Installing A Replacement Bucket Bottom
JADCO QT-PLUS ® makes the finest replacement bucket bottoms and wear liners. Loader buckets or excavator buckets, we do them all. We measure your bucket so the replacement fits regardless of the abuse it has suffered.
We digitally scan the equipment and take a multitude of measurements to assure it will be formed correctly at our shop just North of Pittsburgh, PA.
To assure your new bottom fits like it is supposed to; here is a simple method to help take the stress out of installing your new JADCO replacement bucket bottom.
One of the most important measurements is the Tip to Tip distance. It is the measurement from the center of the weld seam joining the front edge to the bucket bottom; to the point in the back of the bucket where there is smooth, solid steel.
Some time may pass before you get to replace the bottom of the bucket. Your bucket was likely still in use or stored outside after measuring for the new steel. The marks from measuring have either worn away in use or the rain has erased them.
Obviously JADCO QT-PLUS ® wear steel doesn’t stretch, so you need to make certain when you cut the worn out area of the bucket, your cut is in the correct location.
Now it is time to install the new QT-PLUS ® bottom; here is how to get started.
Beginning where the new replacement steel will start is the first step. This is at the centerline of the weld seam between the base edge and the bucket bottom.
The base edge weld seam is located on the left end of the template tool, shown in the photo below.
NOTE: Please allow us to measure the bucket BEFORE you remove the bottom to verify the correct profile.
You determine how high up the arc you will go. If your bucket has dents after being used to smash large rocks into smaller ones, pick a spot above any damaged areas that have been bashed in.
To determine where to cut, measure from tip to tip on the replacement formed plate. Start at the top inside edge, measuring to the bottom inside edge.
Then using this dimension, hold the measurement on the line where you started, at the center of the weld.
Stretch out the tape until it is taut, making contact with the back. This is duplicating your Tip-to-Tip measurement, to determine the matching location at the back of the replacement steel. Mark this location with soapstone.
Repeat the process on the other side of the bucket.
Using a chalk line, stretch the string between your marks on the back of the bucket and snap a line. This is your line to cut the back of the bucket.
When cutting out the existing bottom from the sides, remember where we measured so the inside of the replacement steel match the same location of the existing steel.
Therefore, if we cut straight down through the bottom of the bucket, our arc template will not match the new steel. This is because our template does not take into account the thickness of the existing steel bottom.
Do I Cut Using An Oxy-Fuel Torch Or Plasma?
While a plasma torch will easily cut the steel, the large diameter of the plasma cutting head makes it difficult to make your cut be at the proper location. This makes your fit up more difficult to match to the new bottom.
I suggest using an oxy-fuel torch for more control. Cut horizontal along the side weld joints staying as close to the bottom of the weld as possible.
After cutting the bottom along the side welds and across the back, it is ready to be set into place on the new QT-PLUS ® bottom.
Also note how thin the sides are toward the back. JADCO’s QT-PLUS ® works very well here.
Remember to order additional QT-PLUS ® for the wear bars on the bucket side locations.
Setting the bucket onto the new bottom. Notice how the replacement bottom fits perfectly to the sides? If your bucket doesn’t fit this well, have JADCO form your next wear bottom.
Barely any light comes through the joint. This makes welding the unit back together fast and easy. You may need to touch up the high spots with a grinder so your sides fit up perfectly.
JADCO recommends extending the new bottom 1” outside the vertical sides. This allows you to have excellent weld penetration on both sides of the bucket to the bottom.
It also adds extra wear protection against the high stress grinding abrasion when digging.
Don’t Take My Word For It
Here is a comment from a welder with 20 years of experience working on aggregate equipment:
How can we help your people and improve their results?
Finding skilled labor is a challenge for every company. With JADCO’s representatives working with your people, they are more efficient and effective. When they have the tools to take pride in their work, you give them a reason to excel.
Preheating before installing a liner to protect the inside of the loader bucket.
lways remember to preheat before welding. Preheat to 200° F to make certain all moisture is out of the steel. Moisture is what causes under weld bead cracking, the cause of many structural steel failures.
Take a look at our prior blog post covering wear resistant steel preheating guidelines.
Weld using stringer beads for maximum strength without overheating the steel. To prevent overheating and annealing the wear resistant steel, do not weld continuously in one area.
The weld must have adequate Throat of the Weld – item ‘A’ in the diagram. Here it must equal ¼” minimum. ‘Y’ is the weld face, ‘Z’ is the root of the weld; and ‘W’ is the toe of the weld.
This means the distance from the root of the weld to the center of the face of the bead ‘A’ in the diagram above, MUST BE EQUAL OR GREATER THAN THE THINNEST OF THE TWO PLATES YOU ARE WELDING. In the example above it must be at least ¼”.
Maintaining the throat of the weld is critical when welding heavier plate thicknesses.
Also remember the bucket bottom is formed for the width at the front of the bucket. Since every bucket is tapered narrower toward the back of the bucket, this allows you to weld the bottom to both inside and outside securely.
After the bottom has been welded in place, trim the excess away from the bucket sides. Make certain to preheat the steel before cutting it with a torch to prevent thermal shock on heavier plates.
Finally, you can add your wear bars across the width of the bucket.
Remember to apply a cap or layer of hardsurfacing over the joining welds. Joining welds are not as hard as the steel. You don’t want them to quickly wear away, creating a weakened structure.
Do You Need A Liner Or A Replacement Bottom?
A liner needs to be measured differently than a replacement bottom. Measuring an existing bucket bottom, this location will either be the underside of a liner; or top side on a replacement bottom.
How can we help you?
For over the last 43+ years JADCO has focused exclusively on delivering consistent, longer life for our customers.
Now you understand why we are able to deliver better results to our customers. We think differently by strictly focusing on improving your current results.
At JADCO, we think differently by strictly focusing on your results. Now you can understand why JADCO delivers better performance results for our customers.
Allow us to help you today by calling 724.452.5252, or email info@jadcomfg.com.
We will schedule a meeting with one of our local wear plate specialists at a time that best fits your schedule.
Remember, the only thing you have to lose by not working with JADCO, are your profits.
When your standard wear plate gives out, be certain to give JADCO a shout!
