Gussett ideas for tractor loader

[Nissan11]

My dad's tractor loader is starting to cave in where the hydraulic boom is attached. It has already been welded for cracks and now it needs more work. I'm thinking about getting some long gussetts cut and welding them in long ways accross the bucket to spread out the stress. Does anyone have any other ideas before I go buy some metal? I'm leaning towards 1/4" plate.

 

[McCracken]

cut it off with a torch. lay down large piece of plate to cover area of fatigue. Double gusset (front and back). Wah-lah!

 

[nctom]

A good industrial type Fab/Welding shop that has a roller, should be able to roll you out a piece to match the contour of the bucket. I would spread it out a foot or more outside the current welds. I would beef up the ears going to the pin too.

 

[Nissan11]

I agree rolling steel would be the best idea, but we don't want to spend more than about $100. I can do the welding, everything else has to be payed for.

 

[Hurley]

quick fix would be larger gussets to lay against the cylinder mount, and then follow the radius of the bucket as long as possible. weld face-face on cylinder mount plates and fully weld to bucket (if possible, it looks like a goldie-oldie)... you want them parallel with the cylinder mount plates most importantly.

(best fix is to cut off/plate back with rolled section, weld and re-attach cylinder mount)

 

[McCracken]

lay plate flat and weld on one edge. take torch and heat metal and bang with hammer to shape around bucket. tack edges down along the way. it's like my dad told me, "it's not a show truck son." it's a tractor for pete's sake.

 

[BUCKEYE PERFORMANCE INC.]

any possibility of just cutting all that mess off and welding a peice of 6-8" wide channel between those outer mounts and just build new tabs with 1/2" plate for the ram.

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

Bring it my way I'll step break 1/4 plate for the bucket to rebuild the base, make new brackets apply gussets as needed.

100 bucs turn key.

send me a pm if interested.

other wise I'd cut larger corner plates that extend from the outside side of the cylinder mount to the outer sides equal to the hieght of the cylinder mount to transfer the load laterally accross the back. Then reinforce from the inside with a formed 1/4 plate that is perimeter welded and plug welded in the center area to tie it all together.

 

[Nissan11]

Bring it my way I'll step break 1/4 plate for the bucket to rebuild the base, make new brackets apply gussets as needed.
100 bucs turn key.
send me a pm if interested.
other wise I'd cut larger corner plates that extend from the outside side of the cylinder mount to the outer sides equal to the hieght of the cylinder mount to transfer the load laterally accross the back. Then reinforce from the inside with a formed 1/4 plate that is perimeter welded and plug welded in the center area to tie it all together.

That is a great deal and I appreciate the offer but I started on this before I saw your post.

I started with Hurley's idea tonight and I will work on it more Sunday.