Adding quick attach plate to Bucket -HELP!

[westbrooklawn]

I just picked up the Kubota QA adapter for my Kubota LA463 loader on my L3400 tractor. Removed the pins from the old bucket and the new adapter went on the loader arms fine.

Now the hard part... I have to remove the old mounting brackets from the bucket so that I can weld on a quick attach plate to use with the QA. After 3 hours of grinding, cutting with the torch, and hammering with a cold chisel and BIG hammer, I have about 1/4 of one of the the two brackets off... all I can say is they are some pretty deep welds holding those brackets on! The brackets are 1/4" steel, and welded on really good. Has anyone got any ideas on how to get them off easier? I thought I could blow the welds off with the torch, but the angle is such that I am afraid I am going to blow through the bucket. Is there a technique that might work better with the torch? Can anyone recommend a better way to do it? Thanks in advance... I hate to have to try to grind them totally off.

 

[kennyd]

How about a picture for us?

When I need to cut a welded part from another, I use a cutting wheel in my pneumatic rotary tool (cutoff tool, whizzer) The thin cutting wheels cut through the weld very quickly as opposed to a grinding wheel, you can get then for your 4" grinder also.

 

[canoetrpr]

Out of curiosity, what did the QA adapter for the loader cost you?

When I purchased my L3400 the dealer said there wasn't one available. Turns out there is. I don't *need* pallet forks bad but would be nice the odd time I do need them.

I didn't think that converting the bucket would be such an ordeal however.

 

[westbrooklawn]

Kennyd -

Thanks for the idea on the cut off wheels... sounds like a good excuse to go buy an air cut off tool... if not maybe I can find some wheels for my grinder. I have attached a couple of pictures. You can see the weld positions on the bracket I haven't touched. It is pretty hard to see what I have accomplished in the other photo... basically 1/2 of the upper left portion of the bracket has been fully removed. The rest of the cutting simply got the sides of the bracket off so that I could get a better angle on the welds.

Canoetrpr -

The QA for the LA463 cost me $433 with shipping and tax. The mounting plate for the bucket was $130. I think I will like it once I get it on! I also have some forks that I am going to put a QA plate on... maybe a front boom pole after that... then a shrub bucket... then a..... you get the idea!

 

[kennyd]

DEFINATLTY try cutting through the welds with a cutting wheel! That's how I was able to repair this mini-excavator bucket when I needed to replace the shanks.

 

[BarryinMN]

That is way too much work!!

Suggest taking it to a local blacksmiths and they will turn up an arc welder or use a large torch tip and blow the brackets off in 5 mins...

Another 10 mins to attach the QT bracket & you are good to go.

 

[shaley]

You may or may not have all the equip. to do this. I'm not saying it's the way to go but worth considering. It makes a clean de-weld and keeps bothe parts intact.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/91529-arc-gouging-tip.html

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Some .045 thick zip cut discs on a angle grinder work pretty good, but sometime the Arc Air is the only easy way to unweld those tight spots. Then you need at least 250+ amp welder to run it and a good suply of compressed air.
Ken

 

[mikim]

I used a 45 degree cutting tip on my torch to cut mine off -- kept the angle right so as not to cut into the bucket.

 

[Lasgambler]

I agree with "BarryinMN" A large cutting tip, When I was a Ironworker, We quite often had to removed welds from structual steel, ears from tanks,etc.etc. We called them "washing Tips" To just wash the weld off without damaging the steel. I also think a cutoff tool would be better than a grinder. Good Luck.

 

[jimmer2880]

I have a 4hp, 7" dewalt angle grinder. If you look around, you can get cutting disks for them. I can cut through steel faster than with my 14" abrasive chop saw. But, that's another couple $100.00. Also, that thing will work your arms. I have to use it in 10 minute intervals. These computer geek arms aren't made for that kind of work

Anway, the 7" grinder with the cutting wheel is a great tool in cases like this.

 

[MrJimi]

What would happen if you welded the backing plate to the back of the bucket without cutting off the existing brackets ?
Jim

 

[jimmer2880]

What would happen if you welded the backing plate to the back of the bucket without cutting off the existing brackets ?
Jim

Now that sounds exactly like an answer my wife would give. One that would work perfectly without adding any significant labor or expense. Have you been talking to my wife? (just kidding)

 

[canoetrpr]

I've wondered why if they make a skidsteer adapter to fit the loader, they don't make a backing plate to pin on to the bucket!

Would make it MUCH easier for shmoes like me who don't weld to go out and do this!

 

[MrJimi]

Now that sounds exactly like an answer my wife would give. One that would work perfectly without adding any significant labor or expense. Have you been talking to my wife? (just kidding)

Aw-shucks, our secret is out now
Really just think about it, I would have welded it on to the existing brackets in a heart beat and they would have added more strength to it
Jim

 

[westbrooklawn]

The biggest problem that I see on welding the plate to the existing brackets is that it would be hard to access the weld point (only a couple inches between the back of the bucket and the plate as it would rest on the existing brackets). The other thing is that it would put the bucket that much farther forward, and decrease the lift capacity that much more... remember this loader only has a lift capacity of around 1000lb to begin with.

 

[MrJimi]

The biggest problem that I see on welding the plate to the existing brackets is that it would be hard to access the weld point (only a couple inches between the back of the bucket and the plate as it would rest on the existing brackets). The other thing is that it would put the bucket that much farther forward, and decrease the lift capacity that much more... remember this loader only has a lift capacity of around 1000lb to begin with.

I won't tell anybody and I don't think your machine would know either Shh
You did spend some quality time with your grinder/cut-off wheel, I enjoy those days also
Jim

 

[bx24]

Would it be easier to simply cut the entire back portion of the bucket off and weld in a fresh piece of sheet steel?

I plan on doing the same thing to my bucket and I have come to the conclusion that zipping the entire thing off (in my case with a plasma cutter) will save me a boat load of time.

 

[wushaw]

That would be an idea, it would just cost more in materials and welding time.

Or you could take your plasma and just cut the brackets off as close to the back of the bucket as possible then take your grinder and remove the rest...using the grinder in such a fashion to remove more material than just smoothing it out.

 

[GreenMtns]

Remember to get the angle right when you weld the plate back onto the bucket.You might not think of that right off but you sure will if you get it wrong. The plate that was welded onto mine is not quite right even though they put a lot of thought into how to do it. The bucket dumps way past 90 degrees but does not roll back far enough so you can never get a full heaping load.