"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
My father-in-law asked me to make up a shank to replace the one on his
Kubota tractor's backhoe attachment bucket. The tooth had come off years
ago and the stub had worn down. The shank which we cut off was high-carbon
steel, about 3/4 x 3/4". The tooth opening was 3/4 x 1/2" so we made up
a shank that size from mild steel.

Bent like cooked spaghetti.

I'm assuming to get steel that resists bending much more, I'll have to use
some kind of tool steel.

Any suggestions? In my shop I have A-2, A-6, O-1, O-2, and S-7.

Grant
Grant, I am surprised that it bent. I wonder how much unsupported length
was involved.
I just made myself a 'toothbar' for my small Kubota loader bucket. Have
done lots of digging with it since. I purchase nine teeth from Deere (my
Kubota dealer was out) got some 1"x1" stock, cut the correct taper on said
stock to fit the tooth, welded all nine assemblies to a 3"x1/2" bar, AND
additionally welded 1"x1"x1" block supports running up to the tooth. I
think it is these supports that keep things from bending. My dealer wanted
to charge $398 for a tooth bar. I ended up with less than $79 out of
pocket.

Ivan Vegvary