up storm down fall from trees and was thinking about my thumb,with a no link type thumb you can only work with the bucket and thumb from 90 deg's and out to get the thumb to come to the bucket teeth, so you lose about half of your working range of the arm/thumb combo.With a pro link thumb you can grab stuff within a foot of the machine so you can use the full range of the arm/thumb combo. I will check on the size of my hydraulic cylinder for you tomorrow.On coupler's I don't mine the time they take to change bucket to bucket it only takes me about two minutes using a wench but I know a guy that that has a cordless impact to take the bolt in and out pin grabbers are ok for some things but they have more probs then wedge style couplers.you can re lug your buckets to fit a wedge coupler.

minimax

[Construct'O]

I checked about a quick coupler with Wagmann attachment and they have one called Safelock which looked and sounded interesting.It is made by same company at Wedgelock(pin grabber)

With the Safelock you have to use there buckets,they have kits to change your other buckets over to fit .They was high ,but he said you probably could prefab yours over to fit there coupler.I needed a 24" bucket anyway so would get that with the coupler from them.

He said United rentals are going to them and having good luck.The ears or hooks on the coupler fit in under the front pin in the bucket and the back of the coupler is flat with taper wedge pin that snaps into the back of the bucket in a channel on the back of the bucket.The wedge is tapered and spring loaded so at the wedge wears the the spring keeps tention on the tapered wedge in the bucket.

There is a handle that you pull to release the wedge and when the bucket is locked to coupler the handle retracks into the coupler so it isn't sticking out to cacth on something.The problem there might be stuff like in my area getting mud in there and freezing and not being able to get handle to pull out.

But other then that sounded like something i might try.It is low profile and would work with my weld on thumb i'm poundering on.

I measured my cyclinder it is 29 inches long so should have about 14 1/2" stroke is a 3" bore overal length counting the ends of the cyclinder is 34 1/2" rod is 1 1/2" and the pins size is 1 1/4" .It should be real close to what others are using by there info.Just need to have someone sell me there thumb with out there cyclinder which would a lot of the expense.

[minimax]

Construct'O,I measured my cyclinder and it has a stroke of 13 1/4",overal closed length pin center to pin center is 21 1/2" and full open is 34 5/8", the bore is 2" and the rod is 1" hope this can help.

minimax

[Construct'O]

Minimax thanks for the help and taking time to measure your cyclinder.In comparsion my cylinder is plenty big to yours.I have the long stick(arm) which is 5'1" which is 61" so that would leave me 25'' from the top of my cyclinder where i mount it to the top where the arm bends.

The guy i talked to said figure the stroke by the dividing the length of the cylinder by 2,so i figured if my cylinder is 29" not counting the ends where the pins goes, my stroke would be 14 1/2" your cylinder is shorter and you have about the same strike.Anyway will see if i can get a thumb that will work with my cylinder.

My cylinder was off a small Vemeer backhoe,the hoses comes both out of the top and has a tube on the out side running from the bottom of the cylinder to the top,for return so won't have to worry as much about something tearing the hoses up as bad.

Thanks again!!!!!!! Denny

[minimax]

I'm glad that it helped , Have you called peck weld and talked to steve they are a small shop that might help you!

minimax

P.S or you could just buy my deere 35c mini instead fo me tradeing it in on the 35d>:laugh: :laugh:

[Construct'O]

I'm stuck with what i have i'm afraid to say.Plus cost of shipping is a joke now days.I buy off Ebay and the shipping kills you most of the time unless it isn't to far and you can go pick it up.

Sometimes you need to check your dealers before you buy because even if they are higher still might be cheaper then by the time you pay shipping.

