Adding front bucket extension for more capacity?

[etpm]

some pics of the bucket would help.

did you just want to extend the floor of your bucket, or add sidewalls as well?

Will the extension be removable?

I'll post a picture. I want all 4 sides extended. The extension is to be easily removed when not needed. I don't want a 3PH mounted tote because it can't be easily dumped.

 

[jfsawatzky]

Check out … titan attachments clamp-on debris forks. Found them handy.

 

[etpm]

I didn't want to start my tractor today just to raise the bucket. But I think these two pictures will show the small size and shape of the bucket. And just to reiterate, this extension is just to add capacity for bulky but relatively lightweight vegetative material. I have a lot of it every winter.
I am a 65 year old guy with 20 year old crushed wrists injuries. Bone on bone joints in both wrists. I get by but tractors help. I was using my Case 580CK backhoe for this type of work, loading stuff into the front bucket, along with my wife, she is no slacker, but the Case is big and long. My new to me 40 year old YM2310 is a great machine. But the FEL bucket is so small. Loaded with sand or rocks it is the correct size, loaded with pine branches from the latest blow it is woefully undersized. So I want a bigger front bucket that I can dump.
I appreciate the suggestions about forks et al. But I don't want to use forks. I have them. Stuff falls through them. I am not picking this stuff up with the tractor because of what needs to be picked up. I am loading by hand. All sorts of sizes in all sorts of places. Lots of the branches are too long for the bucket and get sawn shorter. Much of the stuff is already short enough to fit. When clearing salmon berry and blackberry bushes they often need to be compressed into whatever we are using to transport them to the burn pile. A big bucket, like the one on my Case, is good for this. But I'm not gonna use the Case because I have the much smaller and more maneuverable Yanmar YM2310. Hence the bucket extension question.
I am newly retired. I have a machine shop on my property 300 feet from my house. I want to make my life easier. My shop, besides the CNC and manual machines, also has 1 plasma cutter, 2 bandsaws, 2 TIG welders, and 2 MIG welders. So I have the equipment to build the extension. Fortunately I also managed to acquire the skills to use these machines. So I can make the extension. I just wanna do it right. I kinda hoped someone had already done this and could give me pointers.
See the two pictures.
Eric

 

[beowulf]

My first question would be how often are you going to need what you intend to build? If it is not frequent, either pallet forks or clamp on pallet forks with something to close the gap and hold things would be the simplest thing. I have both and they have worked out well to haul brush with a sheet of plywood, an old wire gate or whatever as a 'floor'. I have also used an old small pickup bed liner and it worked out really well.

But, as you have the shop and all the equipment it may be an interesting project to take on. If I had all that you have I would likely want to build something to suit myself - challenge myself, and get the satisfaction of doing it, even if I was not going to use it much. The wife has stopped asking "what are you building now"?

 

[old and tired]

From HollyRidge campground that we go to... used for leaves and sticks. Only thing attached to the bucket at the angle iron on the sides.

 

[etpm]

From HollyRidge campground that we go to... used for leaves and sticks. Only thing attached to the bucket at the angle iron on the sides.

That's bigger than I want but I like the design. I'm gonna copy it. Sort of. The open top would really let me pile up the bushy stuff. And it can be easily dumped.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[old and tired]

So I think the main side bars, swing out from the one bolt that holds it on. Look at the bottom lip of the bucket, the outside edge catches on the inside and may (?) supports some weight from tilting forward.

Whatever you come up with, make sure you post back!!!

 

[etpm]

So I think the main side bars, swing out from the one bolt that holds it on. Look at the bottom lip of the bucket, the outside edge catches on the inside and may (?) supports some weight from tilting forward.

Whatever you come up with, make sure you post back!!!

I will post pictures. The front lip will for sure need to fit into a slot to help support the weight. I want my extension sides to butt against the existing bucket. Then I think I will run a bar on each side of the extension to the hooks I have on the top of the bucket at the sides for clamping to the bucket. The bars would run from the front of the extension to the hooks. No, I have a better idea, instead of bars I'll use chain binders. I'm not sure yet how to pull the bottom of the extension tight against the front lip of the bucket, maybe use a chain that wraps around the bottom of the bucket and connects to the center hook welded to the top of the bucket.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[WranglerX]

I have something similar for leaves and very small brush.... IT was some sort of guard that turned up in surplus material (junk) pile....

 

[SmallChange]

Good question! I've thought about this because we have a lot of autumn leaves that pile up in a cup-de-sac and I have to carry them pretty far. I've toyed with building a fairly light weight plywood trough that would wedge into the bucket and extend the bottom forward and the top up and forward. I'm picturing two plywood rectangles, maybe 3/8" thick, and two heavy plywood shapes cut with a jigsaw to fit neatly into the sides of my existing bucket and follow the contours in there, maybe 1". Then, make four braces of fairly light steel angle to construct the corner seams, maybe flat steel backing plates rather than letting bolt heads just pull through the wood. Perhaps pull the sides toward the bucket with a couple turnbuckles, anchoring them with a chain or even one hole in each bucket side plate (which wouldn't hurt much).