Seon:
I would hate to see you modify your perfectly good 18 incher.
As 3RRL says, that size is very valuable when you have a lot of
dirt to move.
As for your Taylor, the pin SPACING is not critical, it is the width
of the bottom hole of your dipper stick, at the bushing. The
Prairie Dog folks in MI used to sell buckets without the two bkt ears
welded on yet, cuz so many people bought em for other hoes. The
pin size of 25 mm could be reamed out to your 1.1". I do not
know if they still sell them that way. Still, they sell them for $300
plus shipping. If you can use my new spare one, you can have it for
$250 picked up.
I agree you should be very unhappy with your b/h vendor and don't
want to deal with them again.