Transforming a Backhoe with a DIY Budget Mechanical Thumb: Welding Magic!
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Its not fancy, but its functional. Welding on a mechanical thumb from Vevor.
Thumb Link: amzn.to/3O0FnTF
Welder Link: amzn.to/3O1vAM3
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DISCLAIMER'. this is not a how to video and I am not responsible for any actions you take on your equipment or property
#captainkleeman
#vevor
#homestead
I’m dying laughing from the “your wife’s been bragging to her friends that you make good decisions don’t let her be right about that” 😂
As a wife I can attest to THE FACT that wives DON'T brag much about their men's good decisions.
Unless their friends married an ever dumber knucklehead.
Just A joke, Just A Joke
Luv you hun
Brilliant ain’t he 👍🤣😂🤣
Gotta love Mike's sense of humor.
I love it that you are expanding your abilities. I have faith in you and your learning ability that you will be able to turn that thumb into a hydraulic one in time. We just have to patient.
This is my new quote for the day.
“We’re not sneakin’ up on anybody…”.
Can’t breathe…!
😂
Genius.
🤣
Capt is very happy with a supportive wife behind him ..❤❤😂😂😅😅
Great addition! Budget builds are better than nothing at all! Always enjoy your attitude about life in general! Keep being you!
Part 🤏 of the reason your videos are so enjoyable and entertaining is because you aren’t running all the flashy bells and whistles.
You be you Captain. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks! Appreciate the support
Hi DP, has some nice YELLOW PAINT at his place 😂😂😂 MBTS LEFT IT THERE 😂😂😂😂😂😂 From Victoria Australia 🇦🇺 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
That thumb is better than no thumb. Having points that lower the thumb farther towards the bucket will be even more beneficial. Enjoy what you have. Too many people are stuck in live thinking that life will be better if they only had this one thing or another. Make due with what you got and get on with it. Been doing without most of my life. Yes, I do dream of the nicer tools, or what ever, but I have been making do so long, when I do have the money, I most often won't spend it. Thanks for sharing.
I live in Solsberry, Indiana (Hendricksville). I ❤ your videos…keep them coming. Southern Indiana is a great place to be 😊
Captain Kleeman, might be a good ideal to put-on some washers to tighten the Claw. no more Mr. Wiggles..
I grew up on a backhoe, my first job with an excavator had a manual thumb. Hydraulic is the only way to go lol.
Mike, the manual thumb is a great addition to the tractor bucket. Blessings to you.
Thanks 👍
I think that manual thumb is going to be a big help around the homestead. 👍
I think so too!
YEA!!!! For the THUMB! Now enjoy! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Captain Kleeman, I know a guy who has a good cab for the Ford dump truck . 😊
No kidding? Whos that?
Thank you so much for being honest and up-front with people about the various aspects of homesteading-it takes work. Love your energy and willingness to teach yourself.
💪
Great addition to your backhoe Captain. You're a great example of a man that makes the best out of what he has. Run what you brung! Great video as always. Keep um coming!
I appreciate that
Awesome budget friendly thumb for the triple nickel. They sure are handy! BTW, the run what you brung is the only way to go.
Your endless positivity is what the shrink ordered today ❤ being able to see the wheels through the floor 😂
I started with a thumb like that ran it for a 2 years and then upgraded it, get so much more done👍🙃
Love the satirical commentary! Your humor adds to each video. Having said that it’s apparent to everyone watching that you have the skill and temperament to make things work on a limited budget. Keep the videos coming with the 755.
Yay! Kleeman got a thumb!!!! 🎉 very happy for you.
Maybe add some homemade rubber bushings to add some stealth to the thumb...😂...maybe paint the thumb like a dinosaur head😂. Thank you for the great content!
Good idea
Captain great video! You always find a way to get it done! Thanks for sharing! Kevin
Thanks 👍
Adding more holes to bring down the thumb is a great idea plus having more options is 👌 great video.
Thanks 👍
@24:00
I believe I said something about that happening to us and how a $24 tripod was better than a $100 tripod.
There’s just something about us not thinking and putting ourselves into the line of fire. However we do get a great view of the action there.
