Bucket Loader Question

[WayneW]

Was moving/removing some rocks with my Kubota B7610 352FEL and was wondering if I should be concerned about the durability of the bucket. In particular, could I bend the bottom of the bucket by prying out rocks? Or is it built for that.

So far, I've been ok, though I have also been very attentive and a little unaggressive when doing this.

-thanks

 

[DaveNay]

I would very definitely say Yes, you can damage the bucket. The front (and top) edge of my bucket is a little wavy now from running into things. I am alos seeing some tearing of the metal near the welded mounting points on the back of the bucket.

My FEL and bucket are used, so I do not know how they were abused in the past.

Dave

 

[BB_TX]

The buckets are durable, but not impossible to bend. You probably will not bend it unless you try ramming something. If you just ease up to a rock and try pushing, you will most likely lose traction before you bend the bucket. If you put the front edge of the bucket under a rock and try to lift it, the hydraulics will probably give out before it bends the bucket. Still it wouldn't hurt to be careful until you get a feel for what it can and can't do.

 

[8561]

I've seen them bent on several used tractors, including Kubotas. A tooth bar will help give some additional support. You can also get a replacement if you bend it too badly and can't live with it. I would be careful, but not overly concerned.

 

[KiotiJohn]

First off, loaders are for loading. In other words, they are designed to push into a pile of dirt, gravel, etc., fill, and empty. They were not really designed for digging rocks out of the ground, so, yes they can bend and do. Some buckets are reinforced in several spots and can handle the higher stresses of digging with the bucket, and some have nearly NO reinforcement, just the edges welded together to form the bucket. The recommendation of a toothbar is a good one as it helps in a few different ways. It helps to reinforce the cutting edge side of the bucket, helps the loader to dig into hard dirt/clay surfaces, and also is a big help in getting things INTO the bucket. How many times have you "pushed" a load right off the front instead of it going into the bucket. The toothbar has helped me tremendously with these.
I suspect we all use our loaders in ways for which they weren't designed, so we have to expect things are going to go wrong at times. John

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Wayne,
Welcome to the TBN.
Any bucket, irrelevent of brand or construction is destroyable, if it is used and abused Long enough and Hard enough. It simply boils down to.
Use Common Sense !! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
If your gut instinct is telling you that you "Shouldn't Really Be doing this". You probably "Shouldn't Be Doing It" . /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Give yourself time. As you spend enough time with your tractor, you will learn it's strong points and it's weak points. You will learn how far you can safely push the limits of your machine. Be Careful, Be Safe !! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[EricL]

Or let your father-in-law use it, he will push it to it's limit. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif At least mine did. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[DaveNay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Or let your father-in-law use it, he will push it to it's limit. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif At least mine did. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )</font>

Is your father-in-law a retired Operating Engineer also???

Mine seems to think that my little JD 855 is a 900 HP Caterpillar /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Dave

 

[MicroPilot]

Yes you can bend the bucket. Mine now has a slight bend up into the bucket on the cutting edge. I don't know how I did it, but was moving some very large rocks this past weekend. I would have expected any bends to be down/out of the bucket though.

 

[EricL]

No, he is an ex- hillbilly / horse farmer.


He was impressed with the power it had though. Not sure if that is a good thing or bad. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Just glad I wasn't there to watch.