How to unbend a bucket

moeh1 · Jan 23, 2005

I reinforced mine before this happened by bolting a piece of 2" by 3" (5/16 thick) angle across the top of the bucket. I drilled the angle in several spots across each face, clamped it on the bucket, drilled thru the bucket, then removed the angle, tapped the holes in the angle, enlarged the holes in the bucket to clear the bolts and ran bolts ( the kind with the built in flanged head) thru the bucket into the angle iron. You might be able to use some longer bolts with this trick to pull the bucket back into alignment and save it from happening again? Also, before I put the angle iron on, I cut several slots for 3/8 chain to drop into, saved welding hooks on later. Sorry I don't have any pictures handy, or I would attach one.

California · Jan 23, 2005

Don't sweat the first battle scar.

After 20+ years this Great Bend loader shows some unique character and works fine.

DirtHauler · Jan 23, 2005

Can't tell by your picture, but if that's rolled edge ("L" shaped) you could just use some blocks of wood and a "bottle" jack, roll the bucket back, stack enough wood in the back to get the jack close to the bend and if possible, place a piece of square steel (1"x1" etc.) between the jack and the bend, as you push it out hammer the face, it should come pretty straight with no heat ~~~~~~ now re-inforce it for the next time you move "Texas" pea gravel around! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Syncro ....... what kind of wax do you use on your tractor so I can tell my wife what to use on mine! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

KiotiJohn · Jan 23, 2005

I've decided to make no comment just because you've had enough for one day! John /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JoshJ · Jan 23, 2005

When I bend the skirts on the Bush Hog and make the blades hit (DONT BACK UP WITH A BH! you always find things sticking out of the ground) I use a long pipe wrench with a pipe slid over it to fix the dings. Once Dad hooked a chain to his truck and the other end to the bend and pull it right out, so if you have a tree and a chain handy, wrap the chain around tree and hook end to bend, and back up slowly.
-Josh

KiotiJohn · Jan 23, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( (DONT BACK UP WITH A BH! you always find things sticking out of the ground) )</font>
Maybe "Don't back up with a BH in unknown territory," but I'd be lost if I couldn't back up under tree limbs and back up to cut small trees down! John

JeffSpencer · Jan 24, 2005

You could also put a pipewrench where the bend is, slide a piece of pipe over the handle of the pipewrench and then find somewhere like a tree stump or something and rest the pipewrench/pipe on the stump and slowly lower your bucket until you get the results you're looking for. Be careful not to "stretch" the metal.

Varmintmist · Jan 24, 2005

I have one in just about the same place. I had the tractor for about 3 days and the wife said "Whats that??" I said "A dent" She said "How did that get there?" I said "I put it there. Its a bucket, it works for a living, its going to get scarred."

That is the nature of the beast. Its a bucket, use it. If you deform it far enough that it is unusable, then fix it. If you fix it now, you will either worry about it and not use it, or just dent it again.

KENB · Jan 24, 2005

Don't feel bad. My Mahindra bucket was bent like that the first day I had it. The first scratch or dent always hurts. Using them causes this problem. Anyone who sees that bucket and thinks anything of it other than "that's normal" probably doesn't know squat about tractors. Looks like you could bend it out with a large cresent wrench. I didn't bother fighting it. I like the idea of the welded hooks on the bucket. I've been needing to do that for a while now.