I hope you always stay in the run what you brung crew!
Strange to suddenly see the name "Vevor" twice in the same week. I bought a 12 ton porta power off Ali Express for $135. It shipped out of NJ came in four days for free. I've never seen the brand before and here it is again. Btw, the porta power is pretty freakin nice. 👍
those welding goggles look lik the glasses Jonny Depp wore in charlie and the chocc factory lmao........great build
🤣🤣 yeah they do
It works so that's a good thing well done thanks for sharing
Appreciate ya watching
Love your videos. Glad you have a thumb and you definitely have the skills to make it work for you.
Well said Capt. ,I'm with you on you have to crawl before you walk an run. Like your thinking start small an grow.
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"The Swiss Army knife of tractors." Absolutely true. As to those guys with all the bells and whistles? I don't watch those guys. Pretenders. I always wonder where they got the money for a mil and a half of equipment. More fun watching the guy in a buget. Cheap is good. Free is better. If I need to repair something? That is what all those hand tools I have collected over the years are for. That thumb may not have all the bells and whistles. And there might be a learning curve involved but, it IS better than no thumb. And, after all, it IS on a Swiss Army knife...
Well said
Forgot one advantage, makes that work way more FUN !!!!
Definitely
Great work Mike! The thumb is a great asset! Think the 555 owes you nothing by now hey! 🇦🇺🍺🍺
Now your cookin' with Peanut Oil Mike. That thumb will make a huge difference.
Definitely!
I like it Cap!!!!! 👍
I really like your budget wise approach to homesteading.
I think many of us watch with bated breath to see what your imagination comes up with.
Take it from a guy who designed Backhoes, you will be replacing that hose if you dont route it correctly. It needs to mirror the one on the other side from the head end of the cylinder. Maybe start using that thumb and you will agree. Thumb will be a game changer. As always, thanks for posting. Maybe some more youngsters will see how easy things really are to do.
I have no idea what you're referring too. It has several hoses
@@CaptainKleeman The Estick hose you just replaced. Usually it flares away from the estick at a similar location to the top cylinder hose but on opposite side. If you reply with cylinder diameter and hose diameter (a picture from a service manual would be best but not required), I will see if I can scare up some parts for you to install. A close up of both sides of the stick in the top area would help my guys with specifics.
Hey Mike. Glad you finally got a thumb. For as much logging as you do that's going to come in handy.
Definitely 💪
You get a "thumbs" up from me, Captain 😃
On this side of the pond, thumbs on any machine is not heard of..... even suggested to some operators to get one fitted.... and they didn't have a clue 🤷♂️🤣
Can see it is going to help you no end, extra holes down the shank will be a big help.
And as for your baked on unique finish paint job..... awsome Sir !!! 😂😁
Mike, you, your wife and kiddos have what you have because you aren't afraid of hard work and jumping smack dab into something and learning how to do it along the way (real nice things included of course!). Y'all have that go to attitude that has made America an awesome place to live in, and that, my friend, deserves a great deal of respect. As always, may you continue to be blessed beyond measure. Thank you for putting a smile on my face and an out-loud chuckle in my home. John here, from the back-roads of Northeastern Tennessee.
Appreciate the support!
Great job you did a great job love your videos thank you
You have the right mentality about look what I can do vs look what I have. One other homestead channel I watch with same type of attitude is Andy's Little Homestead.
The thumb works great the boom extension came in handy for that also good job K!
That's definitely a couple great additions to the arsenal.......lots of sheet metal welding possibilities surround you daily
I have an idea: How about a coil-over shock (salvage from a Subaru maybe...) instead of the fixed length bar setting the thumb angle. Then over-curling the bucket won't bend the thumb.
In Australia we would call you 'a little Aussie battler' - making the most of what you have with minimal improvements. Making what you do a little easier.
I am glad to see you put a thumb on the bucket. You really needed it to clear those trees.
Yup, definitely handy
Your pretty good with that thing!
Thanks!
