How to Crimp Crimp-On Teeth?

[F_22]

I got some 2A crimp-on teeth and weld-on shanks from Fabco for my FEL bucket. See 2-A SERIES FABRICATED CRIMP-ON TEETH. I welded the shanks to my bucket, now I'm wondering how I'm going to crimp the teeth on. Can anyone here give me some advice? The manufacturer has not responded to my query.

The sides of teeth are about 3/16" thick and the crimp area only spans about 3/8". I whacked this section with a 1/2" flat-nose punch and a short hand sledge, but it didn't even bend. I'm left wondering if I should just tack weld these guys on.

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[Henro]

Someone else with experience can speak up, but I have read of people heating the teeth with a torch and then they are easier to bend in.

I am almost certain you don't want to tack weld them on. I think the crimped-on looseness is what gives them a long service life. My guess is that your tacks would soon break and you would be buying more teeth...

 

[markct]

what works good for me is to heat them red hot where they need to be crimped, then use a pair of vice grip C clamps to indent them, works great and easy, dont tack weld them the welds will crack and the teeth fall off, and they will be harder to replace later too if they do stay on

 

[F_22]

Thanks guys! That's what I love about this forum. I have an acetylene torch but it hadn't even crossed my mind to heat them. Old-timer's disease, I guess.

Do you heat the teeth while they're on the shanks, or do you heat them separately and then slam them on before they cool?

Bruce

 

[JerryG]

Bruce,
Normally they are heated and bent. But I have saw just about as many tack welded on. I have even owned some that was tacked. If you do weld them make sure that the teeth are push up tight on the shank before welding. If they are not firmly pushed up the tack will break.

 

[EdKing]

I have become quite adapt at replacing teeth on my backhoe after losing quite a few digging out stumps. I place the teeth firmly on the shanks, heat both sides cherry red to orange, squeeze in the sides with the c-clamp vice grips, then tack weld the teeth on all four corners. I have yet to lose a tooth I have replaced using this technique.