Just picked up a 2003 304CR, the pin that attaches the bucket to stick is shot, its not so loose where it attaches to the bucket but where it attaches to the stick is very wobbly, can anyone tell me the procedure to repair this, will a new pin kit suffice or do I need to get oversize pins etc ?? Also looking to put a hydraulic thumb on, can anyone tell me the best place to get one, it has the hydraulic lines but no hook up for the cylinder to attach.
Take the bucket off, try to remove the bushing in the stick. If there is no bushing, or the hole is egg shaped, or the bushing falls out, then you need to get it "line bored", or take the stick off and take it to a machinist to drill it out and fit new bushings. If there is a bushing but you can't get it out, THEN you're in luck, come back here and we'll tell you how to get it out.
With a machine that size the stick can be done on a bridgeport
Does anyone make an oversize bushing for it, Cat or aftermarket ? I haven't looked real good at it but does the bucket have a bushing also ?
Pins and bushings can be locally fabricated. Talk to a local machine shop. I make my own pins from W1 tool steel heated treated in a propane forge.
You have to take pin out and let bucket drop to see if you actually need oversized bushings. The bushings are there to limit the hole from going oval. The bushings are hardened steel, and are likely fused inside hole. I just welded three beads with a MIG inside hole on bushings (2 per hole - one on each side). It causes them to contract enough to pound them out. You can google the process. But first see if you can hammer them out with pin.