Iron@Dirt
Senior Member
bought a 2012 304E 10 months ago and put bushings in the end of the stick. when the side of the bucket rubs against the stick it makes the separating line almost disapear. what year is yours?
No idea what the bushings are made of...definitely a alloy that can withstand some punishment. I heard of folks getting machinists to make pins (way easier to make), but bushings are another animal.what material are these bushings made of? Can a machinist make these bushings with 4130?
The specs I've seen for 300 series are around 1mm (.040) Thats what I machine them to and I get no complaints.Does anyone know how tight the bucket ears are supposed to be to the stick. I got about 3/8" inch space between them, if I slide the bucket tight to one side. The Cat parts guy told me there are no shims for the bucket. The only shims available are for the bigger pins.
You machine shims to .040 thickness ? Or machine the ears on buckets so there is .040 clearance ? Wondering what the clearance between bucket ears and stick should be, I have abt. 3/8", I think it's too much, but maybe thats what it should be for some reason ?!? If they are meant to shim, why is the Cat parts guy telling me they don't make shims for the bucket pin, also my parts book shows no shims in that location !The specs I've seen for 300 series are around 1mm (.040) Thats what I machine them to and I get no complaints.
I machine the bucket and stick to 1mm clearance. The proper clearance is not 3/8. You may get away with machining up a couple a 3/16 shims out of something decent but they never last as long as a proper machined fit.You machine shims to .040 thickness ? Or machine the ears on buckets so there is .040 clearance ? Wondering what the clearance between bucket ears and stick should be, I have abt. 3/8", I think it's too much, but maybe thats what it should be for some reason ?!? If they are meant to shim, why is the Cat parts guy telling me they don't make shims for the bucket pin, also my parts book shows no shims in that location !
You machine shims to .040 thickness ? Or machine the ears on buckets so there is .040 clearance ? Wondering what the clearance between bucket ears and stick should be, I have abt. 3/8", I think it's too much, but maybe thats what it should be for some reason ?!? If they are meant to shim, why is the Cat parts guy telling me they don't make shims for the bucket pin, also my parts book shows no shims in that location !