MF50b 4-in-1 - Making a loader bucket bigger

Hi Guys,

I have been moving a fair bit of dirt around our property with my massey 50b building roads and other infrastructure, my problem is my 4-in-1 loader bucket holds bugger all dirt.

The machine is more than capable of lifting far more weight than what I am putting into the bucket so im thinking of extending the sides of the bucket to hold more dirt.

I have looked at specific loader buckets for the machine but the problem is I use the 4-in-1 to grab & profile so I would be forever changing buckets

What I want to do is open up the bucket fully then add side & base extentions to my bucket.

Anyone see a problem in this?
Im doing research to work out weather its worth while of if im getter off just getting the second bucket.

cheers
Scott

Yair . . . aussie50b I would imagine the only problem would be that you may overload the front end of the tractor . . . even though it is capable of lifting the extra dirt.

In other words there may well be a big difference between "lifting" and trundling a heaped bucket down the track to fix a low spot.

Cheers.

Try a Wider cutting edge on the front and a hungry board on the top .
As Scrubpuller said be carefull with over loading the front end .50Bs have a bugger of a power steering system at the best of times .

Ok so in terms of overoading the front end what parts exactly?

Reason is I have been picking up some pretty big rocks with my bucket I know that would be 1.5ton plus as my brothers bobcat will lift 1ton and usually push/roll up t 1.5 and these the bobcat woulnt even look at. Power steering was still quite responsive.
Mine has a single ram setup that is actuated by valve, when I rebushed the steering and did the ram up I didnt have any slop in it and it wouldnt work so I had to open up my tollerences to make it work.

Secondly would te front axel handle the weight? basically what usually goes first?

I am looking at trying to achieve a bucket profile similar to this http://www.griffithstraders.com.au/assets/link targets/mf50sample_1.jpg

Else If its not going to work I might just have to bight the bullet and buy a loader bucket.

cheers
Scott

Scott.
This bucket is the standard Massey fitment and is significantly lighter than the Rubery Owney one fitted to your machine. You can take the chance and modify your four in one (three in one actually no forklift bits) Like we used to do for loading loose material by opening the bucket and placing a piece of 13mm thick plate 225 mm wide between the jaws, close the bucket and tack it in to keep it there, but be warned!. The front casting "the bit the axle and hydraulic pump steering shaft and ram, radiator etc uses breaks.
This then causes the fan to chew up the radiator, can snap the drive from the crank pulley if you are lucky but more than likely will snap the splined shaft on the pump thus requiring a new pump, the new / second hand casting (not a tractor one as they are lighter ) will need to be bushed for the vertical steering shaft etc.
I know this from bitter experience. If you want to carry more either change the bucket for the one in the picture which will make it impossible to drive it on a public road as it will bounce like a kangaroo .....

OoooH and if you are really determined to extend it you will need to increase the release valve pressure and that requires the replacement of the valve as it is a cartridge type, so you will need one from a 50h or HX and these models had a cast iron pump fitted to cater for the increased pressure.

The machine is used on a property I have for road building and digging big holes for sticking unwanted vegitation in I wont be driving it on the road.

I have now made my bucket 200mm deeper plus 50mm for the new cutting edge on the base and 130mm on the sides plus 50mm for cheek plates. The steel I used was 10mm thick with offcuts on the underside for bracing and filling up some gaps. I dont plan on filling it completely the sides were mainly done for spill protection as the property we have is pretty steep. The machine was fitted with a brand new hydraulic pump a month before I purchased it and has a total of 70hrs on it.

I hope to give it a work out over the Queens Birthday long weekend.

I take on board what you have said about the front axel.
My Hydraulics are really good,new pump, all new rams & hoses except for the sideshift locking rams, All new pins and bushes in the machine, including front axel & steering.

Question - Will the loader lift more than what the front axel can take? Ie If Im filling my bucket up with dirt and the loader will lift it easily is it ok for the machine?
I have lifted a 2,248kg shipping container, 2.5ton rocks without problem.

cheers
Scott

That will do it, Scott, everytime ......................good friend of mine has just replaced the casting on his HX due to it cracking.........

Scott, it's the dynamic loads that may cause you trouble such as hitting bumps or potholes with the bigger load while underway. Also, cycle fatigue is increased once you reach a point near the metals' yield point, and the metal can become strain hardened causing breakage.

Remember, some of the damage from overloading can be accumulative.

Thanks for your info so what is the rated weight limit or the safe working load of the machine then?
Is the weight with a standard bucket, 3/4-in-1 or no bucket?

I have added close to 100kg of weight to my bucket in steel & welds so surely I would be able to carry 2000k of dirt if my bucket

cheers
Scott

aussie50b said:

I have added close to 100kg of weight to my bucket in steel & welds so surely I would be able to carry 2000k of dirt if my bucket

Click to expand...

That close to 100kg of weight you added to your bucket in steel & welds will be 100kg less weight in dirt your machine can ultimately carry.

Now, available 'volume' in the bucket, and the strength of the bucket to handle the weight that volume consists of (sawdust or wet dirt, as examples) is a different matter. The limiting factor on your machine will be the weakest link, and if that happens to be the front axle, a bullet proof bucket is not going to increase the weight carrying capacity of your machine due to the limitations of the front axle.

Thanks for the info, I have hit my manuals and found the lift capacity of 2118kg with breakout force of 3470kg with the bucket. The SAE capaciity of the original bucket is only .67cu.m. So theory is it should be about 2000kg now.

Before my modification I would be lucky to get 500kg in the bucket without it spilling over, so even if i get 1500-2000kg I will be happy.

I will take on board about the front axel and tke it easy over rougher ground.

Just an update, I have about 150hours on my modified bucket and so far all is going really well (touch wood) its certainly holding a good amount of dirt now.



I have taken on board the warnings about the front axel I take it pretty easy if im going over rough terrain, I now do a prestart & post run check of the axel just incase I find something but so far so good.

Yair . . . aussie50b. Looking good mate, it's always good when folks get back on here and post a resolution to their issues.

Cheer