JCB 3CX front bucket repair

[m_c]

Or rebuild, as now that I've actually had a proper look at it, it's in worse condition than I thought it was.



I had wondered why it had split along where the bracing is welded on the back, but I didn't realise that the lower edge of the bracing is completely worn/torn away, with nothing actually supporting the edging-



And yes, the edging has a bow in it, but can be pushed back straight by hand, so it just needs suitable support welded back in.

In the past I've had to use 7018 rods on the bucket, as the normal MIG wire just splatters everywhere, but I think I'm going to have to buy some suitable MIG wire.

I tacked the bucket edge back on earlier, but the gaps are just going to be too big to weld up with rods. Even with the edge pushed back to where it should be, with the edge lined up with the other part of the bucket, it was still a few mm away from the side of the bucket due to wear at it's closest point. At the furthest away point it was over 10mm.

I'm thinking 6mm (or possibly 8mm) Hardox to recreate the lower support, and bash the remains of the vertical part of the support back down to meet it as best as I can.
However even with that, it's probably £4-600 in materials alone, along with lots of time cleaning and chasing the various cracks.

And a quick google hasn't revealed any similar 4 in 1 buckets currently for sale. There's a few for older 3Cs, and one for an early 3CX Sitemaster, but it looks a lighter construction.

 

[angellonewolf]

dont know what your moaning about duct tape will fix that

 

[8ob]

Its in tatters because of the constant use while in disrepair. I would go mild steel on the repairs with a sacrificial mild steel underplate and reuse that Hardox edge. Way to useful a machine not to have that front end right.

Bob

 

[Barking Mat]

A couple of kilos of 4mm rods and that'll be sorted.

 

[m_c]

Its in tatters because of the constant use while in disrepair. I would go mild steel on the repairs with a sacrificial mild steel underplate and reuse that Hardox edge. Way to useful a machine not to have that front end right.

Bob

This neighbour is very much in the "if it starts and drives" category!

I was thinking about using some thicker mild steel for the underplate, but was concerned it would just bend with use, however as the edge hasn't really bent without the support, it's probably not going to bend any mild steel, especially if I go a bit thicker. He does use the bucket for a lot of grading, so I'm guessing that's why it's so worn.
I need to measure it all up, then see what option he'd like to take, as the rest of the machine is actually in pretty good condition, even more so now that I've rebuilt the front axle.

 

[Erie Fred]

A couple of kilos of 4mm rods and that'll be sorted.

I think your wrong.
google agrees with me.

 

[awemawson]

I’d just weld it with arc, far better penetration and less fussy about inclusions.

But what do I know, I’m just an arm chair welder, but I do have a 3CX with a good 6 way bucket on the front.

 

[Barking Mat]

I’d just weld it with arc, far better penetration and less fussy about inclusions.

But what do I know, I’m just an arm chair welder, but I do have a 3CX with a good 6 way bucket on the front.

Yes, me too.

 

[m_c]

I’d just weld it with arc, far better penetration and less fussy about inclusions.

But what do I know, I’m just an arm chair welder, but I do have a 3CX with a good 6 way bucket on the front.

Normally I'd agree, but even with best efforts, I think there's going to be a lot of 2+mm gaps needing to be filled, which can become quite time consuming with Arc.
The crack all the way across is going to need a cutting disc ran through it, as it's obviously sprung open, and is now blocked by the fractured edge from moving back to where it needs to be, so that's a 6ft long 2-3mm wide weld to start with :/

 

[Hitch]

Can't quite see what's going on there... but it'll be a much better job if you cut the rubbish off. Weld in new plate and some wear strips. Clamp it all up to keep straight whilst welding.

No reason standard mig wire won't weld that, other than poor preparation. Cutting the rubbish away and a cleanup with a 9" will allow you to weld it easily.

 

[m_c]

Can't quite see what's going on there... but it'll be a much better job if you cut the rubbish off. Weld in new plate and some wear strips. Clamp it all up to keep straight whilst welding.

No reason standard mig wire won't weld that, other than poor preparation. Cutting the rubbish away and a cleanup with a 9" will allow you to weld it easily.

I also thought normal mig wire would weld it, but it just spatters. Even normal 6013 rods spatter, yet 7018 works well
It's obviously some form of carbon/sprung steel, but it really doesn't like normal wire or rods.