Turning an old loader bucket into a backhoe bucket?

[chad22]

I was gonna buy a new bucket for my home backhoe. But then got to thinking of a new idea.

I have an old loader bucket that was given to me in some scrap metal. I was gonna use it for the loader I was gonna make. But there's a few rusted through spots in the middle. The rest of it's okay.

So I was thinking of marking a straight line and use my dads old circular saw with an abrasive wheel and cut it down to shorten it to make a bucket for my backhoe.

Once shortened down. I'd weld it back together and have a recycled bucket. Total cost would be around $5.00 -$6.00.

A new buckets almost $300.00 3 Tooth Trencher Bucket

That's the bucket I was gonna buy until I remembered the loader bucket.

When I start I'll take some pictures of the progress.

Chad

 

[NormL]

I
That's the bucket I was gonna buy until I remembered the loader bucket.

When I start I'll take some pictures of the progress.

Chad

How about some photos before you start.

 

[Mean Jean]

Good idea and the price is right.

Can you get 2 new backhoe buckets from the 1 loader bucket?
Maybe a smaller one will come in handy.

 

[High Compression]

Might work. My concern would be the shape of the heal (back) of the bucket. If it is pretty squared off, it might not make an efficient ditching bucket. No doubt it would make an excellent grading bucket though. Post some pix so we can have a look. P.S. be careful on how hot that cutting wheel gets the bucket. It could warp it and you'll have fun welding it back together and having a straight bucket when your done.

 

[chad22]

Can you get 2 new backhoe buckets from the 1 loader bucket?
Maybe a smaller one will come in handy.

I'm not sure. But I probably could. I'll have to measure it and see what I can get out of it. I think the buckets around 3 foot long could be a little over. "Could even be under 3 foot."

Might work. My concern would be the shape of the heal (back) of the bucket. If it is pretty squared off,
it might not make an efficient ditching bucket. No doubt it would make an excellent grading bucket though.

Post some pix so we can have a look. P.S. be careful on how hot that cutting wheel gets the bucket.

It could warp it and you'll have fun welding it back together and having a straight bucket when your done.

I think the buckets got a slight curve to it. The shapes I think almost like the one in this link. http://www.7zu.info/wp-content/plugins/wpshapeshiftr/images/tractor-loader-bucket.jpeg

I'll have to go out and look at it and take a picture of it after while. I guess if it doesn't work as a digging bucket. Like you said it would make an excellent grading bucket.

And I'll keep that in mind about the heat from the cutting wheel.

Chad

 

[JB4310]

It will be alot of work but could be done, gonna be slow with a circular saw though.

I cut a bucket down with a demo saw, much easier.

JB

 

[deereman75]

A Skilsaw would be very slow, I would probably use the torch, and find a way to fix the warping. (big rosebud.... sledge hammer.....)

 

[chad22]

I lost my camera card otherwise I would of took a pic of the bucket today. I measured it though and it's 2 feet long.

My dad has one of those demo saws and I may see if I can get the thing running. As it seems like it would make the cutting a lot easier.

Before cutting it down I may tack weld some ears on it so I can attach it to my backhoe and see how I think it will perform as a digging bucket scooping up some loose dirt.

If it doesn't work out like I'd hoped. I could always leave the ears on and keep it as a wide clean up bucket.

Chad

 

[NormL]

I lost my camera card otherwise I would of took a pic of the bucket today. I measured it though and it's 2 feet long.

My dad has one of those demo saws and I may see if I can get the thing running. As it seems like it would make the cutting a lot easier.

Before cutting it down I may tack weld some ears on it so I can attach it to my backhoe and see how I think it will perform as a digging bucket scooping up some loose dirt.

If it doesn't work out like I'd hoped. I could always leave the ears on and keep it as a wide clean up bucket.

Chad

Have you checked the reader slot for the card? That's where I would leave mine and then forget where it was.:laughing:

Two feet... that's probably a little on the huge side for your hoe. With anything in it your outriggers would certainly be earning their keep!:laughing::laughing: Good plan though:thumbsup:. You should be able to get a good sense of bucket size to machine capability that way. Good luck!:thumbsup::licking:

 

[chad22]

Have you checked the reader slot for the card? That's where I would leave mine and then forget where it was.:laughing:

That's exactly where it was. I found it but now it gives me a card error.

Two feet... that's probably a little on the huge side for your hoe. With anything in it your outriggers would certainly be earning their keep!:laughing::laughing: Good plan though:thumbsup:. You should be able to get a good sense of bucket size to machine capability that way. Good luck!:thumbsup::licking:

I posted the wrong length of the bucket. It's past 2 feet it's more like 32 inches so a bit bigger than 2 feet.

And that rusted through spot was actually patched up. I didn't really notice it because the bucket had a bunch of rust covering the top of the patch.

Anyway I think it's gonna make a nice backhoe bucket though. And if I figured right. I can use the rest of the steel to fix my stick mount with.

It's a thicker steel and the loader buckets a factory made loader. I forgot to mention that the loader arms were still attached to it. So I may be able to utilize the already made loader arms on my loader. "But just shorten the width of them down a bit".

I would have kept the bucket for the loader but also noticed a bend at the bottom in the middle.

So decided to salvage it for a new bucket for the backhoe.

