New cutting edge

Billrog · Aug 3, 2017

Tractors nearly 2 now with 450 hrs. so thought I'd do something I should have done last summer as the cutting edge was badly warn. Good opportunity to use my plasma cutter for some experience as i did the last one with a cutting torch. Still required 1/2 hr. with an angle grinder.This edge is of an ice grooming machine and super good steel the last one showed very little wear after 20+ years of use.

Front of bucket was bowed up slightly so pics. shows how I lined it up before welding the new edge on.

Took the bucket off and flipped it over my welding is bad enough don't need any challenges. Surprised me how light the bucket was flipped it by hand with ease.

When the bucket was new I put a few wear bars on from past experience but this bucket has less superior steel by the dents and wear so I put on a few more. there was 1/4 to 1/2 " gaps under the new bar centers so I jacked dents up flush before welding the centers.

The gussets on the last tractor I brought out to the front of the new edge but it interfered with some of the ways I use the bucket so this time I kept them back a bit.

Only thing left for me to do now is try it out when I get a chance .

xcgreene · Aug 20, 2017

Curious why you didn't go the bolt on blade route. But that's a sharp lookin job you've done there. +1 for the gussets :thumbsup:

Gordon Gould · Aug 20, 2017

Pretty nice job all around rehabbing that bucket. It will be good for quite a while longer now.

gg

Billrog · Aug 20, 2017

Thank you fellas for the kind comments. After buying a backhoe once with a wide welded on cutting edge I've never liked and bolt on since for a no. of reasons hard to explain just thousands of hrs. using both ( even though my backhoe has a bolt on that will be weld on soon as the flipped side is warn down.) With the cutting edge sticking out a few inches I can for one thing when the forks aren't on pick up a log to carry easily. Also a full bucket gives more volume when moving dirt or gravel around .