-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Eqp4D5eaKjRY3Z8ZMdz0VtwL7DRD/3rt/f0fQ7c1W7sVcX4Qh313sw0ORIZtG4f5
 NNKZMLqZmv+taFdysQSNyA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000740761-08-000013.txt : 20080304
<SEC-HEADER>0000740761-08-000013.hdr.sgml : 20080304
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080304202254
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000740761-08-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080304
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bosbous John F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001297861

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00871
		FILM NUMBER:		08665848

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		414-768-4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 500
		STREET 2:		1100 MILWAUKEE AVENUE
		CITY:			SOUTH MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53172

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUCYRUS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000740761
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING MACHINERY & EQUIP (NO OIL & GAS FIELD MACH & EQUIP) [3532]
		IRS NUMBER:				390188050
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 500
		STREET 2:		1100 MILWAUKEE AVENUE
		CITY:			SOUTH MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53172-0500
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4147684000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 500
		STREET 2:		1100 MILWAUKEE AVENUE
		CITY:			SOUTH MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53172-0500

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BUCYRUS ERIE CO /DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BECOR WESTERN INC/DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740761</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BUCYRUS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BUCY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297861</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bosbous John F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1100 MILWAUKEE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53172</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9522</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>103.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1150</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1150</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>39.763</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>21000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects &quot;base&quot; restricted stock under the Omnibus Incentive Plan 2007.  The &quot;base&quot; restricted stock vests on December 31, 2009, but vesting is accelerated to 25% on December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the event certain financial performance criteria are met.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects &quot;premium&quot; restricted stock under the Omnibus Incentive Plan 2007.  The &quot;premium&quot; restricted stock partially vests in an amount between 20-25% on December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the event certain financial performance criteria are met and all partially vested shares fully vest on December 31, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Grant to reporting person of restricted stock under the Omnibus Incentive Plan 2007.  The restricted stock vests on December 31, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The stock appreciation rights are granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan 2007 and will incrementally vest 10%, 15%, 25% and 50%, respectively, on December 31, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The stock appreciation rights are granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan 2007 and will incrementally vest 10%, 15%, 25% and 50%, respectively, on December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/John F. Bosbous</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----