Branson BH86 Bucket replacement candidate - need a better built bucket

Outlawmoon · Sep 17, 2018

Branson BH86 Bucket replacement candidate - need a better built bucket. I've gone through two buckets and 10-12 bucket teeth. I've only been digging out stumps, not too many rocks at present but I am sure there will be more.

The issue as I see it is that the bucket itself is not robust enough to take the pressure the tractor's hydraulic system feeds to it. First the bucket bends a little, next thing you know the tooth breaks and now you're in trouble, or is it the tooth breaks and then the bucket bends and...do you tighten everything up again for the 15th time today and hope you don't break another or do you stop, order a couple of new teeth and wait?

I'd like to find a 16 inch bucket that doesn't bend like that similar to the Kubota BH96 series - now that has some serious steel in the bucket.

Outlawmoon Ranch!

ning · Sep 17, 2018

I recently broke a couple teeth on my bh76's 12" bucket on rocks, but it was most likely due to operator error - dropping the bucket tooth-first onto rocks... yep I'm dumb as rocks; the question here is, are you too? :laughing:

Outlawmoon · Sep 17, 2018

I have been known to sometimes give rocks a run from their money but not in this case...strictly trying to get a old Doug Fir stump out.

Outlawmoon · Sep 25, 2018

Just for those keeping count.....

There is a bucket available for about 3 times what it costs to beef up a Branson bucket. So I am getting yet another new Branson bucket, having 1/2 AR400 steel welded all the way around it, then I'm having new weld type frogs welded to the bucket, these have replaceable teeth ($8.00 ea.) with a pin in them. I'll let y'all know how it goes once I have it fitted on and getting stumps out. I'll try and get a pic or two in as well.

Outlawmoon · Oct 12, 2018

Got the new bucket today... $1k but it looks like a beast w/ $8 dollars for the teeth if I can ever break them. Will be working it today, I'll try and post a pic later.

Outlawmoon · Nov 4, 2018

Here's a pic or two of the new bucket.
You can see where they welded a piece of cutting edge on to the bucket and then welded the 'frogs' on to that and the bucket. The teeth are $8 each and I can tell you from using it that they work much better than the original teeth and bucket. Where is was taking 3-4 hours per stump is now down to about an hour. Much better 'cutting' and digging through hardpan.