As most of you know on the rock hopper the 2 aluminum eyes that hold the rock hopper to the feeder belt are the weakest point on the rock hopper . If the loader man hits the hopper it usually breaks those eyes. Ours has been hit and re welded on the hopper so many times it was getting to be weld on top of weld on top of weld. So I came up with this plate that bolts onto the rock hopper to take place of the 2 aluminum eyes (see photos). So far it is working very good. One of the main reasons we did this is because we do not have a aluminum welder and have to hire it out. We have regular welder and I can re weld steel on if it breaks. Let me know what you think.

Our's is a little different, but also steel. I don't have a good picture handy, but you can kind of see it. That is of coarse if I don't mess up posting it.

[IMG]http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/Kanutin/DSCN0415.jpg[/IMG]

One more try.

Fish is that you (just kidding)? I noticed that you keep your lo-profile hopper On tube by it's self. I just got back from a job where the crew left before me a I had to muscle the lo-pro hopper under the bigger hopper cause that's where I store it. Guess it does'nt take a genius to figger out it can go next to it. How do you keep it secured to the tunnel? Did you weld a couple of pins like the bigger hopper has? Terry.

Mike,

Really nice looking job. Professional!

It has been my experience that when you use lock washers on aluminum they should be placed over flat washers so as not to have the vibration dig the locks into the extrusions.

Yeah, there's a pin on each side.

Bob thanks. I would love to take credit for it but I can't. I will take credit for the design but not the construction. Our dispatchers ex owns a welding shop and I had him make it for us. He does most of our precision stuff. I will fix the lock washer thing you talked about. One problem with this design is we didn't use heavy enough eyelets. Gonna have to get something bigger they are deforming. It's an easy fix though.