Undercarriage & wear parts
Removing a seized bucket tooth pin
Tools that actually help
A brass or soft-steel drift rather than a hardened punch — a hardened punch on a hardened pin chips the pin end and makes the job harder. A press or a pin pusher rather than a sledgehammer. Penetrating oil applied the day before, not five minutes before. Heat applied to the adapter around the bore, never to the pin.
What not to use: an oxy-acetylene torch on the pin itself. Heating the pin expands it in the bore, which is the opposite of what you want, and it destroys the pin's hardness.
If the pin is bent
A bent pin will not come out by any amount of force along its axis, because it is no longer straight in the bore. The realistic options are to press it out with enough force to straighten it as it moves — which often damages the bore — or to cut it. If it has to be cut, plan on inspecting the adapter bore before fitting a new pin.
A pin that will not come out is the most common reason a tooth replacement turns into a half-day job. The risk is not the pin — it is damaging the adapter bore while trying to remove it.
Why pins seize
- Corrosion between pin and bore, especially on machines working near water or in clay.
- Dirt ingress past a worn retainer, packing into the clearance.
- Deformation — a bent pin from impact, which will not slide out no matter what.
- Peened ends from repeated hammering during a previous replacement.
Order of attack, least damaging first
- Penetrating oil and time. Apply, leave overnight. Not dramatic, but it works on corrosion.
- Heat. Heat the adapter around the bore, not the pin. The goal is to expand the bore, not to melt anything. Keep heat away from any seal or rubber component nearby.
- Press, not hammer. A hydraulic press applies force along the pin axis. Hammering deforms the pin end and makes it harder to remove.
- Drill out as a last resort. This is where adapters get damaged. If you reach this step, expect that the adapter bore may need attention.
What not to do
Do not hammer the pin end flat. A peened pin is wider than the bore and will never come out. Do not cut the tooth off and leave the pin in place — the next removal is worse.
Prevention on refit
Clean the bore before fitting, apply anti-seize to the pin, and fit a new retainer. A retainer that costs almost nothing is what prevents the next seized pin.
Adapter damaged during removal?
If the bore is scored or ovalised, the adapter needs replacing — a new pin will not hold. Send photos and dimensions to alfrun@gmail.com for a fitment check.
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Reviewed by Zhonglei M&E parts desk — export trading partner for undercarriage and wear parts. Last updated 2026-11-13.