Reinforce Top of KL130 Bucket?

[mrutkaus]

Someone must have reinforced the top of the CK30 Loader Bucket, any pictures or suggestions??

(It is a bit flimsy as is and I bet a length of angle iron on top would make it stronger and give a place to grip a chain.)

Mike

 

[5030tinkerer]

My machine is a Kubota 5030, but I reinforced the back and bottom of my "materials" bucket using three 1/4" thick by 6" wide mild steel plate sections running the width of the bucket (three sections running from top to bottom on the back evenly spaced horizontally and then three more sections that line up with the ones on the back for the lower bit). Even then, before I did anything serious with it, I fabricated a bolt-on tooth bar as well.

As a result, now I don't even have to think twice about hurting my bucket - it's just not going to happen.

Granted, this doesn't answer your top of the bucket strengthening question, but I know that some others have used a section of 2" or better pipe along the width down just slightly from the top and then just welded on shorter sections of pretty healthy notched angle for chains or used AWDirect weld on hooks to handle the job.

 

[TractorLegend]

I hope this helps---I used 1/4 by 2 inch and also weld on chain hooks in the center and on the ends which is VERY handy. I welded with a wire feed and didn't weld the entire length but did 4 inch beads every so far---you'll have to grind off the powercoat prior to welding. I had to heat and pound the ends on both sides as the angle just needs a bit of "contouring" at each end of bucket- you'll see when you lay a piece on there. I got my hooks from AW Direct towing supply.

 

[TractorLegend]

Aw heck, you may as well customize your grill guard while you're at it....

 

[glmf]

3" channel worked well on my ck20. I used pieces of 3/8" flat bar and made pad eyes(shipyard term) and put shackles through the holes, gives me alot of flexibility as to what I can hang off of it as I used straps instead of chains alot. You can see in the photos that I have a grab hook through a clevis on the middle mount which works real well. Also you can see the tooth bar I made which has turned this little beast into a digging machine,,,,

 

[glmf]

a closer pic of the channel,,,,,,,,,,

 

[mrutkaus]

i'm going for chanel #5

thanks for the pics!

mike

 

[TractorLegend]

channel does look good!

 

[RexB]

Nice jobs TractorLegend and glmf, thanks for the material tips, I'll send pics when done (I'm awaiting Dad's vacation arrival, he loooves doing metal work together.)

And we ALL LOVE PICS :lmao:

 

[twigpig]

Mine isn't as pretty but it getserdone. I picked up the hooks at Harbor Freight for $2.50 a piece on sale. I think they are almost always on sale.
The top was bent down in the middle an inch or two when I bought it. The welding shop used a hydraulic jack to straighten it out and welded the rectangular pipe on. When I left it they planned on welding L channel on it with the open side down but when they got into the project they decided to go with the rectangular pipe. I can't remember how much it cost but I don't think it was over $150. I got a few extra hooks for the shop while I was at HF so that might have helped the cost some. I want a welder but these guys do an excellent job, much better than I could since I've never welded and it really doesn't cost that much.
If I did weld this would probably have been a fun project. Since I don't I consider the relatively flimsy top edge a design shortcoming. Where are all of the product testers that other industries use to check out a product before they make a bazillion of them? I'm wondering if the engineers told management about the problems with the 130 before production and management ignored them and went the cheap route or did the engineers not have a clue to begin with?