[coopers]

That pic. of the HPF thumb is 10 min. from my house, I wish I would have seen that machine when it was there because I don't see it anymore and I'm not sure if they bought it or were demoing it for HPF or what. At any rate, the simplest QC attachment that I've seen so far (and it's not a lot so I'm no huge expert) was and is what Kubota puts on there trackhoes. All you do is raise the hoe, level the bucket, maybe point the teeth up just a tad and you unclip a D ring style clip (I'm not very technical on the terms either, sorry) and pull a pin and then you get back in and uncurl the bucket and it's off. I've seen one that is common on Hertz stuff that you have to unscrew or something really goofy, then on top of that it's in a HORRIBLE position, it's under or on the backside of the couple or something, I can't remember but I remember seeing it and the fact that every time you dig you just pack dirt in it so unscrewing in snowy cold raining weather makes it miserable. I saw a Takeuchi or whatever that ugly gray thing is that was on a job site and the guy couldn't use the machine because he needed to switch buckets and the pin that you had to fondle :dizzy: was all bent up from digging. Not good. I do remember having a kobelco mini and I think it was a hyd. QC and it was pretty fancy. Very easy too.

The one draw back with our kubota's is that we purchased their thumbs. It got the job done for people but it was a direct link so it stopped moving quite a ways still in (about 3/4 the way down) which isn't fun when doing rockeries or picking up branches from our many windstorms. The kobelco was neat because it had a prog. linked thumb but it didn't curl all the way out like the HPF thumbs do. I think it was accu....something. Can't remember. But there seems to be a million different choices that I never saw so I have a mild case of tunnel vision. Be sure to post pics minimax when you get your thumb, would be neat to see it.

Blake
WA

[Scag48]

I think it was accu....something. Can't remember.



Accurate? If so, they're built in BC. I'm sure Gravel Rat will confirm. I see them on a lot of Hitachis. They seem to be alright, a lower cost alternative but yet a quality product. But you CAN'T go wrong with PSM, CWS, or HPF, all are excellent and have a service life of practically forever. PSM hardfaces their Series II thumbs now, that is ridiculously awesome. Just to say that you have hardfacing on your thumb is something I'd brag about for sure :D

[minimax]

I will post pics when the machine/thumb is in and done in march!!:) :)

minimax

[RockSet N' Grade]

MiniMax, I have been working extensively to replace my direct link set up to a progressive link and it has been way too time consuming and frustrating. I get alot of "you'll just have to trust us" or a limited replacement version of what I already have on my machine........until........I called Peck Welding today and spoke with Don. I got all my questions answered in 10 minutes, their price is very competative, and their time line from start to finish if I have the machine there is one week.......Peck says they have an engineer on staff who is very inventive and they can sometimes get up to 200 degree rotation. Nice guys, full of usefull information, willing to share, and they have immediate informed answers based on math and past experience. Thanks for that past post....

[minimax]

Update the thumb is done, but no machine yet:cry: :cry: The machine is not done because deere's suppler of the steel tracks is backed up,but deere is saying the 1st of may:) . But here is a pic of the HPF pro-link thumb is done and looks good.
74929
minimax

[Scag48]

Ahhh, very nice! I wish our 303CR had a link thumb, maybe the next mini around. We basically got the thumb and coupler for free, so I guess I can't complain too much.

[RockSet N' Grade]

MiniMax........they said tracks will be here in May........is that 2007 or 2008? :)
Thumb set up looks nice. I am most interested to see how the tines hold up for you and if there is any bending going on along the way as you use it and how and where you find the most wear occuring on the thumb.

[minimax]

That beter be 07' or they will be getting me a new mini and the tracks out of parts!!!The tines are T-1 steel so they should not bend.

minimax

[ksss]

I was very tempted to purchase an HPF thumb for my TB153. I just could not swallow the price $4600.00 plus install. They are a great looking thumb.

[coopers]

That'll look very nice!

Blake
WA

[coopers]

So has it come in yet?

Blake

[minimax]

The thumb has but no machine yet!

minimax

[Scag48]

minimax, saw your mug on one of your flyers at the Elger Bay grocery store last weekend. I'll let you know when I'm up there next, I wanna check out that mulching head on your 35.

[coopers]

The thumb has but no machine yet!

minimax

No machine, what do you mean? lol, did you buy a newer excavator?

Blake

[minimax]

Blake, I traded the deere 35c for a 35D and order it in December 06' and we are still waiting for it the steel tracks are the hold up but they are saying the first of may it should be here we hope!!!! the thumb is for the new machine.

minimax

[coopers]

Oh okay, forgot you bought a new excavator. Well cool, can't wait to see it!

Blake
WA