Kubota BX23 backhoe bucket rebuild

[Ryansweatt2004]

Hey everyone, just figured I'd share with you my recent project. My neighbor and tractor buddy did a number on his BX23 backhoe bucket yesterday while digging out an old half rotted stump. Mind you after 11 or 12 years of being used and abused for digging rocks and stumps the bucket was heavily dented and the sides were wore through already but this last stump managed to break and twist the bucket pretty good. I'd say it shouldn't come apart again.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Start of the rebuild.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

It took lots of heating and bending to get it mostly straightened out but I still ended up having to remove a lot of old material because it was so badly bent up. I ended up taking some new steel and re skinning the back of the bucket before planting it.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Finally some new steel

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

All ready to dig

 

[D2Cat]

Ryan, nice work.

It looks like your neighbor could wreck an anvil! But then maybe that's just a light weight bucket. Better shape up those teeth with some hard surfacing rod so he doesn't have to pound so hard when digging.

You're a kind man! He didn't do a number on his "backhoe bucket yesterday", he finished off his beat to hell backhoe bucket. He's been doing it a long time.

 

[Lil Foot]

Nice job!

Better shape up those teeth with some hard surfacing rod so he doesn't have to pound so hard when digging.

I'd have to agree.
Re-shape, sharpen, or replace those teeth & it will cut better & last longer.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Gotta say, it was a fun project at least.

 

[Sharryn]

That sure is a nice looking bucket now. In fact I bet it's stronger than it was originally. It should outlast the tractor now. Ditto on the teeth.

 

[rkidd]

I am a retired operating engineer, and that is the worst beat up bucket I have ever seen!! Very nicely done on the repairs! Just wondering what welder you used for the repairs?

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

I am a retired operating engineer, and that is the worst beat up bucket I have ever seen!! Very nicely done on the repairs! Just wondering what welder you used for the repairs?

Thanks, I used my Lincoln 210mp

 

[rkidd]

Thanks, I used my Lincoln 210mp

I have been using a Lincoln 140 mig welder for the last 3 yrs. It has been a great welder, but have been thinking of upgrading to the mp 210. It looks like it would be perfect for all of my fab jobs and I could get in to some heavier jobs.
On the bucket did you mig or flux core? How have you liked the mp 210? Any pros and cons. I would be great to hear from someone that has one. Thanks.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

I have been using a Lincoln 140 mig welder for the last 3 yrs. It has been a great welder, but have been thinking of upgrading to the mp 210. It looks like it would be perfect for all of my fab jobs and I could get in to some heavier jobs.
On the bucket did you mig or flux core? How have you liked the mp 210? Any pros and cons. I would be great to hear from someone that has one. Thanks.

I mig welded everything. Love the welder too. Running it on a 110 outlet I can comfortably weld 3/8 steel if it's cleaned well and welded with a weave or multi pass. Right now I run it with C25 argon/co2 mix but I'd really love me to try it with a C10 gas mixture to see if I can get more of a spray arc like what I use to get with the old miller 350 welders I used to run. Overall it's been an awesome welder. I actually started with a Lincoln 140 and found it was too small, upgraded to the 180 dual which was nice and then the 210mp came out and I had to have it. Been happy ever since.

 

[rkidd]

I mig welded everything. Love the welder too. Running it on a 110 outlet I can comfortably weld 3/8 steel if it's cleaned well and welded with a weave or multi pass. Right now I run it with C25 argon/co2 mix but I'd really love me to try it with a C10 gas mixture to see if I can get more of a spray arc like what I use to get with the old miller 350 welders I used to run. Overall it's been an awesome welder. I actually started with a Lincoln 140 and found it was too small, upgraded to the 180 dual which was nice and then the 210mp came out and I had to have it. Been happy ever since.

Thanks for the feed back. I have been to Airgas and looked at them, but havent pulled the trigger yet due to the fact that everything I have going on now I can do with the 140, but soon!! It is nice to know that you can mig 3/8 with 110 volt. Have you tried it with 220 volts?

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Thanks for the feed back. I have been to Airgas and looked at them, but havent pulled the trigger yet due to the fact that everything I have going on now I can do with the 140, but soon!! It is nice to know that you can mig 3/8 with 110 volt. Have you tried it with 220 volts?

It's awesome running on 220. Im absolutely amazed at what this thing will weld with the right setup. I have the power cord and all but currently in my new house I don't have a 220 plug close enough to reach where I do my welding which is why lately I've been welding everything on 110. Takes longer but it still works.

 

[pinstripefan90]

Very nice job, I can't believe the he'll that your buddy must have put that bucket through but it's ready for another 10 years of hell

 

[skeets]

That job would be worth at least a case of your favorite adult beverage to be sure !!

 

[lescarpentier]

All ready to dig

Talk about raising the dead!
The transformation is incredible.
Great job!!

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Thanks for the compliments everyone. This little tractor has worked it's nuts off over the years and in the two years I've known the owner of it I've seen this tractor do things that I never would have thought possible. In this case though stopping before it got this bad could have saved me a lot of time but in the end it was a fun little project.

 

[Yooper]

Very nice job with nice looking welds! Did you use flux core?