Mechy Try it free

Heavy equipment jobs

How to Replace Bucket Teeth (Pin-On)

  • 45 min
  • Easy
  • 6 steps
  • 6 tools
  • 2 parts
Use my photo: steps for my machineGet the app

Snap yours and Mechy redraws these steps for it. First guide free, no sign-up.

The bucket lowers onto blocks with the teeth level.

Step 1 of 6 Set the bucket down on blocks

Sample guide. A heavy-equipment mechanic hasn't reviewed this one yet, so search engines don't index it. Follow your machine's manual where they differ.

Short answer

Pin-on teeth come off with a hammer and a pin punch: set the bucket down on blocks, drive the side pin out, pull the worn tooth, clean the adapter nose, then fit a new retainer, the new tooth and a new pin. Bolt-on and weld-on teeth need other steps.

Safety first

Operator or mechanic

Do these before step 1.

  • DANGERNever reach or stand under a raised bucket. Set it down on solid blocks before you start.
  • DANGEREngine off, key out, controls locked and tagged so nobody moves the machine while you work.
  • WARNINGWear safety glasses and gloves: hammering pins can throw metal chips, and worn teeth have sharp edges.
  • NOTICETeeth and pins are heavy. Keep your feet clear when a tooth comes free.

Stop and call a pro or the dealer if

  • The adapter nose is cracked, loose or worn thin: adapters are welded to the lip and need a welder.
  • The pin will not move after steady hammering: heat or a press may be needed, which is shop work.

Mechy's guides help, but they don't replace the maker's manual, your training or your site's rules. If something doesn't match what you see, stop and check.

Tools

Tick what you have. In the app, Mechy ticks the ones it can see in your photos.

Parts and supplies

  • 1×Replacement teethSame system and size as your adapters (check the part number on the old tooth or the adapter)Check before you buy
  • 1×Pins and retainersNew set for each tooth, matched to the tooth systemCheck before you buy

Steps

  1. The bucket lowers onto blocks with the teeth level.

    Step 1 of 6

    Set the bucket down on blocks

    Curl the bucket so the teeth are level, lower it onto solid blocks with the teeth just off the ground, then shut down, take the key and tag the controls.

  2. The hammer drives the punch, and the pin moves through the tooth and out.

    Step 2 of 6

    Drive the side pin out

    Put a pin punch on the end of the pin and drive it straight through with a hand sledge. Pull it out the far side.

    Keep your other hand clear of the striking face. Use the punch, never the hammer straight on the pin.

    Hand sledge, Pin punch

  3. The worn tooth slides off and the adapter nose is highlighted for checking.

    Step 3 of 6

    Pull the worn tooth and clean the nose

    Pull or pry the worn tooth off the adapter. Wire-brush the nose and look for cracks or heavy wear before fitting the new tooth.

    Pry bar, Wire brush

  4. The new retainer appears, then the new tooth slides onto the adapter.

    Step 4 of 6

    Fit the retainer and the new tooth

    Seat a new retainer in the adapter where the old one sat, then slide the new tooth onto the nose until the pin holes line up.

  5. Hammer taps drive the new pin in until it is flush.

    Step 5 of 6

    Drive the new pin in

    Start a new pin by hand, then drive it in until it sits flush on both sides and the retainer holds it.

    Hand sledge

  6. A hand pulls on the new tooth, which stays put.

    Step 6 of 6

    Check every tooth

    Pull and twist each tooth by hand: none should rock or slide. Check them again at the end of the first shift.

Common mistakes

  • Reusing old pins and retainers: worn ones let the pin walk out and the tooth falls off.
  • Running teeth until the adapter wears: adapters are welded on and cost far more to replace.
  • Working under a bucket held up only by the hydraulics.
  • Buying teeth by look alone: tooth systems that look alike often do not fit each other.

Questions

How do I know when bucket teeth need replacing?

When the tip has worn blunt and short, or the tooth is wearing back toward the adapter. Change them before the adapter nose starts to wear.

Can I reuse the pins and retainers?

It is not worth it. New teeth usually come with or need new pins and retainers, and a worn retainer is the most common reason a tooth falls off.

What is the difference between pin-on, bolt-on and weld-on teeth?

Pin-on teeth slide onto an adapter and are held by a pin and retainer. Bolt-on teeth bolt to the cutting edge. Weld-on teeth or adapters are welded to the lip and need a welder to change.

How do I find the right teeth for my bucket?

Read the part number cast into the old tooth or the adapter, or ask the dealer with your machine model and bucket width. Teeth from different systems can look alike and still not fit.

Updated

Different machine? Snap yours.

Mechy reads the machine and the part from your photo and redraws the steps, tools and parts for it.

Use my photo

First guide free. No sign-up, no card.

Use my photo