TC35DA Loader Bucket Question

[Haneyrm]

Guys,

The bucket on my TC35DA has 3 strange looking cuts in it. There is one in the middle and one on each end. I asked the original owner what the cuts were and he said he had no idea and that it came from the dealer that way. They look like a Kindergartener with a cutting torch made them. I was thinking that they may be for drainage or something? Any ideas would be appreciated. I also have a small area on the lower surface of the bucket where the metal appears to be "ripping". I am assuming that a few welds and it will be good as new.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Haneyrm]

Picture of the cuts.


Mike

 

[hazmat]

I think the previous owner is blowing smoke towards your posterior.

Why would a dealer deliver a bucket with cuts in it like that????

Patch it up as best you can - in 20 years treat yourself to a new bucket.

 

[jinman]

I agree with Hazmat. It's a bucket and you will have all kinds of cosmetic "issues" if you just use it normally. In the photo you showed, it looks like something rubbed the bottom of the bucket in front of the hole. My guess is it's a homemade modification for some pallet forks or some such device the former owner wanted to install but needed a skosh more room. I'd just weld them up and forget it. The weld beads in the back of my bucket started cracking all the way across the bucket, so I did rookie (spelled u-g-l-y) welding job on them and they have been fine ever since.

 

[daTeacha]

I agree with the other guys. I've seen all kinds of things done to a bucket by someone who wanted to improve it for one reason or another. Mine has several custom holes drilled through it for the various homemade things I attach and also for the grapple. The dealer put the grapple on a non-QD bucket first, so now he has (or had) one with some nice neat 1/2" holes in it for some new owner to puzzle over or put his own grapple on.

Just weld it shut and forget about it. Unless of course you can convince the P.O. that it's worth some bucks off the price of the tractor, in which case those things are terribly ugly and welding them will make the welded area rust faster, have different temper than the rest of the bucket, and in general is worth about $100 off the selling price unless he wants to fix it for you.

 

[Haneyrm]

Hmmm. I suspected I was being hornswaggled when he told me that. Oh well, I'll get them welded up and they will be good as new. Thanks.

Mike

 

[BarnStangz]

I enjoyed seeing the following words in this thread; "hornswaggled" and "skosh" ...Glad to see I'm not the only hill billy....


Max

 

[daTeacha]

I believe the politically correct term for that segment of American society would be "Appalachian Aboriginal". Please refrain from derogatory terminology in the future. My cousins from Jackson County (southeast of Columbus, mostly south) would appreciate it.

 

[gmason]

I would almost bet your problem came from water being trapped in the area under that bottom plate and freezing. Check to make sure your drain holes are not clogged up with dirt.
gary