|
QUESTION:I need to make some replacement excavator bucket pins for the little excavator some
time soon. I am thinking about machining them out of 1" bar stock between centers,
gun drilling them for the grease passage, machining the grease fitting recess in one
end, and welding on the anti rotation collar.
The question is, what is a good material to use for this? I have about 20" of 1"
1018 bar stock available but wouldn't hesitate to get something better if I knew what
that was. I'm talking about replacing parts which will cost $218.00 plus tax for the
pair - so if I spend a few bucks on material that is going to be just fine.
Any input would be appreciated.
While you are at it - I have to machine some replacement bushings as well - and they
are also alarmingly expensive. The bushings are steel of some sort. Material
recommendation for bushing stock?
Is there an issue with compatibility between the two pieces - galling issues, etc.
that need to be considered?
ANSWER: When I was in the fab business, I used to do a lot of this type of work
Alot of big equipment came with hardened bushings in the female parts. The
problem was, that the operators would let it go too long before maintenance,
and the bushings would break, and the holes would become egg shaped. We had
a line boring machine (made by climax) that would bore them out for oversize
bushings. The pins were always made from stressproof... a steel made by La
Salle steel, available at any steel supplier.
For a small hoe, the easiest and fastest way to rebush was to arc-air off
the old bushings and weld newones on out of mild steel. We made them out of
1" plate (two squares tack welded together and bored in a lathe with a
boring bar for accuracy) then pins from stressproof. .
Weld the bushings on *evenly* with the pin inserted to keep them lined up.
About a two hour job.
It will last a long long time if kept greased, especially if not used
commercially.
If you want to do a really slick job, find a piloted reamer, and ream it
after welding. Machine pin to fit, or use ground and polished stressproof.
The problem with this is that you will now want to replace ALL the bushings
and pins! Serious time killer!
|
|
|
|
