Repair of LMT

[RegL]

Anyone had to repair their light materials bucket. I know it will involve welding but wondering best way to reinforce the area.

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

Mine is still practically new, but we make these kinds of repairs on wheel loader buckets all the time.
A basic patch on the outside and a fillet weld on the inside should do I'd think.

 

[Lnk]

Anyone had to repair their light materials bucket. I know it will involve welding but wondering best way to reinforce the area.

How many hours of abuse did it take to get that way, I only say abuse, as most of us push our machines beyond the stated limits. Just curious so I know about when mine is going to fail.

I agree, patch and fillet weld. At least you caught it before you had to bend it back into shape first.

 

[RegL]

How many hours of abuse did it take to get that way, I only say abuse, as most of us push our machines beyond the stated limits. Just curious so I know about when mine is going to fail.

I agree, patch and fillet weld. At least you caught it before you had to bend it back into shape first.

Abusing that one since 2003. Thanks for the advice.

 

[ponytug]

I would be inclined to do as the others suggested above, and in addition patch the side as well as the underside to strengthen the corner weld. Whatever you did/do is applying more force than the lip edge can handle. You might consider a flat bar of high strength steel welded on just behind the existing edge, or cut out the existing edge and top in a high strength edge that is wider, and reinforce the existing vertical edge.

You could also out YouTube where the are a number of lip repairs to buckets for ideas.

All the best,

Peter

 

[RegL]

Mine is still practically new, but we make these kinds of repairs on wheel loader buckets all the time.
A basic patch on the outside and a fillet weld on the inside should do I'd think.

Thanks

 

[m5040]

With this past weekends 20" snow, and my bucket catching on rocks and roots, this was all I could think about.

 

[ponytug]

Here is a nice video of a somewhat larger bucket repair ;
Cutting Edge Engineering: CAT 330 Bucket Repair

Kurtis does some amazingly high quality hand welding, setting up the pieces so that he gets full penetration welds for maximum strength. Many of his welds look like they were robotically done. What I enjoy about his videos is that he has a real understanding of how heavy equipment will be used, and how repairs can make an item weaker or stronger, and what the tradeoffs may be. The BIS80 steel he mentions is an Australian low carbon, high strength steel, which may be close to A-656 steel. (I am no steel expert.)

All the best,

Peter

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

Some buckets are indeed bigger than others @ponytug...fixing these is fun!

Some have interchangable wear components to help extend the life...

 

[ponytug]

@BigDaddyEureka Yes, those are quite the machines (and buckets!).

As you seem to be an expert, for those of use with bent buckets, any recommendations on what material to use to replace the skin with something a little stronger and more durable? I have a running battle with the floor of my 4N1 bucket, which is always bending. More wear bars of? New skin made of? New cutting edges made of? I have no problems welding things together. I am just at a bit of a loss on what would be a reasonable path forward.

All the best,

Peter