Haha I wonder if the wife would be more than willing to give an opinion on "good decisions". I know mine sure would!! Excellent addition to the 555! That is going to make your life working around the property soooo much easier
"It might be a clinger. We're not gonna sneak up on anybody, I guess."
At least it won't be as annoying as a cow bell! 😂😂🤣🤣
Since the dawn of time, man has been limited to only two thumbs. Adam, Moses, George Washington… all great men. But, think how much richer their legacy would have been if they had three!!!
Cap’n, you’ll do great things with this historic addition to the triple nickel.
Who knows? You might even be able to squeeze in an episode on tripod repair… if you aren’t all thumbs!!!
Great video Mike great job it works just needs a few adjustments thanks
You should look into a foam cannon for your pressure washer. Fill it with soap or degreaser and attach it your wand. I got the cheapest at HD and it will shoot foam 25 feet.
I'll look into it. Thanks
As far as welding, I spent a lot of years repair welding and the single most important thing is that the weld holds and stays holding for the duration, as far as looking pretty, well it’s nice I will grant you that, but also know that it requires practice, practice, practice and more practice, stay the course you will get there. Nice job on the thumb install sir, I like it..thanks for the tag along vid.
A good old bungee cord could help reduce the clanking of the thumb when it is retracted.
Definitely a possibility
@@CaptainKleeman
Spring washers on the pins will take up a lot of the space as well.
Great video captain. Love how you show things can be done on a budget. Anyone should just give it a go. Appreciated.
Hey a quick suggestion, Get yourself some 3/32" 7018 for the vertical passes. Run it at about 85 amps. much more controllable. but for teaching yourself how to stick weld that is a pretty decent job 👍
Hi captain, loving the channel One little tip on welding stick, start at the bottom and weld up. It looked like yu were going down, if not I apologise. Keep up the good work.
It was uphill 👍
Always good to get free stuff.
I have a thumb similar to that one. I have made some additions and changes to it as well. Everyone says they are useless but man has it been a lifesaver and labor saver. Next up for me is adding a valve and turning mine hydraulic.
That's gonna be awesome
From my knowledge of welding, the stick welding gives you a deeper penetration into the metal which correlates to stronger joint!
I bought a plasma machine from them that Rat Rod Bob recommended, it actually does great
Bonjour Mike tu as résolu le problème ils lui fallait des dents et le problème est résolu je le savais tu et le meilleur problème résolu trop fort Mike 🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🤗😘 De papy Gilbert de France bisous bisous ❤❤❤👍
Well that's cool but you know what I think is way cooler ....... each time you get in the backhoe and turn that key - it starts, just like that. I love that 😆
It's a great feeling
That thumb is a game changer for your place!
The thumb and small welder will make your life easier. Thanks for sharing.
I’m sure you get plenty of suggestions, and I’m just an armchair quarterback. But I’ll throw it out there anyway. If you cut an old leaf spring in half, you could extend your thumb down to meet your bucket teeth. Just a thought coming from a fellow shoestring budget guy.
Now you can clamp and pick up stuff between it and the bucket; the thumb is thumbing as expected so I'd say it's an improvement! :)
💪
I think with a couple of extra holes, that thumb will work great. I like you showing everyone you can still get the job done with less money. Hard to bet the wobble sticks!
here's a crazy idea find a junk snowpolw steal pump and cylinder to make thumb work , no hydraulic problems just run a hot wire to run pump
What you were saying about lower end equipment is exactly why I bought a new 4t mini x instead of an used one. Now at 65 with arthritis kicking my ass and reduced vision I want to operate the equipment, not operate on it. I enjoy your channel, your humor is right there with mine only cleaner.
That definitely makes sense. Appreciate ya watching
Mike, I agree about the thumb. It isn't like a hydraulic one, really, not even close, but it does help in a pinch. Pun intended. I have one on my sub compact tractor and have used it a few times. I bought a cheap wire welder and it works good on thin metal. I think you will enjoy that aspect of it. The one you have is more flexible with stick and TIG capabilities. Great Job, great video.
As your not a welder and I am can I give you a tip for vertical stick?
