ANYONE EVER TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT A BUCKET?

Groo · Apr 29, 2018

I did a pile sledge hammering (hearing protection was mandatory for that job) when I "rebuilt" the bucket on Dad's L2550dt. I also added reinforcements, scrap metal teeth, and a chain hook to the center top of the bucket. It really made a difference.
While I was add it, I pitched the mangled grill and made a solid radiator guard out of 1/4x4 flat and 1" tube (He's tested that guard more than once). It was the 1" tube I used to reinforce the top lip. I took what was left after all the other projects were done (also did a steel wood chute, and a welding torch dolly along with the tractor work). It probably spanned the middle 1/3 or 1/2. clamping that tube to the lip helped straighten the waves after I did my work with the sledge.
While messing with the welder, I also tacked the hand lever bolts that allow the loader to be removed. We had never removed it since new, but did have those bolts rotate forward a couple of times, once going through the tire of the truck getting loaded.

davedj1 · Apr 29, 2018

put a chain hook where it's bent down, chain the other end to the center brace on the loader and curl the bucket out, carefully, some BFH may be necessary...lol

katoomed00 · Apr 30, 2018

I used a 3 ton chain come-a-long, hung the unit on a brace on the top of the bucket and the tail on the bottom, kept lifting and loosing till I got it back in shape. You will have to bend it quite a bit beyond the level point to get it in the right position, just take your time and not over bend it or you will have another problem.

Semper Paratus · Apr 30, 2018

Used to have to straighten the side walls on a bushhog. I would lift the hog and block it up and use a piece of 4x4 or 6x6 blocked up with a hydraulic jack. Get a little load on it adjust alignment with a 2# Engineers hammer. Load it some more readjust alignment and then go to town. Same principal would apply for the bucket. This Thread is why I reinforced the top of my bucket with a piece of 3x3x3/8" angle and added my Ken's Bolt on Hooks to the angle. The angle is secured with 8 1/2"-13 UNC Grade 8 bolts with high strength self locking nuts lubed and torque to 90 ft-lbs. Will weld once I get power and a welder.