Need advice on welding a loader bucket

[OldBulldogger]

Hello again,
I am just looking for some advice. I have a Ford 7108 Quick Attach loader with a 60" bucket on it that I use on my Ford 1720 tractor. When I got the tractor I noticed the bucket was worn through and is now starting to crack. I would like to repair it and just wondered if anyone has had any experience with this type of repair. I thought about cutting out the bad section and welding in a replacement section or getting a 3/16 piece of sheet steel creased to fit the profile and weld in over the top of the current plate. Does anyone have any suggestions here? The bucket itself is dented in places so it may be a bit of a challenge to perfectly line up the sheet steel. I don't have a cutting torch but might be able to get use of one. I appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

 

[Sackett2]

i think either option would work, altho with the wear in the bucket I would lean to the removal of the metal and replacement. Your going to need a cutting torch; plasma cutter or a lot of grinding wheels...

 

[20 20]

cut out and replace, to make the repair easier you'll want to remove the bucket. A simple way to make a clean cut (cheap) is to use a skill saw with a metal cutting blade. You can buy them at Harbor freight. I have cut metal this way for years, it's not the fastest but it is clean and the equipment needed is simple(low cost).

 

[jake98]

I vote cut the whole bottom out and replace it.

 

[kevinj]

This is posted more than once, you can see my reply elsewhere.

 

[20 20]

This is posted more than once, you can see my reply elsewhere.

Quess we just saw your reply here

 

[mechanic]

Looking at your repair this what I would do if this is not a rust problem. If it is rust then I would cut it out. I would hammer the crack down to tighten up the crack then I would run a three bead pass of 7018 tie one bead into the other then grand it somewhat flat. Place a 1/4"or 3/16" piece of flat plate and place it all the way up into the corner of the bucket and stick weld with 7018 all the way around the plate. This would be the fastest to repair and if you do it right it will last for years. The 3 bead pass would be like stringer beads one bead just overlapping the other just a slight overlap.The crack on the left side of the bucket might require a backer plate also. I would sleep on it do what you think you would be happiest with. Although the way I told you would work.

 

[Shield Arc]

I vote to cut it out and replace too. Without the use of a torch or plasma, a sawzall will make quick work of 3/16 inch material.

 

[Ken45101]

I'll defer to the experts here but I suspect part of the question is how wide (front to back) of an area is worn thin? If it's just a stress crack with thick metal all around, that's different than if an area 6" (front to back) is worn thin. There is no patching across paper thin metal, you need to get to good solid steel.

That looks like a strange wear pattern to me, I guess the previous owner did a lot of scraping/dragging with the lip raised a bit. Maybe it was mostly used for backdragging on a gravel surface?

 

[Egon]

I had the same problem with a Kubota B7100 bucket.

The Fellow's at the welding shop covered the outside bottom of the bucket with a sheet of 1/4 in. steel plate. Worked very well for me.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Covering on the outside makes it easier to form the sheet to the bucket.