Repairing a BX24 Loader Bucket

GlueGuy

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2018 BX23S, 3PH, Back Blade, Rake, 18ft Trailer
Apr 4, 2011
25
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Newport, North Carolina
Well, no one volunteered an easy answer, so I decided to rebuild and improve my BX24, LA240 loader bucket. With a few measurements from the old bucket, I went to my local metal shop and had them shear and bend a 3/16" replacement bottom plate 1/2" oversize plus 2" up the angle at the rear of the bucket. $70.00. I ordered a 48" long 3" x 3/8 beveled bucket edge from skidsteers.com for $106.00 plus UPS. I cut out the bottom with a torch and 2" up the angled back with a 4 1/2" metal cutting wheel. I ground away all the excess on the sides until flush and then I set the new part on a stand lowered the bucket, leveled the tractor with the stabilizers, and allowed it inside one edge and marked the cut line on the other side. I cut and ground the new bottom to fit and aligned the angled back the same way. I tacked the new bottom in place and the 1" stitch welded it in place (which is why the welds look a little funny) to minimize any distortion or warping. I then cut the cutting edge to fit and skip welded it on the back and full welded it to the new bucket bottom on the front. A little self etching primer, a can of Kubota orange (still needs one more coat) and it's a stronger tougher bucket that looks like brand new!
 

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Lil Foot

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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
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Nice! Sounds way cheaper than a new bucket, plus you get the personal satisfaction of doing it yourself.
 
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85Hokie

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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
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nice work!
place a tooth bar on her, protect that beautiful edge!
 

lugbolt

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ZG127S-54
Oct 15, 2015
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Thank you for sharing. I have the same issue with my MF 1145, FEL bucket is trashed/worn out. I may tackle it in the same manner if I can't find a better used bucket.
 

ThisIsNotaStep

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2005 bx23 tlb
Nov 26, 2010
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Ontario, Canada
Great job .. I got a 120v dual range welder ($60 princess auto) and have been practicing on small odd jobs, but I have a hard time getting a spark with it. Not sure if it's me, the welder, poor grounds or what. Tempted to go bigger ..
 

GlueGuy

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2018 BX23S, 3PH, Back Blade, Rake, 18ft Trailer
Apr 4, 2011
25
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Newport, North Carolina
I searched for a good used bucket for almost a year with no luck. A new bucket was just under $500 at my dealer, so this seemed like the best plan!
 

GlueGuy

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2018 BX23S, 3PH, Back Blade, Rake, 18ft Trailer
Apr 4, 2011
25
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Newport, North Carolina
10:1 says it's the welder. Unless it's Miller, Lincoln, Hobart, or a small handful of others, quality becomes an issue. If it's made in China, double the odds of getting good results (and parts)!
 

cerlawson

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rotiller, box scraper,etc.
Feb 24, 2011
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No Step guy:

Unless you are well experienced at welding don't depend on a 120 v welder for that kid of job, especially if it is flux-core. I have a lot of welding experience and I bought a Harbor Freight job as noted here. Real rough at getting any sort of decent weld and obviously would not work on the thickness of bucket material.
 

tcrote5516

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BX1860, FEL, 50" Front Blower, Heated Cab, 6' blade, 3pt carry all, 3pt hitch
Sep 2, 2014
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Southern New Hampshire
No Step guy:

Unless you are well experienced at welding don't depend on a 120 v welder for that kid of job, especially if it is flux-core. I have a lot of welding experience and I bought a Harbor Freight job as noted here. Real rough at getting any sort of decent weld and obviously would not work on the thickness of bucket material.
I may take issue with that. I only have a 120v Lincoln that has amazed me with quality weld's up to 1/4". You can see the little guy on a stand in the background of the first picture. I fabricated my air bagged truck backhalf with it among a million other things over the years. The frame was 1/4" on this pickup and I cut it off and welded up my own shark fin c notched and custom tubular crossmembers. If I would trust (and tested HARD with a truck that would jump clean off the ground) a truck frame to a 120v welder a bucket is no sweat at all.



Also used it to make a custom front end as well.





 
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cerlawson

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rotiller, box scraper,etc.
Feb 24, 2011
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PORTAGE, WI
My 120 v welder is flux core and from Harbor Freight. Before moving to a small city house I had a couple great welders even good for 1/2" or better, stick and MIG. On occasion I've had to go and borrow them back from relatives. But for very crude work, I have tried this cheap one. However, this $95 flux core unit does work, but only on thin stock and awful hard to get a decent job with crude adjustments. One improvement I had to make was using a mask shade number as light as possible so as to see with the weak arc. Perhaps the folks having trouble with a small welder might try that and look at less filtering of the light.
 

GlueGuy

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2018 BX23S, 3PH, Back Blade, Rake, 18ft Trailer
Apr 4, 2011
25
0
1
Newport, North Carolina
Very nice build! I note that you're using a Lincoln, a quality welder! ... that's a far cry from a Harbor Freight Chinese imitation!