My latest ebay purchase

[kubotabilly]

Good Day fellow tbn’ers,
Here is my latest ebay purchase. It’s an 18” Kubota backhoe bucket, which I got for $109. I don’t think it has seen any ground whatsoever, but it has seen water as seen by the photo. Whoever had this, stored it with the open side up and when it rained, it became a water bucket . After winning the auction, I knew I would have some remodeling to do. I had to cut off the existing ears and make new ones to accommodate my Woods backhoe.

Bill

 

[kubotabilly]

I traced a pattern from my 12” Woods Gannon bucket and made a template out of plywood. I then got some ½” steel plate and cut out 2 new bucket ears with my plasma cutter and drilled two 1” hole to accommodate the pins. Boy, what a difference a plasma cutter makes. Just look at the quality of the cut, amazing!!!

Bill

 

[kubotabilly]

I tacked the new ears in place making sure I had the correct dimension between the ears. I inserted some 1” stock to line up the pin holes, then I cranked up the Millermatic 251 mig and securely welded the ears in place.

Bill

 

[kubotabilly]

I made new collars for the pins and welded these in place. I also used a sanding disc and smoothed out the plasma cuts. Tomorrow I'll make 2 new pins and post more pics.

Bill

 

[Bird]

Very nice looking job.

 

[shaley]

Wow Bill, First class job. I need to do the same thing for my Woods BH. I have a 18" from a Woods 7500 and need it to fit a 9000.

 

[3RRL]

Great job fitting that bucket to your Woods. You also got a heck of a deal on it. I just paid $650 for a 12" bucket for my Nardi.

 

[john_bud]

Very nicely done! I just bought a new bucket for my old Ford that was for a JD 310. 36" bucket that needed some love - $90. I had my favorite machine shop bush down 2 holes from 1 1/2" down to 1 1/4", make new pin location and bush it to 1 1/4", create antirotate tabs rather than thru holes and make the 2 new pins. All for $240. Thought that was a pretty good deal. Had I your tools (and more importantly, your skills), it would be an even better deal!

jb

 

[dullpain]

First rate job , neat , clean , functional. Been wanting a Plasma cutter for some time now - ahhh maybe someday!!!

 

[kubotabilly]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I am a carpenter/plumber for 37 years years now but I really enjoy working with metal. I truely believe that my carpenter skills really help me in my metalworking adventures. I know that I spent alot of money on what little metalworking tools that I have (please don't tell my wife )and I don't know if it will justify itself, but it's sure nice to be able to go to the shop and make or repair your own things.

Bill