Chad

Edit: It's so hot out there I had left a red crayon on the ground to mark the line for the saw to follow. And when I went back out there and picked the crayon up it actually was so hot the wax burned my hand a bit.

 

[NormL]

That's exactly where it was. I found it but now it gives me a card error.



I posted the wrong length of the bucket. It's past 2 feet it's more like 32 inches so a bit bigger than 2 feet.

I forgot to mention that the loader arms were still attached to it. So I may be able to utilize the already made loader arms on my loader. "But just shorten the width of them down a bit".

I would have kept the bucket for the loader but also noticed a bend at the bottom in the middle.

So decided to salvage it for a new bucket for the backhoe.

Chad

Amazing how that happens!:thumbsup: You find stuff the last place you used it - just remembering where that was can make the head spin.:confused2:

Your description of that loader reminds me of the ones I remember from the forty's. They had forks on the cutting edge for loading up manure piles for spreading in the fields and they were typically narrower than the tractor. How old do you think yours could be? If it can be adapted to your purpose, so much the better.:thumbsup:

 

[J_J]

It will be alot of work but could be done, gonna be slow with a circular saw though.

I cut a bucket down with a demo saw, much easier.

JB

Using a saw like that, I caught my pants on fire.

 

[chad22]

Your description of that loader reminds me of the ones I remember from the forty's. They had forks on the cutting edge for loading up manure piles for spreading in the fields and they were typically narrower than the tractor. How old do you think yours could be? If it can be adapted to your purpose, so much the better.:thumbsup:

I'm not sure how old it is. But the loader arms have a manufacture name on an attached name plate.

I'll have to clean the name plate off and see what info I could find. It looks to be pretty old though.

I got the bucket cut down with the circular saw it didn't take all that long. It took basically the same time as it would to cut a sheet of plywood with a wood blade.

The abrasive wheel cut right through it. My cuts are a little off but it appears as if it's gonna work.

All I gotta do now is weld the two pieces together, put the mounting ears on. And I have a 16 inch bucket. I was going for 15 but an inch over ain't too bad. lol

Once I sand the rust off the bucket. I'll paint it to help protect it.

I'll even have the steel I need for the stick mount.

Chad

 

[chad22]

Well I looked at the name plate and from what I can tell it says the brand is (Pony Loader)

Still can't make out the mfg date. I still need to clean off some corrosion to hopefully get to the date.

Chad

 

[JB4310]

Using a saw like that, I caught my pants on fire.

:laughing::laughing: But I'm sure at the time it was not funny.

Anytime one's pants catch fire, it can only be funny after a complete damage assessment has been made.

All fun aside, I have had my clothing smolder a little from different types of cutting/ grinding operations, but never fully in flame.

JB

 

[JB4310]

I'm not sure how old it is. But the loader arms have a manufacture name on an attached name plate.

I'll have to clean the name plate off and see what info I could find. It looks to be pretty old though.

I got the bucket cut down with the circular saw it didn't take all that long. It took basically the same time as it would to cut a sheet of plywood with a wood blade.

The abrasive wheel cut right through it. My cuts are a little off but it appears as if it's gonna work.

All I gotta do now is weld the two pieces together, put the mounting ears on. And I have a 16 inch bucket. I was going for 15 but an inch over ain't too bad. lol

Once I sand the rust off the bucket. I'll paint it to help protect it.

I'll even have the steel I need for the stick mount.

Chad

Sounds good, Get that camera working so we can see some pics

JB.

 

[chad22]

Sounds good, Get that camera working so we can see some pics

JB.

I got the card fixed. I had to format it. Here's some pics of the newly made bucket. Still need to add the ears to the top and then mount it and try it out.

Chad

 

[JB4310]

I got the card fixed. I had to format it. Here's some pics of the newly made bucket. Still need to add the ears to the top and then mount it and try it out.

Chad

As long as you can get it mounted to the dipper it will work.

Only problem, with that square inside corner, sticky muck will get stuck in there. but if it's sticky enough it will get stuck in any bucket anyway.

JB.

 

[chad22]

It works like I hoped. :thumbsup: I hadn't tried it actually digging a new hole. But I tried it in the loose dirt I had already dug up.

My other bucket I couldn't even fill it with dirt. "I had cut the bucket wrong".

This one works great and the hoe lifts the full bucket load of dirt like it's nothing.

It was totally worth cutting down and transforming it. I cut the bucket using one abrasive wheel and still have almost the whole wheel left.

I saved almost $300.00 by making this bucket.

Here's some pics of it on the dipper arm. I still need to add the teeth. But otherwise I'm satisfied with it.

Chad

 

[NormL]

It works like I hoped. :thumbsup: I hadn't tried it actually digging a new hole. But I tried it in the loose dirt I had already dug up.

My other bucket I could even fill it with dirt. "I had cut the bucket wrong".

This one works great and the hoe lifts the full bucket load of dirt like it's nothing.

It was totally worth cutting down and transforming it. I cut the bucket using one abrasive wheel and still have almost the whole wheel left.

I saved almost $300.00 by making this bucket.

Here's some pics of it on the dipper arm. I still need to add the teeth. But otherwise I'm satisfied with it.

Chad

Looks to me like you're getting it all together!:thumbsup: Good stuff. The $300 you didn't have to spend doesn't hurt either. From the photo of the loader arms you posted I'd guess that would be newer than the ones I remembered. Not going venture a guess on it's era though!