Need advice on gussets / bracing

[jthibodeau89]

The dog leg actually is not subjected to much load. The straight links to the bucket take the brunt of the forces. I had planned to repair and reinforce the original fabricated QD holders on my 430. But then i determined that i could retrofit the cast steel 300cx parts with just a little work.

 

[Underdog57]

FEL Link Repair

A while back I did something stupid. I attached a tine bucket with 42 inch tines to the FEL, stuck the tips of the tines into the dirt (slightly) and backed up. :duh: The increased leverage of the tine bucket, mixed with my stupidity, bent the crap out of the loader links. But I didn't even...

www.tractorbynet.com

Another member (Avenger) had it happen recently ^ and that is the second time I seen it posted in the LS forum. I bought a 470# stump bucket and thought maybe I should reinforce them? They are 3/8" thick, and I haven't bent them yet, but Avengers pictures scared me!

 

[Underdog57]

This is the best idea, bend the 3/8" plate and weld it to the outside edge of the outside link. One side of each link should be sufficient to adequately strengthen the set.

Welding structural steel with 6011 or 6010 is not the best rod for the process but might work for a while. Avoid leaving any undercut which is hard to do with 60xx rod. 60XXrods are a bit brittle and dont stretch like LH rods to and tend to crack with any stress put on the weld.

E 7018 would be my preference for welding and since AWS D1.1 doesn't allow 60XX rods on a structural steel weld, then it is a good bet that there is a reason that the Code specifies 70XX low hydrogen rods for fabrication on mild steel (A36 plate) which is likely the material used in the loader.

Thanks Gary, what about bending the flat bar and just go down the middle of the bracket and welding both sides? Thanks for the advice about drying the 7018 rods, I will do that!

 

[jthibodeau89]

Yes, in the back drag position the dogleg links are loaded pretty high due to the bucket links being almost 90° to the curl cyl axis. I wasn't thinking about that configuration. The load will try to lengthen the distance between the pins on the dogleg and buckle the elbow. I suspect this is why the flange is added to the inside edge of the dogleg in the 300cx pic.

 

[ovrszd]

Definitely observe the brackets in question during operation. That shape is there for a reason. Would be a shame to goober up a brace and then bend the bracket first time you full dump or some other position.

 

[jaxs]

Good point ovrszd. One more reason to mock it up with light material and tack in place before doing actual repair.

 

[Underdog57]

Finally got around to do this project, bent some 3/8" flat bar and struck it together with 1/8" 7018 at 160 amps on my Everlast PA300. As you can see, I don't weld very often, but it's stronger than it was.