Bent Bucket Lip

ritcheyvs · Oct 18, 2015

I bent the lip of my loader bucket while using clamp-on forks. I was foolishly using the forks trying to back-drag a tree stump out of the woods. So the lip is bent up in two places. Question: is there a recommended (i.e., proven) technique tor straightening the lip? I considered beating it with a big hammer as well as clamping on a fork and using the bucket curl to unbend the lip. The main problem with using a fork is inability to see what's happening. Thoughts?

Rustyferrious · Oct 18, 2015

I've never had to straighten out a bucket lip but I have done a fair share of straightening out trailer frames, machinery bases and other messed up stuff. (none of my own doing of course.....). I have a stock of fairly thick Ipe timbers that are incredibly rigid. I use large C-camps or HD deep-jaw bar clamps to clamp the bent metal to the ipe timber. I use a lot of clamps to get it as straight as I can, then I use small blocks of wood spacers between the metal and the timber to give it a bit of "overbend" to get a really straight line when released. Or sometimes I whack away with a big hammer.

George2615 · Oct 18, 2015

Never bent the lip on any of my own tractors but friend of mine did exactly the same thing you did a few years ago. I helped him straighten his by lowering the bucket lip onto 4X4 wood blocks and tapped the bends back down with a sledge hammer. I checked for level with a straightedge.

BethelHntr · Oct 18, 2015

I did the exact same thing with clamp on forks

. I eventually fixed it with oxy acetylene and a big rose bud torch, I set the bucket flat on the concrete floor and tacked anchor point on the top and back of the bucket for a chain fall, Heated the lip up and pulled from various anchors.

Worked real well, Got it all straightened out then went to the nearest tractor dealer and bought a 72" cutting edge, No more bent lips. Also I sold those clamp on forks and bought 60" quick attach forks from Titan, Best attachment so far.

paulfun9 · Oct 18, 2015

If you don't have the tools or time most often a local welding/fabricating shop will have the equipment to do the job quickly.

PS I also don't recommend bolt on pallet forks as I have seen way too many folks bend up their buckets with them. A good set of forks for the SSQA are also much better to use, still hard to see at times but not as hard when you have the bucket out there to.

Egon · Oct 19, 2015

Heat and a big sledge.

Preferable to take bucket off and use a hydraulic press though.

K man · Oct 19, 2015

It never happened to me either but then I would never use any kind of clamp on forks etc to the bucket cause they are not made for that kind of stress. I know a friend who did buy these clamp on forks and I thought it was a great idea and it is if you are not planning on lifting anything under a ton and even that is pushing it.
I would buy forks design to be attached to the loader arms not the bucket.

dfkrug · Oct 19, 2015

Sometimes you can get a small bkt bend out with heat and a sledge hammer, but
I usually have to resort to a I-beam, chains, and my 20T hyd jack.

I have maxed out the jack on some bends, and have to cut the steel to weaken
it, or replace parts of the carcass. After cutting/bending, I weld the cut to
strengthen it back up.

I have seen what bkt forks can do to the lower part of a bkt, and it is not pretty.

ritcheyvs · Oct 19, 2015

Thanks. All good ideas. The bends are not so bad that I can't use the bucket, it just doesn't "scrape" cleanly.

For info, I bought those clip-on forks mainly to unload palletized truck deliveries (less than 1000 lb) and they worked fine for that. The I just abused the forks by trying to drag out that bid tree stump. I plan to get some real SSQA forks but I'll still need the clip-ons to unload them.

There is a nearby metal shop that has fixed several finish mower casters for me so I may check with them if a DIY method doesn't work. I am procrastinating on calling them because the 72 inch bucket is hard to transport in my small pickup truck.

Coyote machine · Oct 19, 2015

If you can't effect the repair you want, see if they or others do on site welding.
I had my Bhoe thumb welded on at my place- I've got no way to move my tractor/hoe to anyone's shop.