Bent Bucket

   / Bent Bucket #1  

Deadfish

New member
Joined
Apr 29, 2004
Messages
8
Tractor
Ford NH 1715
Hi, I just bought a Ford/NH 1715, and the FEL it came with has a bent bucket. It looks like somebody tried hooking a chain to the top lip. I've included a picture. My question is, what would be the best way to repair this? Any suggestions? Thanks!
 

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   / Bent Bucket #2  
<font color="blue"> what would be the best way to repair this? </font>
If it were me, I wouldn't bother since it doen't appear to affect the use or capacity of the bucket. If you are set of fixing it, the only way I know would involve hammers and heat? Depending upon what you use, you might want to consider removing the bucket from the FEL, so any shock loads wouldn't get transferred to the FEL arms. You might also be able to rig something up with a hydraulic bottle jack?
 
   / Bent Bucket #3  
Place a heavy "I" or "H" beam in the floor of the bucket, or perhaps a solid 6x6. Something to spread the load on the bucket floor. Place a bottle jack on the beam and jack the bend out of the top. Use solid cribbing as needed to raise the jacking surface. Keep everything in line to prevent the jack from 'spitting' out. No need to remove the bucket from the loader frame or use heat.
 
   / Bent Bucket #4  
The jack and I-Beam is the best way as stated above.
 
   / Bent Bucket #6  
I'd use the method RickB stated if it really bothers you. After you get it straight, you might want to get a little reinforcement welded along the top and then weld on some hooks instead of using that lip to hook to like the last owner did.

Yesterday I was at my NH dealer getting my hydraulic side-link welded and they had a TC40D in the shop that had the worst bucket I've ever seen. It was a standard duty bucket on a 16LA loader and looked like the owner had curled the bucket down and then used it for a ram up against trees. The top of the bucket was bent down a full 6" into "V." Along the cutting edge on the left side, there was another bend, but this one was a "^" going up. I swear the bucket looked 30 years old. The only way I can imagine that much damage to a bucket was if the owner got a running start and then slammed into something. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

This was also the dirtiest tractor I've ever seen and it was having the radiator replaced. It looked like the battery had leaked and corroded nearly the whole front end of the tractor. I just kept thinking while I was looking at it, that this might be the first time the hood was ever opened. It sure didn't look like there had ever been any maintenance on this tractor. I don't know that that's true, but it sure looked that way. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I wanted to get a picture to put in a "rogue's gallery" of sorts, but I had left my camera at home. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
   / Bent Bucket #7  
You can do it with a bottle jack like has been mentioned, but If you have a floor jack it will work better and is safer. Jack it farther than straight, to allow for spring back. Be careful, a bottle jack can slip out and hit you. That is why, I said to use a floor jack.
 
   / Bent Bucket #8  
My suggestion to try:

Turn bucket all way down and set bent center part on a jack or stand, lift front of tractor with down pressure of loader, then take piece of 1-1/2 or 2" pipe (schedule 80 if necessary) the width of the bucket, place behind the bucket lip, pull them together with clamps and weld as necessary to top of bucket lip and where pipe contacts bucket.
 
   / Bent Bucket #9  
The tractor will not be heavy enough to bend it. Been there, done it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
   / Bent Bucket #10  
If was mine, I'd get a piece of heavy angle or channel iron that would fit in the channel on your bucket. Then draw the bucket and steel together with c-clamps or c-grips until it was straight, then either bolt or weld the steel in place.
 

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