Chains the bucket to stop clay sticking

[doobin]

OK, so I hear about this on various forums and the idea is good. Weld a chain to the tip of your bucket, and weld a clevis or something to connect it to on the dipper arm. Set the chain so that it's tight when you fully uncurl the bucket and it'll pull the sticky s**t out.

So I tried it this morning. However, wherever I set the connection point on the dipper, it didn't seem to make any difference- uncurling the bucket didn't pull it more than a few inches. So the chain was either loose enough to do near the back of the bucket when digging (but didn't tighten up) or it was tight when uncurled but also hanging in front of the bucket when digging.

Has anyone done this sucessfully?

Or do I just get a 9" clay spade to join my 12"?

 

[Danny]

I think your supposed to weld it from the bottom of the bucket to the top of the bucket internally

 

[hiluxman]

I think your supposed to weld it from the bottom of the bucket to the top of the bucket internally

Thats as id understood the theory too.

 

[Gecko]

I've just bought an 8" bucket (for a 3cx), so I'm expecting it to need the same treatment.
This thread shows a Patent drawing that shows something that "may" work
https://www.planttalk.co.uk/threads/clay-spade-yes-or-no-experience-opinions.1389/post-37638

The distance from the top of the bucket to the tip will never change (regardless of bucket rotation), so you need to find a point where there is significant change of length.
The Patent drawing shows the chain going somewhere near the rod end. This'd probably work, but you'd need a guide to keep the chain from binding between the dipper and hitch / bucket..
My crappy drawing suggests there isn't a significant change of length going up the dipper

 

[Regy53]

I've just bought an 8" bucket (for a 3cx), so I'm expecting it to need the same treatment.
This thread shows a Patent drawing that shows something that "may" work
https://www.planttalk.co.uk/threads/clay-spade-yes-or-no-experience-opinions.1389/post-37638

The distance from the top of the bucket to the tip will never change (regardless of bucket rotation), so you need to find a point where there is significant change of length.
The Patent drawing shows the chain going somewhere near the rod end. This'd probably work, but you'd need a guide to keep the chain from binding between the dipper and hitch / bucket..
My crappy drawing suggests there isn't a significant change of length going up the dipper

View attachment 18204

We have a few buckets that size and maybe smaller for a 3cx where the pins are wider than the bucket is yours the same ?

 

[Gecko]

We have a few buckets that size and maybe smaller for a 3cx where the pins are wider than the bucket is yours the same ?

No A bit, mine is slab sided - at least it won't limit how deep I can go.

 

[doobin]

I've just bought an 8" bucket (for a 3cx), so I'm expecting it to need the same treatment.
This thread shows a Patent drawing that shows something that "may" work
https://www.planttalk.co.uk/threads/clay-spade-yes-or-no-experience-opinions.1389/post-37638

The distance from the top of the bucket to the tip will never change (regardless of bucket rotation), so you need to find a point where there is significant change of length.
The Patent drawing shows the chain going somewhere near the rod end. This'd probably work, but you'd need a guide to keep the chain from binding between the dipper and hitch / bucket..
My crappy drawing suggests there isn't a significant change of length going up the dipper

View attachment 18204

The patent drawing looks useful, thanks. Amazing how you can forget a thread you replied to just a few months ago!
yes, my highly scientific experiments with a ratchet strap and an assistant proved that mounting it on the dipper makes bigger all difference!

 

[Nick...]

Had plenty of success doing it with chain weldeld just back from cutting edge and fix to dipper so chain is tight when bucket is fully open
nick...

 

[Smiffy]

Surely all of this would depend on the geometry of the bucket and quick hitch
The further the bucket extends infront of the the support pin the better this will work

 

[V8Druid]

No, mine is slab sided - at least it won't limit how deep I can go.

View attachment 18205

pins and bosses are wider

 

[Gecko]

pins and bosses are wider

Ok, fair call. I was thinking of the whole mount being wider than the buckets cutting edges

The further the bucket extends infront of the the support pin the better this will work

Definitely. If you added an extension to a 'normal' bucket, it'd make a lot of difference.

 

[doobin]

Surely all of this would depend on the geometry of the bucket and quick hitch
The further the bucket extends infront of the the support pin the better this will work

Well mine was a deep bucket on a quick hitch and the most chain pull you could get on the dipper was about six inches max. Nowhere near enough.

 

[Keif]

The 18" bucket scoops and drops wet clay 12" bucket on the left packs up on the first scoop and no amount of shaking will get it out.