While installing the bucket on a skid steer, the employee could not close the latch easily. EE utilized a pipe to gain leverage on the latch and was able to close it. After this, the pipe was jammed on the latch handle. When EE pulled the pipe from the latch, EE smashed EE's left thumb on the skid steers frame. The thumb has a laceration and an open fracture of the distal phalanx.