Backhoe Poor Bucket Weld

[Zork]

The other day I was using my backhoe to dig a stump out. About halfway around the stump I noticed something odd about the bucket. I did not feel anything odd since the whole rig tends to snap and pop. The setup is an '04 and I've got about 30 hours on the hoe and 280 hours on the tractor. I was operating at a gentle 2K RPM's and it is too bad I have not worked this hoe harder during the warranty period. I wonder how many other welds are like this?

 

[JB4310]

I agree, the welds look poor.

But now it's time to fix it. If you have a large press, you can squeeze it back in place. Otherwise for the quick back yard fix, mount it back on the machine and try to push it/hammer it back to close with the machines hydraulic advantage.

Once it's welded/ reinforced it will be better than new, do you weld or are you bringing it to a shop? It doesn't look like a complicated repair. just want to make sure when you straighten it that the holes will line up and will mount on the machine.

That's why I would repair it mounted, at least the rough work.

Good Luck, JB.

 

[Zork]

I do have a press and plan on putting the pins in before I attempt to straighten it. However, I do have an email sent to Amerequip asking for a goodwill warranty (insert sad puppy dog or sad kitty cat image here) since its out of warranty. We'll see if they have compassion on me first. My skin-tone is getting rather blu-ish and I haven't gotten a reply yet, lol.

 

[JB4310]

Definitely worth a shot, see if they offer you anything.

But even if they sent you a new bucket I would reinforce it before putting it in service.

JB.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

I'm not a welder and even I can see that there is NO penetration in those shots.

 

[Zork]

Well, never heard from the company and I wasn't going to bother my dealer with this so I fixed it. Threw it in a press and straightened as much as possible and brought it close to being square. My main concern was keeping the pins from binding so they move freely.

My thought is to buy a spare bucket but I might get the same unit from the shelf, lol.

 

[Egon]

Consider grinding off all the original Gobs and doing a proper weld.:thumbsup:

 

[cdaigle430]

The other day I was using my backhoe to dig a stump out. About halfway around the stump I noticed something odd about the bucket. I did not feel anything odd since the whole rig tends to snap and pop. The setup is an '04 and I've got about 30 hours on the hoe and 280 hours on the tractor. I was operating at a gentle 2K RPM's and it is too bad I have not worked this hoe harder during the warranty period. I wonder how many other welds are like this?

Why is there a bolt in the back of the bucket? I hope thats not a hook-if it is thats a bad spot for a hook.

 

[Zork]

I do have a small hook there and it fits nicely between the two rails of the pivot frame. I thought about this location being a problem with a larger slip hook and the possible threats with digging blindly and that is why I went with the small grip hook. With the exception of a burried chain making its way into the hook the current hook should slice through anything 3/8 of an inch. I'm not sure why you ask this question other than linking it to potential damage. This are of the bucket appears to be the thickest and best protected.

Thanks for the reply. What are your thoughts?

 

[Willl]

In one of those pics (2179c), almost looks as if it was repaired/rewelded before ?

 

[Zork]

It appears to me that the bucket was not machine welded and that picture you are referring to does look like someone did a second pass. I know I haven't welded on the machine with the exception of two hooks on the front bucket and a roll cage I installed later (everything was fabricated off the tractor). Anyway, Im still happy with it and it would have been nice to get a new bucket but I am way over the warranty. I pan on adding an additional 3/8 plate on the exterior at the pin rail (I call it a pin rail some people call it a kaiser blade) and inside the bucket where the pin rail had distorted and cracked the bucket surface this I plan on tying it into the side plates.

Amerequip's site says to contact the dealer for warranty claims. C'ville Power & Equipment has been very generous and attentive to me during this purchase so I figured I wouldn't insult them and I would go to the source. All the company could say is no but I have not heard anything from the email I sent to Amerequip so I am thinking the guy that welded my bucket that day may have been helping out in customer service when they received my request, lol. Bottom line: It's a great piece of equipment for the money (even for more). Comparable units had synthetic bushing to take up lash and lateral sway and given the same circumstances I would buy it again and currently I will recommend it to a friend.

 

[wdchyd]

Zork,

The welds definetly not enough penetration but I'd be willing to say the steel thickness used in the original design is lacking also..

I'd say that the lack of reinforcement and/or thick enough steel is more likely the root cause of failure here...

 

[Zork]

I agree! I never turned anything up and I ran it well below the rated rpm's. Oh well. Maybe so warranty fairy will come to the rescue. I'm turning blue, lol.... A weld is a weld is a weld regardless of time; I lost out.

