JD 310 Bucket Questions -- Update

I looked at the bucket on Friday. It is a light duty 30" bucket. The bad news is that it has had the cutting edge replaced, and then bent a bit in use. Teeth were welded on to the carbon steel edge and all but 1 broke off. (that one is cracked) The correct procedures for welding to carbon steel were obviously not used. There are some other weld repairs where the side walls meets.

Still, the body of the bucket is in decent shape, with surface rust on it. Given that I wanted a larger light bucket to adapt to a Ford 723 hoe, a deal was struck and $90 changed hands. I figured that at that price it was a decent deal.

I will be getting some DOM tubing to fill the holes and bush down to 1 1/4" for the Ford bucket pin size.

The bottom hole is 1 3/4 with a width of 10". Anyone see any problems putting 1/4" wall DOM into the hole and extending 1" in to match the 8" width the Ford needs? Should I gusset the stub or will it being only 1" long be plenty stout? I will use longer pins that go all the way to the outside.

The top hole is 1 1/2" with a width of 8 1/4". Again using 1/8" DOM to bush it down and then 1/8" washers to fill the gap.

Sound like a plan?

Again all input, advice and words of wisdom eagerly accepted!

jb

Sure does help.

The Ford bucket has pins 10 and 14 inches apart. (From the dipper stick pin) The JD has them both closer and farther apart. So that would be either less leverage or more leverage with less curl. Probably should make it as close to the ford pattern as possible. So, I think I will have a machine shop put in new bushings and metal supports to mimic the Ford bucket. It's hard to explain, but easy to see.

I think you are right, having the bushings off would be a mess. Best to pony up the bucks and have it right.

jb

Then they will add enough metal to make 2 new bushing and shrink the 10" gap between ears down to 8" to be compatible with the Ford. Basically, this adds an extra pin location where the Ford had it's "power pin". There is still one more pin location farther away for even more leverage, but at drastically reduced curl.

Finally, they will also make 2 pins 1 1/4 x about 14" .

Total price around $240.

Sound about right?

jb

I hear ya on that! Machine shops in some areas are thinking their poop don't stink! Around here they still are reasonable in the 50 an hour range. I don't mind paying, I just don't want them to name the new yacht after me!!

After looking at my current Frankenstein bucket and the price of materials getting it done right was looking pretty cheap. Still, the bucket will cost me 90 + 240 -- not free, but still not bad for a 36" bucket with new bushings. Still needs some teeth.

jb