Option #1: Line Boring
Restoring Alignment and Creating Precision Surfaces
Why line boring is needed on a high tip bucket after operational use
- Pin and bore wear from constant heavy loads, shock impacts, and abrasive material ingress
- Ovality (bore becoming egg-shaped) due to uneven wear patterns.
- Misalignment between pivot bores caused by wear or frame distortion.
- Excess clearance between pins and bushings leading to loose movement and faster wear on mating parts.
- Crack repairs in structural areas often require cutting and welding, which can distort the bore — line boring is needed to re-align them.
The Benefits of BAC Line Boring
- Restores alignment of bores that have become worn, oval, or misaligned due to use, wear, or damage.
- Creates precision bearing surfaces for shafts, pins, or other rotating/reciprocating parts.
- Ensures concentricity across multiple holes in a straight line.
Our Line Boring Service includes
Initial inspection & assessment
Preparation & setup
Alignment of boring bar
Boring operation
Weld build-up (if required)
Bush installation
Finish boring & tolerance check
Final inspection
Whilst we can provide the service at your premises, it is best if the bucket to be repaired is delivered to the Haverhill factory. From receipt of the bucket we aim to provide a 10 day turnaround
Option #2: Structural Repair & Reinforcement
Replacement of Bucket Floors & Sides
- Abrasive wear: Constant contact with sand, gravel, crushed rock, slag, glass, recycled aggregates grinds the floor and side walls thinner. Fine, sharp material acts like sandpaper.
- Impact and gouging: Loading shot rock, demolition debris, or scrap causes dents, tears, and deep gouges. Repeated impacts start cracks that spread from the floor into the side plates and around welds.
- Back-dragging and prying: Using the cutting edge like a dozer blade or lever drags the floor/heel on the ground, wearing the rear of the base plate (“heel wear”) and opening the sides.
- Continuous repetitive use will cause wear on the bucket dump stops, and moveable parts i.e. pins and bushes
- Missing or worn wear parts: If bolt-on edges, heel shrouds, corner/side cutters, or liners are worn out or not fitted, the parent plate takes the punishment and thins quickly.
- Corrosion/chemical attack: Fertiliser, salt, wet fines, or acidic waste can pit and thin plates from the inside, accelerating through-thickness loss.
- Poor ground practice: Travelling with the bucket scraping the surface, or frequent bucket-to-ground contact on rough haul roads, chews up the heel and lower sides.
Our Replacement Floor and Sides Service
- Cut out all worn steel work
- Replacement of floor and sides with OEM or better material
- Note – material specification can be increased if required i.e. upgrading from steel to Hardox
- Fitting of a new bolt on wear edge ( or base blade )
- Hard Face welding on high wear areas
Option #3 : Complete Refurbishment
A complete bucket refurbishment could include the following
1. Structural Repair & Reinforcement
- Replacing worn cutting edges with new bolt-on or base blades.
- Welding and reinforcing cracks in the bucket body or frame.
- Reinforcing high-stress areas (like pivot points or lift arms) with extra steel plates.
- Straightening or replacing bent bucket sides or floors.
2. Wear Protection Upgrades
- Installing Hardox or similar wear plates inside the bucket floor and side walls.
- Adding corner gussets to reduce cracking in the corners.
3. Hydraulic System Overhaul
- Replacing hydraulic rams or re-sealing them to stop leaks.
- Replacement of damaged or worn couplings
- Cross relief valve resealing or replacement
- Upgrading hoses and fittings to higher-pressure rated versions.
- Realigning or replacing the pivot pins and bushes in the tipping mechanism.
- Additional hose protection can be fitted where buckets used in extreme environments
- Using 304 Stainless Steel fittings in corrosive environments
4. Mechanical Component Refurbishment
- Fitting new hinge pins and bushes on the high-tip linkage.
- Replacing locking mechanisms and safety latches.
5. Cosmetic & Corrosion Protection
- Sandblasting to remove rust and debris.
- Applying primer and industrial paint to resist corrosion.
- Repainting to any RAL to match fleet colours for professional appearance.
6. Functional Modifications
- Adding spill guards to prevent loss of material when tipping high.
- Increasing bucket capacity with side wall extensions (if machine capacity allows).
- Fitting bolt-on teeth for handling tougher materials.
- Addition of top clamps
- Addition of visibility slots
- Addition of auto lubrication
WHY CUSTOMERS CHOOSE BA CAULKETT
Individual Engineer Fabrication
Bespoke Design Manufacturing
Inhouse CAD Design
BS4872 Coded Engineers
Hydraulically Tested & Adjusted
Service, Maintenance & Refurbishment
