Bent bar across the top of bucket

[Aussiebugman]

Hi Guys, I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion for straightening out the bar that runs along the top of the bucket on my L3800 (see photo)
I bent it when I was pulling out a post on day one of ownership. I am worried that the bend means it will be putting strain on the outsides of the bucket forcing them in, and consequently putting pressure on hydraulic rams and pivot points etc.
I am pretty handy with tools but don't have oxy, I am guessing heating and somehow "convincing" it to move back may be best.

 

[Lil Foot]

Don't know how to straighten it, but I rotated the pic- too hard to look at the other way.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Best course of action for that connecting rod, is either cut it out and replace it with a new straight bar or take it to someone that can straighten it.

 

[Yooper]

A vote here for cutting it off and replacing it. I would take the opportunity to upgrade it with some square or rectangular tube as it would be stronger.

 

[torch]

I am worried that the bend means it will be putting strain on the outsides of the bucket forcing them in, and consequently putting pressure on hydraulic rams and pivot points etc.

Well let's do the math, then. If the bar is 48" long and bent 1" up, then it would be shortened (ie: pulling in the bucket sides) by approximately 0.060", and the ends would be bent up less than 2.5°.

Without seeing it in person, my gut feeling is those numbers are within or close to manufacturing tolerances. I don't think you have to worry about undue stress on your hydraulic rams and pivot points.

I would be inclined to straighten it and/or reinforce it for the sake of future load stresses. It's obviously a weak point. I'm not sure I would cut it out first. Possibly, if things are bad enough or replacement is a better option than reinforcement. Something like that should be evaluated in person, IMHO.

 

[85Hokie]

A vote here for cutting it off and replacing it. I would take the opportunity to upgrade it with some square or rectangular tube as it would be stronger.

I believe that is the correct solution ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Based on time and money and more importantly, overall satisfaction.

Cut it out, replace - weld, hooks, paint - it will look BETTER than new.

I have watched and helped buckets get "straighter" and with lots of heat and lots of hammer blows - it would have been quicker to cut and paste

 

[67Truckin]

Why not just put a chain or web strap around the bent area of the bar and hook it to a solid post, tree or strong tie down. Then slowly back away from it to gently pull the bar back into place until straight. Use the hydraulics of the loader to keep the angle of pull correct. We use this method on the farm all the time to straighten equipment.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Why not just put a chain or web strap around the bent area of the bar and hook it to a solid post, tree or strong tie down. Then slowly back away from it to gently pull the bar back into place until straight. Use the hydraulics of the loader to keep the angle of pull correct. We use this method on the farm all the time to straighten equipment.

That bar, on that bucket, is a tie bar between the two sides, any more tweaking on it is bound to do damage to the pivot points of the clam.

 

[Dave_eng]

My experience is that rolling the pipe in a lathe after it is cut loose will result in a perfectly straight pipe.

As it is rolled around and around, rollers are pressed against various sections of the pipe to gradually keep bending it closer and closer to being straight.

The economy of doing this depends upon who your friends are and if any of them operate a lathe.

Two process take place when metal is deformed. The big one is called "work hardening." The bending of a steel produces a steel, in the bent section, which is stronger than the steel on either side of the bend. Thus impossible to straighten without special tools and procedures.

Bend a metal clothes hanger and then try and straighten it. Impossible.

The second process involves stretching and thus thinning the long side of a bend.

Dave M7040

 

[Aussiebugman]

Don't know how to straighten it, but I rotated the pic- too hard to look at the other way.

Thanks for that. I couldn't work out how to rotate the image.

 

[Aussiebugman]

Why not just put a chain or web strap around the bent area of the bar and hook it to a solid post, tree or strong tie down. Then slowly back away from it to gently pull the bar back into place until straight. Use the hydraulics of the loader to keep the angle of pull correct. We use this method on the farm all the time to straighten equipment.

This is the method that immediately came to mind. I have a huge tree at the top of a hill that would be a great chain tie off point. Then I thought to myself "I am in no hurry so will consult those wiser than me". Thanks for your input.

 

[Aussiebugman]

My experience is that rolling the pipe in a lathe after it is cut loose will result in a perfectly straight pipe.

As it is rolled around and around, rollers are pressed against various sections of the pipe to gradually keep bending it closer and closer to being straight.

The economy of doing this depends upon who your friends are and if any of them operate a lathe.

Two process take place when metal is deformed. The big one is called "work hardening." The bending of a steel produces a steel, in the bent section, which is stronger than the steel on either side of the bend. Thus impossible to straighten without special tools and procedures.

Bend a metal clothes hanger and then try and straighten it. Impossible.

The second process involves stretching and thus thinning the long side of a bend.

Dave M7040

Thanks Dave, So does this mean that no matter what I do if I try straighten it without specialised tools, I will end up with a bar with weak spots anyway, or are they strong spots lol?
I am leaning towards cutting it out and replacing with some square tube maybe. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Aussiebugman]

Noticed you have a four in one bucket, curious why you did not use the clam to clamp onto the fence post.

Hi, Not sure how you mean "use the clam". I grabbed the post from above with the bucket open, closed it when I thought I had enough to hold on with and lifted. I reckon I must have had the top of the post sticking past the top of the bucket and must have curled the bucket.
I have done some pretty silly things in my time! Generally only once!

 

[coachgeo]

Thanks Dave, So does this mean that no matter what I do if I try straighten it without specialised tools, I will end up with a bar with weak spots anyway, or are they strong spots lol?
I am leaning towards cutting it out and replacing with some square tube maybe. Any thoughts on that?

Bent Tie Rods in Offroading world is common. You could probably steal ideas from off road sites on how to repair this rod.

On my Jeep decade+ ago I bent my back with a winch then clamped an angle iron on it for reinforcement. Didn't weld angle on cause wanted ability to remove it in case it ever got bent again and needed to do a trail fix. Worked that way for longggggggg time just fine. Not sure it relates... but something to consider.