Is this an appropriate fix?

[GoldandSilverDigger]

Hello. Just wanting some advice. The bucket fell off (apparently happened before more than once). You can see how bad it got. The second pic is the fix. The welder is good apparently and certified, but said he would rather weld on a thicker plate, but that is all that would fit when putting the bucket back on. Looking at it when on the arm it seems the pin goes in the bottom holes (no picture) are not aligned right. 2-4mm gap one side, couldn't put a piece of paper through the other. It doesn't seem right to me. Due to the job nature we have to walk under it sometimes when raised. Its used in water. Can't you just buy the whole block with the plate as the part? Is this repair wrong or am I just being dramatic?

 

[ning]

Without measuring things, this armchair inspector says that it probably fits the way it used to fit.
You should be able to measure those wings and see if they're perpendicular to the bucket and if they're both out the same distance, parallel to the bucket horizontally, etc

My bucket has about half of an inch that I can play with; I can have it all on one side with no room for paper on the other side, or vice-versa, or I can split the difference. I'll bet you put the bucket on another time and you'll measure different gaps right and left every unless you deliberately go right against one ear or the other.

Measure, and be certain.

 

[ptsg]

That's a Euro quick attach. Those have fairly loose tolerances, which along with how it's designed, is why it's so easy to use. I see no issue with the repair.

 

[GoldandSilverDigger]

Thanks. Should there a time interval of checking? Just don't want it falling on my head in 18 months time

 

[ptsg]

The only reason it failed before was because it wore out the holes so much, that the material got so thin and eventually ripped apart.

For something that you have to walk under, I'm surprised no one checked it before until it actually failed.

What is this attachment used on? There seems to be a lot of down pressure put on it during use. That's where it wears the holes faster.

 

[GoldandSilverDigger]

This is my concern. This new plate should be checked every week / month right and changed before failure right? Its attached to a boat. I suspect waves / other boat wash gave it the motion to fall off. Its used for heavy loads consistently. Due to being in water you are scooping things up that you cannot see. Its not like digging a trench on a building site where everyone can see everything. Sometimes you have to dump it and reassess.

 

[ning]

This is my concern. This new plate should be checked every week / month right and changed before failure right? Its attached to a boat. I suspect waves / other boat wash gave it the motion to fall off. Its used for heavy loads consistently. Due to being in water you are scooping things up that you cannot see. Its not like digging a trench on a building site where everyone can see everything. Sometimes you have to dump it and reassess.

This didn't go from "rounding out the holes" to failure in a week. You'd know better, but I'd start it on the monthly checklist - put a sample rod the same size as the attaching pins into the holes and ensure there's not "too much" play. Keep a log of hole diameter measurement. After a year of consistent use you should know if it needs to be checked monthly or at some other interval.

While you're being concerned, I'd also take a close look at the "hook" portion:

I suppose that that angle looks original, but you should still check the distance across the hook and see how much that's rounded out, or if the hook portion has gradually bent. I find it curious that the lower eyes tore out first; my guess is that the upper hooks were a replacement due to damage previous to "now". If that's the case, I'd further consider how the rest of the unit is holding up, because that thing is a, old, and b, in a severe environment.

If you have people under this (no judgement, I assume you've got failsafes for whatever is picking it up), I'd strongly consider bolstering those hooks.