Bobcat Grappler Repair

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So, here's the latest project from my #1 customer.  If I have the story straight, he sometimes uses this grappler as a battering ram; to move rocks, knock over small trees, or anything else in his way.He snapped the blade on the front of it cleanly in 2 places.  After much grumbling and prying, and fiddling with clamps, I managed to wrestle the section of blade back into position.  The first 2 photos show it tacked temporarily with some 6010.  I V-grooved both sides of both fractures with a torch and a grinder.  More grinder work than torch work unfortunately.Then I welded out the fractures with 7018.  Yes, I know the blade is high strength steel, and responds better to higher strength filler.  But I couldn't get any from my LWS on short notice, and my customer wouldn't pay for it in any case.  He's frugal.  Anyway, the whole mess got pre-heated with a rosebud because it was below freezing outside, and the blade was about 3/4" thick.Once the breaks were repaired, I sistered a new 1/4" thick steel plate to the bottom of the blade.  I figure it broke because the leading edge was thinned down to a sharp edge, and it broke from there.  The new plate makes that edge, a minimum of 1/4" thick, which I think will make it withstand the impact punishment a better.  I tried to get my customer to pay for a 3/8" thick piece of A514, which is probably a close match in strength to the original blade.  My customer wouldn't spring for the extra $100 material charge.    So the sister plate is standard A36.  In this case, I think it's better than doing nothing.So, another job complete, and another satisfied customer. Attached ImagesBenson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Looks good. I'm surprised that the "floor" wasn't twisted badly. I would have thought shearing the cutting edge would have fubar'd the floor almost beyond repair.I've had customers like that. There never seems to be enough money for you to do it right the 1st time, but they always find the money to do it over after they bust it again.
Reply:I spent a good hour with an 8' prybar and some clamps and angle iron to jimmy the broken piece back into position.  It was shifted down and to to the side about 2 inches from where it belonged.  If it had been any more misaligned, I'd have just cut the tines of the bucket 'floor' and then re-welded them too.  I think the time spent would have been a wash.  6 of one, half a dozen of the other....I sympathize with this guy.  He's got an eight man crew to keep busy, and paid.  He's busy, but all his equipment is used.  I think he's been around for 5-6 years, and is going to turn the corner on becoming truly profitable soon; so he can afford new equipment.In the meantime, it's all about making due with what he has, and keeping it all productive and profitable. Originally Posted by DSWLooks good. I'm surprised that the "floor" wasn't twisted badly. I would have thought shearing the cutting edge would have fubar'd the floor almost beyond repair.I've had customers like that. There never seems to be enough money for you to do it right the 1st time, but they always find the money to do it over after they bust it again.
Reply:Nice looking repair.  Glad you preheated it, because that will make the repair last.   7018 takes on the properties of the original material for the first layer or two.  I bet its as strong as the rest.Do you have an arc air?  I have a New one of those grapples coming in my shop on monday.  It was built to spec of 36" wide.  The mounting plate ended up 38".  It won't fit through a doorway, so I have to make it back to 36".  Have not seen it yet.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:A_DAB_will_do didn't mean to imply he was cheap. Looking back, it does read that way unfortunately. I worked for a guy who was very much the same way. Mostly worked on the no budget rather than low budget system, Most equipment was used, fix it the best you can with whats there, because the moneys not there to do anything else and it needs to be fixed.
Reply:You can make money off those guys too.  The stuff breaks a lot and when it breaks, they need it fixed.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:No DSW, you read it right.  My customer is cheap.  Unfortunately, he's my only repeat customer, so while I'm not doing everything as I like, or making as much as I'd like, I'm still earning money for my time.I have this love hate thing with how he does business.  I understand it, I just don't operate that way myself.   Originally Posted by DSWA_DAB_will_do didn't mean to imply he was cheap. Looking back, it does read that way unfortunately. I worked for a guy who was very much the same way. Mostly worked on the no budget rather than low budget system, Most equipment was used, fix it the best you can with whats there, because the moneys not there to do anything else and it needs to be fixed.
Reply:Thanks David.  It was cold and damp yesterday, and there's no way I'd weld a high strength steel or any kind of steel that thick without some preheating.  Doing otherwise is just begging for cracking to occur.I don't have an arc gouging setup yet.  No compressor yet.  But I do have a gouging tip for my OA torch.  I debated using it, but just settled for the standard tip and the grinder.  Most everthing I wanted to bevel had something else on the far side that I didn't want to risk gouging by accident.This grappler I worked on was 72" wide.  Sounds like you've got yourself a nice project that will keep you out of the cold for a while. Originally Posted by David RNice looking repair.  Glad you preheated it, because that will make the repair last.   7018 takes on the properties of the original material for the first layer or two.  I bet its as strong as the rest.Do you have an arc air?  I have a New one of those grapples coming in my shop on monday.  It was built to spec of 36" wide.  The mounting plate ended up 38".  It won't fit through a doorway, so I have to make it back to 36".  Have not seen it yet.David
Reply:Amen.  Once a month, for a day or two, I camp out at his shop and put "Humpty Dumpty" back together again.  So far, I haven't seen anything I couldn't fix.  But I think his crew are starting to rise to the challenge.   Originally Posted by David RYou can make money off those guys too.  The stuff breaks a lot and when it breaks, they need it fixed.David
Reply:nice work, I have worked on alot of those in the past.  I have found that after they break a time or two in different spots adding a piece of 3/8" flat bar to the underside will really help.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:looks good to me ......   we've got a few of those customers.   fix what ya gotta, cause i can't afford no more...... i don't think they save a cent in the long run though....   i've got one guy that i work for,  when ever i go out to his gear ( logger) when i'm done,  he asks me to look it over good...  says i'm payin' ya to come out here, gonna cost less to fix it now, before it gets worse, and i gotta pay you to come back (yes, we charge for travel time)what' everyone's worry about welding in the cold???   yall think we don't fix anything in the great white north till spring??Bill BerryKeith Berry & Son Ltd.machine work, and weldingBear River Vollunteer FD
Reply:Looks as good a way as any to fix the thing.  It'll probably never break where you fixed it.  They'll ruin something else on it firstGuys like your customer are the ones that can keep a little money flowing during slow times.  It's probably hard earned money, so that's why he seems cheap.  Payroll, supplies , etc. probably keep him pretty money conscious.Looks as good as new, and just as serviceable"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice work Dave. The website looks good too. Guy
Reply:Well nothing like a repeat customer. I guess the cheap so & so never figured out if he spent the extra few bucks he wouldn't have to keep bringing it back.I have a few of those customers I went the extra mile for adding more than what they could afford just because its good for business and I had the extra material left over from a previous jobs. Of course now those customers think I am going to do that for them all the timeCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.