bent loader bucket

[Parfleche]

Hello,
The bucket on my front-end loader has a three quarter inch bend up in the middle of the cutting edge. How would one go about straightening the bent portion of the bucket. It is messing up my grading efforts. It has been that way since I bought the tractor used. The bend is gradual along the edge in about 2 feet of length and starts about four inches into the bucket toward the nose of the tractor. It is centered on the length of the bucket.

Best Regards,
Steve

 

[bam747]

Try taking the bucket to someplace that has a very large hydraulic press. I had a rear blade moldboard straightened that way once at the repair shop of a Kubota dealer.

 

[Egon]

Cut off the old ctting edge and have a shop weld in a much heavier one. They will straighten the bucket at the same time.

 

[jinman]

Steve, is yours the light-duty bucket without holes in the cutting edge? The HD bucket has holes for a bolt-on cutting edge. If you have that edge, you could probably bolt it into place and straighten the bucket. Alternatively, you can use a hydraulic jack and cribbing inside the bucket to straighten the edge. Don't put all the pressure on a single spot on the top edge of your bucket. You'll need a large timber there to spread the pressure. If you aren't careful, you could end up with a bent upper and lower edge.

 

[Parfleche]

Jim,
I think I have the heavy bucket. It does have bolt holes but no bolt on edge at the moment. It also has the pipe top edge. Maybe if I just buy an edge for it and bolt it on it will help. I will send a photo. I will try your suggestions. I have lots of big timbers and glulam beams around here. It is all a better barn waiting to happen!

Thanks again Jim.

Best Regards,
Steve

tc35
45 acres

 

[daTeacha]

The hydraulic jack inside the bucket is a good idea. Another alternative, if a hole in the bucket is not a problem, is to use a stout piece of channel steel below the bucket and a large bolt through the channel and the bucket, backed up with appropriate pieces of steel plate to spread the force around.

I presume you've tried beating on it with a large sledge.

I sounds like someone set the bucket down on a rock or something and then used it to pick up the tractor.