Bucket and tipping links that let small earth-movers live up to their name

15 September 2023
Hardware bearings & bushings
Small earth-moving equipment
Bucket and tipping links that let small earth-movers live up to their name


Without their booms, arms and buckets, small earth-movers cannot move earth and are virtually useless. That goes without saying. The boom and arm are made up of various components that play a vital role in allowing the bucket to precisely move in all the necessary directions. For mini-excavators and backhoe loaders, two essential elements in this mechanism are bucket links and tipping links. Read all about these hardware components in this blog.

Bucket links

Bucket links

As their name suggests, these types of links are called bucket links because they are directly connected to the bucket of small earth-movers. In this position, they act as the main link to move the bucket in and out. Due to their shape, bucket links are also known as H-links or H-brackets.

Tipping links

Tipping links

Tipping links run from the lower part of the arm to the top of the bucket link. In this way, they act as the pivot arm to move the bucket. Just like bucket links, they also have alternative names that refer to their shape: side links or banana links.

How to easily locate bucket and tipping links

mini-excavator

Mini-excavators

  • The bucket link connects the lower part of the boom arm to the bucket.
  • The tipping links run from the lower part of the boom to the top of the bucket link.
backhoe loader

Backhoe loaders

Bucket and tipping links are part of both the bucket loader (at the front of the machine) and the backhoe (the boom arm at the back of the machine) of backhoe loaders:

  • The bucket link connects the lower part of the bucket loader and backhoe to the bucket.
  • The tipping links run from the lower part of the bucket loader and backhoe to the top of the bucket link.

Replacing bucket and tipping links

Small earth-movers such as mini-excavators and backhoe loaders are often used intensively for digging, levelling, trenching … in dirty environments such as construction sites. This, combined with the vibration of machines in use, means that bucket and tipping links are subject to wear.

However, it is impossible to predict exactly when bucket and tipping links will need to be replaced, since this also depends on various external factors such as the work environment and conditions, the operator’s technique, etc. Regular inspection and maintenance of the bucket and tipping links of small earth-movers are therefore essential.

When the bucket and tipping links have reached the end of their life and need to be replaced, it is advisable to check the entire assembly with pins and bushings. After all, bucket links, tipping links and their pins and bushings all wear out together, so it is highly likely that the latter will also need replacing.

Ready to order?

  • Check out this leaflet for a sneak peek of the bucket and tipping links in our range.
  • Go to our online shop to buy bucket and tipping links. They are available separately and as a complete assembly with bushings.
  • Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

About the authors

This blog post is brought to you by your construction equipment marketing team.

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