Someone’s gotta be able to answer this.
The bucket on my Bobcat is worn unevenly and I’d like to do some grading with it in a few weeks. I can’t really justify springing for a new bucket as I’m probably gonna trade it in for a bass boat when I’m done with it. 😉
I’ve got a slightly used cutting edge in my barn from my old plow. Can I cut this down and either bolt or weld it to the bucket to get a new square edge? I won’t be doing any heavy digging with this bucket, just scooping loam/mulch, spreading and then back dragging.
If this makes any sense, would it be better to drill the bucket and bolt it, or should I find a welder to do the work?
Or am I just an idiot who should spring for a new bucket?
Replies
For starters, you are not crazy to try and economise. The bucket is fine except for the edge, right? If so, you don't need a new bucket, just a new edge.
Bolting ought to work fine for what you are doing, you can do it yourself right away, and the next owner can take it off if he dislikes it. I vote for the bolts. Use good ones.
Bill
Whew. I was hoping someone would agree with this idea because, as you said, the bucket totally serves it's purpose with the exception of the uneven wear on the edge which would give me a goofy looking grade.
Being a framer, my site work is goofy enough all by itself. I don't need the equipment making it look even goofier!View Image
The bobcats that I have used all had replaceable edges that bolted to the actual bucket. Nyloc nuts should be used. Whole lotta shakin going on with a bucket.
I am not sure if the bolts themselves were special "break away" bolts. Might have been so to protect the blade edge if you hit something hard.
Yes some buckets have replaceable cutting edges, but mine doesn't. I think it's just a GP bucket. I never used nylon washers on the cutting edges of my plows and never had a problem, but it sounds like it couldn't hurt. The bolts on a plow's cutting edge aren't shear bolts either, but then again a plow has a trip edge. I'm just going for light duty here anywho.
View Image
don't worry about the bolts and nuts other than upper level grade..Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
What I meant was lock-nuts with nylon inside the threads, so that the bolts do not vibrate loose.
As to bolts protruding thru the bottom edge and scratchin and catchin on stuff.... the bottom of a factory bucket removeable blade/edge has recessed holes that the carriage-type bolt heads sits in.
I was using one during that big snow blizzard we had here in Feb., scooping up snow in a shopping center and dumping it in the corners. Worked 20 hrs straight in one place. Anyway, the sheer-bolts broke a few times when the blade suddenly "found" the lip of some manhole covers. After a few of those jolting experiences I remembered where those raised covers where. It did wake me up in a hurry!
Since I have my own welders and lots of scrap, have been known to weld on some scrap pieces as filler and grind straight and then hardface on the edges, works fine.
So I just need to drive my Bobcat down to..... where is it you're at? ;)View Image
MR.dp were i use to work at the ---cement plant--- we had several diff. kinds of skid
steers. We allways welded the new lip in place on the bucket and we allways went
though several a year because , of the abusive cleanup we had to do.we use to bolt
them on but the bottom of the bucket would wear the bolt heads off or the nuts.
plus if you backdrag smooth stuff out with the kittycat it collects all sorts of trash
roots & rags with the bolts. On big loaders they allways weld and pin the teeth
on the buckets and cutter bars. got some freinds out in mesa AZ.That is all they
do loader buckets.wear surfaces on quarry equip. hard surfacing ------p.s. the
absolute best skidsteer we ever had was a toyota--with bobcat the second best
as far as being bombproof that is.....D.W.
Cool. I think I'm just going to bolt the edge on then. I'd like to weld it, but I don't know how to weld and I'm just going for 'cheap and dirty' here. The work I plan to use the cutting edge on is light duty so I'm guessing it won't wear to hard on the bolts. If they get too mangled and I want to take the edge off I guess I can just take a grinder to 'em.
I'm in love with this Bobcat. It's nothing nice to look at but it runs beautifully and works like a dog. (It's like me hahahaha) What's not to like, right?
Mr. DP? I believe that's an oxymoron.
