Bucket wear.

[BnRidge]

Using the bucket on concrete for snow removal and firewood creates a lot of wear on the blade. What's the best way to prevent that. Back in the day we would just run it, and wait for stuff to wear out. Hard face? Weld on skid plates, or something bolt on like teeth or ?
Picture doesn't look like much, but the hours are low and it's scraping off fairly quick.

 

[5030]

Hard rod it or apply weld on wear plates.

 

[JJT]

When my tractor was new I bolted on an 8" skid steer bucket wear edge, 2000 hours and 25 years later, it has almost zero wear. It also stiffened up the bucket. When my kids get to be my age it might be time for the edge to be flipped over.

 

[crashz]

Before the edge gets too worn and thin, I would purchase a bolton on replaceable cutting edge, drill out your existing edge and bolt the new one in place. Then as it wears, you can either flip it (usually reversible) or replace it. This is usually done when new, so the original bucket lip is solid. Yours is now worn and may have a curve to the bottom of the edge. If the curve is not bad, I'd drill and put the bolt on unit in place. Maybe hit it with a grinder to minimize the amount of dirt trying to wedge it way between the bucket and edge. If its bad, you can buy a replacement bucket lip with bolt holts, cut the orginal out and weld in the new one.

 

[Smokeydog]

A long bottom skidsteer bucket came with my used M59. Landscape model was used to load mulch probably off concrete. 2” wear from center to sides. Had BXpanded make a custom, wide blade piranha bar to weld in. Great bucket now.

Many types of weld on or bolt options available.

 

[Thomas]

Weld plow cutting blade.

 

[BnRidge]

Before the edge gets too worn and thin, I would purchase a bolton on replaceable cutting edge, drill out your existing edge and bolt the new one in place. Then as it wears, you can either flip it (usually reversible) or replace it.

I see a number of bolt on edges available. It's something I hadn't anticipated, but sounds like what's needed. It's not too worn, and there are bolt holes available now that maybe I can use.

 

[Mrsig]

I used the bolt on edge. Works great!

 

[FordnMassey]

Hi,
Bought an fel with a bent and banged up bucket recently. Straightened out the bucket ok, but look what happened to the hardened wear edge when I tried to straighten it.
I welded it up straight then fully welded it up to the straightened bucket.

 

[not2old]

I wore out the cutting edge on my bucket mostly plowing snow on blacktop. All the welding or fabrication shops I tried wanted way too much money for a repair. A small tractor repair shop sold me something they called 1/2 arrowhead. I ground off the old edge and welded on the new one, warping it. A relative who was a "saw filer" explained how to straighten it using the heat of a cutting torch. Took me about 15 minutes and the edge has been good ever since. Much stronger than the original.

 

[BnRidge]

A relative who was a "saw filer"

Nice description. Someone who wants to know the whys and wherefors. I can relate.

 

[crashz]

I didn't see the holes in your photo until I looked real close (used my good eye this time), but you should be able to order the edge from your Kioti dealer. If not, you can order them from a lot of heavy equipment suppliers (most stock generic edges too). Just be sure to give them the total width, bolt spacing dimension and bolt diameter.

Also, get the new bolts too

 

[chim]

Added on all tractors that had loaders. The first bucket had a lot of wear in a very short time from plowing snow on our blacktop driveway. Haven't found a pic of the first one. For that I plug welded studs into the wear bar and used nuts on top. For the second I tapped the bar for studs and used nuts on top. The last one has a tapped bar and bolts from the top. Lotsa metal removed during the process. Wish I'd had the mag drill back then

 

[Williy]

These are well made and should last a very long
time! $49.95 free shipping

VEVOR Tractor Bucket Protector, 2pcs Ski Edge Protector, 12" Long Turf Tamer Skid Protector, 4" Width, Heavy Duty Steel Bucket Attachment for Snow Leaves Removal, Spreading Gravel, Green | VEVOR US

VEVOR Tractor Bucket Protector stops your bucket from digging into gravel or lawns while removing snow and debris, fitting most loaders with durable, rustproof steel.

www.vevor.com

willy

 

[BnRidge]

So, I contacted the kioti dealer in Crossplains. He said they have kioti bolt on bucket edges, $230. Pal Steel in Palmyra has 1/2x4 tempered bevel edge material, $12.30/ft. I might go with the 1/2x4 cut to length, plug weld some grade5 studs, for under $100.

 

[crashz]

Can the steel company drill the holes? That hardened stuff is tough unless you have a good drill press or mag drill.

 

[BnRidge]

It's something like 1020 steel and heat treated on the bevel, 1-1/2" or so. They have a variety, 3/16 to 3/4 thick, 3 to 8" wide. Hot roll 1020 I think should be drillable. Not sure how the ready made units are as far as material, but sounds like maybe they temper the whole pc.

 

[BnRidge]

Update, I went ahead and got the bevel edge, PalSteel in Palmyra Wi, $58 for 1/2x4x5-1/2ft. It's 1045 steel, with an induction hardened edge. Drilled 5 holes, plug welded grade 5 bolts and bolted it on. Just an FYI, the existing edge as new was mild steel. Anticipate getting some sort of hardened edge on the thing because as is it won't hold up over time. 1045 has no problem with hard surfaces like concrete.

 

[5030]

Can the steel company drill the holes? That hardened stuff is tough unless you have a good drill press or mag drill.

When drilling steel that is hard I tend to use Copperhead annular cutters in my mag drill with coolant. Copperhead annular cutters are carbide tipped so no issue making holes with them. You have to use them in a mag drill because of the Weldon shank.

 

[Smokeydog]

BXpanded can custom drill a cutting edge to your specs. Choose smooth bevel, toothed or switchable.

Agree with 5030’s drilling advise. Drilling tough steel is as much technique as equipment. Have to limit heat as many high strength materials will work hardened. Coolant or lubricants, slow speed, high steady pressure (why drill or magnetic presses work better) and good chip shape control helps removes heat.

Have cut many holes with bimetal holesaw and cheap Chinese carbide holesaw with lubricant and air to cool and clear chips. Chips often get work hardened. Don’t want to recut them.