Bucket Arms For Front Loader Broke - Weld? Replace? Scrap?

[nobbyv]

As you can see, the bucket arms broke on my Long 5140 front loader. Same spot both sides. What's my next move? See if someone can weld them? Replace them completely? Scrap the whole thing (hydraulics work fine)?

 

[ptsg]

It's repairable. I would grind some fillets for the weld, bent it back straight, weld and then add some fish plates to reinforce the area. Coat of paint and it's good again.

 

[Peter 315]

Take it to a welding shop loader off tractor .. weld and plate them.....

 

[nobbyv]

It's repairable. I would grind some fillets for the weld, bent it back straight, weld and then add some fish plates to reinforce the area. Coat of paint and it's good again.

Sweet! Just pinged a guy that does mobile welding. Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[nobbyv]

Take it to a welding shop loader off tractor .. weld and plate them.....

Any recommendations in NH? I'm in Chester.

 

[Peter 315]

Any recommendations in NH? I'm in Chester.

Martel welding in Tewksbury Ma ..... What street in Chester?

 

[denchen]

A few years ago I would have welded that back for you, and assure you it wouldn`t part again. By looking at you pictures, it looks strange that it parted so clean and straight, its as though its been welded together and the weld has failed. Yep, `V` it out, reweld, and if there is room, add a strengthened flat, it will be stronger than new.

 

[nobbyv]

Martel welding in Tewksbury Ma ..... What street in Chester?

Thanks, I'll check them out. I'm on Wells Village. You in the area?

 

[rangerfredbob]

High stress concentration in that area apparently with that crossmember between the arms since it looks to have started the crack right at the crossmember, probably started from the heat of welding the crossmember in coupled with the constant bending driving around with a load in the bucket right at that spot.

I agree with everyone else though, a competent welder that lines everything back up, vee's it out, welds it back up and fish plates the three accessible sides (doesn't look like there's room on the cylinder side) with the cylinders loose should be stronger than new.

 

[chim]

I can picture a twisting that was concentrated at the end of where the crossmember is attached. Without being able to have equal loading on the FEL, as one side has more weight on it the box formed by the crossmember and loader arms tries to twist. That box shape stays fairly rigid and the flex takes place at the upper connection of the cross member / loader arm. Each time this happens it slightly stresses that metal.