After you've done the root pass straight up, weave the next passes moving up in a small crescent shape as if you were drawing little smiles non stop side to side gradually going up, try and keep your rod pointing up hill about 40 deg off vertical.
OK I'll confess I watched your new video today before Dirt Perfects 🙃
🤣🤣
When I first started watching dirt perfect and captain was on there. I really did not like him but the more watch him the funnier he is to watch. I have to say he comes up with some strange things to do like his concrete boat. But when he took on rebuilding that backhoe, I thought man is this guy making a big mistake but I got a hand it doing. He did a really good job and the budget friendly thumb seems to be working pretty good
I was really wondering how a mechanic thumb worked. Much simpler than I imagined! Looking forward to seeing the new welder fired up. Great video, Mike! Lee
It works one good thumb 😊 Thumbs up 👍
A Thumb is nice, that's the same one I bought for my backhoe, it is what it is.
👍Good video Captain! Good advice for others in your situation (homesteader). I am not a homesteader nor do I want to be one; I just like watching your videos.
Captain, your videos are always informative and mostly entertaining!! 😂
Thanks!
Ouch, you broke my leg😮😢
😂😂😂
I was having quite a crap day but then I came home to a new Captain Kleeman video, I’m all good now 😁👍👍 Cheers Mike 👍Best wishes to you and your family, from Britain 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Rock on!
It gets you by Mike and that’s all that matters, the backhoe will do it all it just might not do it as fast! It gets you by on the homestead brother, that’s the thumb I was thinking about but I wasn’t going to say anything about it because I figured you knew about it as long as you have been operating equipment! I was also thinking about homemade forks that quick attached to the bucket so you can do most of everything with one machine! Just a thought Mike! You’re doing great my friend!
Hi looks like you got what you were expecting, and achieved what you wanted. All things can be improved (even top of the range items) and if you need to do that I am sure you will woke out what you need. All the best. 👍🐝🌞
Absolutely
Slow and steady Captain, cleaning up nicely and Bones is getting stronger 💪👍🇺🇸
Your welds don’t look that bad !😊
Thanks!
You have to quit having so much fun! Love your videos. Thank you
Good thought process and that thumb is totally better than nothing. Keep on smiling.
Always!
Nice work on the installation of the thumb, Capt. I'm fascinated by the 555 videos.
More to come!
Just stumbled across your stuff. Not only isn't that thumb long enough, you welded it in the wrong place. Check out Camarota's tutorial on thumbs. You effed up.
Been using it for months and it works perfect. Nice try though 👍
At 23.58 in: "Listen...I don't know how to tell you this...but you had an accident." You always Crack me up.😂
🤣🤣
I can count on two thumbs the number of times I've been right and the wife has been wrong. Probably the reason I still have my other fingers :D
🤣
Yeah, I love to watch you improvise and your ingenuity that’s what I love about your channel
Great little video,few upgrades come in handy.just keep doing what your doing.kudos 👍👍👍😎😎😎👨🚒👨🚒👨🚒
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Next time, try welding uphill. It’s easy, and you can see what you are doing, better penetration, hold more better 😂. I was a welder, but don’t currently have a machine 😢. Jealous that you have two 😅. Always enjoy your practical process to getting it done 😊.
P.S.- old rubber- inner tube, sidewall of tire, etc will cushion the thumb assy to lessen the noises.😊
P.S.S., sweat equity is what you were searching for….you are correct (and I commend your explanation!) in trading time and effort for new. It’s like 85+ grand for shiny clean digger. Clint couldn’t make a profit fixing it, did you a righteous by transporting, and saved it from the scrap pile. Win-Win. Couple of thousand hours more with occasional hose replacement. Paint optional, doesn’t make it more efficient 😂. You are doing exceptional 😊
Same with Rc bud some have the best of the best and the big expensive machines and trucks i get as good results as the more expensive with scratch built or cheap conversions or good cheaper machines 😀
Thank you for sharing 👍👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ideas and videos. Great joke at the beginning. Thumb looks good. Hopefully Vevor gives you a laser welder/cleaner. That would be amazing, and if they don’t sell one they probably should add it to the inventory and give you one. Wishing you and your family the best.