 

[DavesTractor]

This is a 7 yeard old bucket, even if hardly used, and even with a poor weld that was obviously done at the factory. That would be a big stretch for any manufacturer. They do make a heavier duty version of that bucket. You have the light one. Of course now that you have fixed it, it's probably not light duty anymore!

Digging stumps is something I have done a lot, and it is hard on buckets. You get the bucket down between roots and use them as leverage to pop out another root. But that is no excuse for a poor weld.

 

[Zork]

No problems here Dave. What do the HD units go for?

 

[DavesTractor]

No problems here Dave. What do the HD units go for?

I am thinking you have the 7620 backhoe? By looking at the bucket it does not look like a 8620 bucket. Confirm and I'll PM you.

 

[nickel plate]

Zork,
You need to approach this from a quality control standpoint. Your bucket's weld looks like a cold joint and therefore defective from the original factory fabrication which makes this not a warranty issue but a quality control defect.
I have a 6' box scraper that was manufactured here in California that was over a year out of warranty when one of the ripper tines caught a root and bent/ripped the tine bracket backward and up. I was of the attitude that I would contact the manufacturer and order a new bracket and weld it up myself so I detached box scraper from the tractor and flipped it over to start the grind-off proceedure and saw that practically every tine bracket severely lacked any welding whatsoever and where there were welds, most looked cold.
I fired off an email to the manufacturer stating my findings along with what dealer I bought it new from and the issue of it being out of warranty and poor quality control during fabrication. That same day my dealer called me to arrange for them to drive thirty miles to my home, pick it up, repair and re-weld all of the underside tine brackets. Still on the same day I received a reply from the manufacturer that they will make it good and sorry for the incovienence on their behalf.
Two days later it was re-delivered and the driver, this time by the fellow who did the actual welding repair work. He had it loaded upside down on the bed of a small boom truck so I could inspect and approve the new welds and paint which I did. He also insisted that he assist me in re-attaching it to my tractor to make the process complete. No one has ever helped me attach any of my seven implements but this guy wouldn't take "no" for an answer!
Happy ending and a restoration of the selection I made when I originally bought the product.

 

[Zork]

I am thinking you have the 7620 backhoe? By looking at the bucket it does not look like a 8620 bucket. Confirm and I'll PM you.

@ Daves Tractor- I think it is a 7620 but I will check to make sure and get back to you. Thanks.

@ Nickel plate- I should have thought about that earlier. Sounds like you made out very well. Thanks for the idea.

 

[DavesTractor]

Zork,
You need to approach this from a quality control standpoint. The weld looks like a cold joint and therefore defective from original factory fabrication which makes this not a warranty issue but a quality control defect.

First of all, a company will often take care of a problem that is well out of warranty when the issue is crystal clear, and it never hurts to ask. But they don't owe it just because you have a smoking gun.

Almost all warranty claims are quality control or defective material issues. And just because it is super clear does not extend the warranty period. The manufacturer is smart to consider these as "the right thing to do", but don't confuse that with them owing to pay it just because it can be clearly demonstrated to be a defect in workmanship. A warranty basically says "we will take care of defects in workmanship and materials for a certain period of time". So years later saying "this is defective and I can prove it" doesn't legally extend the warranty period. Again, it is good to ask and it will often get a good result, but it is a goodwill sort of thing at that point.

When they price an item, they add in something to take care of warranty. Let's just say it is 2%. They base this on the amount of failures that will occur over a certain amount of time. Now if they extend that to all clearly demonstrable failures for the life of the product, they will have to charge much more.

I'm not opposed to goodwill claims and I hope the OP gets some help on this. But I think we need to consider just what it means to have a time limit on warranties. I think unless the manufacturer was somehow hiding early knowledge of the defect or somehow acting fraudulently, then a year is a year, etc. Now if they played the "hide the ball and hope the year goes by quickly before we have too many failures" game, then I say take it to 'em! But that isn't the case with AmeriQuip. They are a good company. We have sold dozens of their buckets and have not had one pull apart at the weld yet like this one did.

 

[Zork]

@ Dave- I agree. I just thought I would ask and since I didn't hear anything I'm taking that as a "no" and will not try to contact them again. I've made several welds to the bucket now and I am moving on. Lol.... My dad always said it doesn't hurt to ask and, if someone asks you for something it's completely up to you and you have the freedom to say no. So thats where I am; happy as a clam; I still like my Branny and Amerequip Backhoe and would recommend it to anyone.

Dave - The Backhoe is a: AMEREQUIP B7620-1116.