Help me with this bucket

GasNSteering · Oct 25, 2008

I want to reinforce the top of this bucket and add some lift hooks and other useful things to my Ford 770 loader bucket. It appears to be a light material bucket. I thought of adding a 2x2x 1/4 angle on the top edge to reinforce and mount my hooks to. At present the top edge is exposed and curled back a bit. I would add a piece of pipe to the top edge to keep it from cutting any lifting straps. I was also considering adding a hook on the back side where the large angle iron was used to reinforce the bucket back (pic 3)Any suggestions would be appreciated.

6sunset6 · Oct 25, 2008

Look under posts by me. I just bent my bucket and had to rebuild it. I would use a piece of rectangular tubing 3/16 wall would do 2 x 4 would probably do for that bucket. Weld it inside the bucket under the top lip .
I think rectangular tube gives the most stiffness and strength for its weight.
A couple of 1/4 x 3 x 5 plates under the hooks to spread out the stress a little bit.

GasNSteering · Oct 25, 2008

I would have to cut off the lip overhang that just seems to be in the way. I guess it was there to keep material from rolling off when the bucket is tilted back. My metal working tools are somewhat limited. I am thinking a jigsaw
would allow me to cut it back. I also wanted to consider being able to hang some light duty forks from the new iron that I will be adding.

kennyd · Oct 25, 2008

I would weld 2 1/2" or 3" pipe under the top, flush with the front edge of the sides, then bend the top overhang over the pipe and stitch-weld.

kcprecision · Oct 25, 2008

I kind of like the rectangler tube idea but on top just behind the lip. Than weld the hooks to the tube.

2manyrocks · Oct 28, 2008

Going to have to add some steel plate to reinforce whatever you do. I don't see an absolute need to cut the overhang depending upon how you mount your lift hooks and what kind of reinforcement you use. Steel tubing will give you much more reinforcement than angle.

Don't be over concerned about cutting the steel tubing because your local steel supplier will cut it for you. A zip disk (a thin cutting disk) on an angle grinder will also cut pretty well. Just be sure to wear eye, ear and lung protection.

The limiting factor here appears to be that this bucket seems to be designed for bulky, but light material. It's a nice tractor and loader, and you don't want to bend it up. It was never designed to be a bulldozer blade, and you just have to set your expectations accordingly.

I think we all get carried away with using FEL's for lifting, and sometimes overlook the lifting that can be accomplished with rear lift poles that aren't as expensive as FELs if they happen to get damaged.

Really nice looking tractor you have there.

AKwelder · Oct 28, 2008

Very nice tractor you got there.

Just a word of caution, most factory buckets are better than mild steel, and you should preheat the metal before welding. We always "knock the sweat out" of steel before welding to for steel and to avoid warping. All that means is we heat the steel with a weed burner until the water rises to the surface and evaporates.

You might look at where the supports on the back of the bucket are, beefing up the top edge does not help if it is not tied together back to the lift point. Also think about a small gusset in side the bucket. A little gusset goes a long way for keeping every thing where it belongs.

Good luck

joe48 · Oct 28, 2008

From what I can see in your picture, the top lip is bent some already. I would get either ; 1 in x3in medium wall rectangle box tube or 2" x 2" x 1/4" angle.
If you have a welder then stitch weld the steel to the lip with 1 to 2" weld spaced about the same distance apart. start at the outer ends and alternate welds. As you go draw the lip to the tube with C clamps, to smooth it better use a short (about a foot) piece of angle on the other side of the lip while clamping.

If you can't weld it you could basically do the smae thing by clamping the steel to the lip and drill thru both about every 6" , use either big fat heavy washers or a piece of flat stock to pull it all together. If you have a drill press or a buddy does ,predrill the holes in the steel, then clamp to the lip and use the holes as guides.

Go for it and let us know what you do.