Bucket Hooks Hooks on buckets

[Rowski]

I have done some searching in the archives and have not come up with a good answer. I am wondering what you guys are using for hooks on or in your buckets. The front bucket is a heavy duty 72" bucket (loader model HH 7309). Also is it worth putting a hook on back side of the back hoe bucket (NH759c 9.5FT hoe)?

[Bird]

I don't know anything about hooks on the backhoe bucket, but I sure put two chain hooks on the top of the front end loader bucket, and use them a lot.

Bird

[Thomas]

I weld a slip hook to quarter inch flat plate steel for strenght, than welded it mid way of my bucket on top and works just fine.

Stay safe and[img]/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Thomas..NH

[EddieW]

I welded hooks on the top of the loader. I got the idea when I bought a box blade that hac 2 hooks and and a place to put a trailer ball already welded on it.

[Keoke]

Hi guys,
Consider using the tow hooks sold by auto parts houses for use on 4wd vehicles. You can get these in chrome with a chain retainer if it pleases your fancy. They come with two 1/2" bolt holes and be bolted to the bucket. Be sure to put large flat washers or a backup plate on the inside of bucket.

[Anonymous Poster]

You can see the loader hooks I added at:

http://www.his.com/~msimpson/tractor/hacker/rake.htm

I would have just attached the picture, but even though the FAQ says I would be able to attach files in the preview post screen, I did not see where to do it.

Andy

[TomG]

I was planning to put hooks on the loader bucket. I main use was to grapple ungainly things to the bucket. I ended up getting 3ph pallet forks, which do that sort of work much better than trying to move big things with a loader bucket. As a result, I don't think I'd use hooks on the bucket enough to put them on. The odd time I use the loader for material handling, I run chain over the arms or through the pipe.

A hook on a hoe bucket sounds useful if there's enough need. Seems like it would turn a hoe into a poor man's crane. A lot of front ballast would be a good idea, and the maximum loads probably would still fairly light.

For occasional use, it's almost always possible put a chain loop around something rather having to install hooks. The guy that did our house demolition with a JD590D hoe, moved our 40' construction trailer into place with the hoe. He just looped some chain around the bucket and the trailer tongue.

[Bird]

I'd certainly agree that if you don't have much use for hooks, I wouldn't put them on, but I use mine so much that I can't imagine not having them. And I don't use slip hooks or tow hooks; I use chain hooks so I can just quickly hook a chain in one side, throw a loop around whatever I'm lifting (like a barrel), pull it tight, and hook it on the other side. I've also pulled an awful lot of fence posts, steel stakes, etc. that way, and recently lifted a 454 cu.in. Chev. engine off a trailer (couldn't have done that with the 3-point pallet forks).

Bird

[roysallis]

Does welding or drilling on the bucket affectd the warranty?

[Bird]

roysallis, are you talking about the warranty on the tractor, the loader, or the bucket itself? I don't know of any effect welding or drilling on the bucket would have on any warranty, but I would assume there are ways you could damage, bend, or break the boom arms, hoses, cylinders, bucket, etc. that would be considered abuse and not be covered by the warranty.

What I actually did was drill two holes in the top of the bucket at either end and mounted my chain hooks with u-bolts (washers and nuts on both top and bottom of the u-bolts) so the hooks lay back on the top of the bucket when not in use. Then I welded a rectangular half inch steel plate on either end of the bucket so they stick up above the bucket, with a big hole through each to slide a pipe through to which I mount my fork lift forks when I use them. I also drilled one hole in the top of the bucket in the center, and bolt on a tow hook that holds and supports the center of the pipe when using the forks.

Now improper use with the forks could certainly damage something that I wouldn't expect to be covered by any warranty.

Bird