Thanks for the info dude.View Image
well then i reckon we are even then i can weld but my carpentry
is shoat handed"ham fisted' heehaa am sorry you can take a boy
otta the hills but ya cant take the hills outa the boy D.W.
i love my bobcats too.... i have an old 610 gaser that i got from a friend 20 some years ago and it was old then... i keep it greased and have replaced one belt in the whole time i've owned it... and it will work all day any day.... have a new (to me) 753 that had 470 hrs on it when i got it...and was a yr old... also have a ford before it was new holand a c40 v4 water cooled... don't have reason to use it much but it was a backup before i got my 753... don't know what i'd do without my toys.... i mean tools...
dude you need to get a welder if you have any equipment at all... even a 225amp buzz box would let you weld up/build up your bucket lip....
trade a bobcat for a bass boat..... hmm thats a hard one
p
trade a bobcat for a bass boat..... hmm thats a hard one
Believe me, I hear you. But my wife tells me I need a hobby that isn't work related and I like fishing. She (jokingly) gives me crap because everything I buy for myself is related to work in one way or another. Even if I never had another really good reason to own a Bobcat, I'd still like to. It's just a really fun thing to have around. I get off on changing filters and fluids and stuff. Yeah... I know.... I'm a freak.
Anyway... can't afford both. (Bobcat and bass boat)View Image
can't afford both. (Bobcat and bass boat)
Maybe trade the wife in on the bass boat and keep the bobcat?
I'm telling Mrs. Cag you said that.
View Image
next thing ya know we'll find out that CAG got traded in...
probably for sumpin' that'd make no sense to us....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I don't think I'd catch much on the open market...
see a bass boat is actually a compliment because they're relatively expensive and usefull...
tell her your new hobby is welding.Once you get good at AL beads, you can build - ooops - create, your own bass boat
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Hijack warning!!!
The original Bobcat prototype was made for cleaning out a turkey barn. The tines on the front were the bars from a local jail (only steel they could scrounge that was hard enough). It's a great story, from North Dakota farm equipment to international construction equipment manufacturer/innovator.
http://www.bobcat.com/story/about_story_00.html
I was in Fargo a few years ago visiting SIL and they took us to Bonanzaville, the county museum that has, along with an outstanting collection of farm equipment, some of the original 3 and 4 wheel bobcats. Very cool to see where they've come!
http://www.bonanzaville.org/index.php?action=page_manager_view_single&page_id=2
Worth a visit if you're in the area.
Hijack over...
Your plan ought to work fine. Use plow bolts, you can buy them at any equipment yard, that's what they are made for -- holding edges onto blades.
I destroy a cutting edge on something about every 300 hours and have only broken one plow bolt.
The best politics is right action. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
And they are right -- you might as well learn how to weld. You have the machine bug, and there is no cure. <G>The best politics is right action. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
I think I'm going to take a night school class this fall at the community education deal for welding. Re: the machine bug. My buddy calls it "Yellow Fever".View Image
you might as well learn how to weld --AMEN
and dont forget to get a plasma cutter, torch, and chop saw.
In metalwork, welding is to drilling and bolting as a pneumatic nailer is to a hammer in carp;
plasma cutter to hacksaw as sidewinder to handsaw;
etc.
Think of all the new toys one can get!
<<Think of all the new toys one can get!>>Roger that -- I even rationalized a portable Multiquip welder/generator last year. Now I have to hook it up to that old hi-freq unit that's been in the garage for over two decades. <G>The best politics is right action. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
bolt on the new edge..
but I can't believe yur waiting to get that new bass boat...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Yeah... I know... see my post to ponytl above.View Image
so what kind of rig ya gettin'....
was out with the client again today...
she could do no wrong when it came to specks amd brookies... she had to hit on better than 30 of them...
tomorrow is fly tying... and test driving a new Orvis..Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Nothing too much IMERC. Haven't settled on any one particular rig. I'll be buying used, so that will obviously limit my choices. I'm hoping to wait until the fall when guys are looking to dump 'em. Be ready for next spring. We'll see how it shakes out.View Image
no open water in winter???
I feel for ya...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Aww, it's not that bad. I get enough time outside in the winter with work.... I like to spend my down time with the warm and fuzzies in the winter.View Image
crap weather today and still went fishing...
trout fer sup..
it was a good day...
hot tub time...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Sounds like yer living the good life lately. Good for you dude.View Image
check yur mail..........Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Not my boat, but it's my buddy's. I think he paid less than $5,000 for it from ebay. It's a Ranger with a 115 Mercury.
Both pics are from my trip last June to northern Ontario.
View Image
Speak the truth, or make your peace some other way.
Edited 4/5/2006 9:58 pm ET by dustinf
Edited 4/5/2006 9:59 pm ET by dustinf
Sweet. Something like that would suit me just fine. Did he get that with a trailer for $5K?View Image
Yeah, but the trailer needed over hauled. New wiring, bearings, and tires. I think the boat is an 80 something model.
Like you said, if you wait until fall/winter you should be able to find a deal.Speak the truth, or make your peace some other way.