Bucket hooks, should have done it earlier.

[JoelD]

The only item I've found to be handier than my bucket hook are my forks. They are amazingly versatile. I can pick up just about anything and being able to easily move pallets around, I can now put stuff on pallets and then move around that way. Nothing better for logs.

I really like my pallet forks, and man were they easy to build. $40 worth of pallet rack steel and chain and a little cutting and welding and I was done.

Joel

[Gary Fowler]

Sparkler123; I hope you put more weld on than the tack welds is in the photo. I had to use the same type hook because I was unable to find the weld on type. I took my chop saw and sawed the bottom edge off so the round eye was no more. I was at an Atwoods (similar to TSC) and since I wanted some stiffener steel and they had no flat bar, I ended up getting some plates that were for bolting together leaf springs and 3/8" thick. I welded these solid to the FEl including the 4 1/2" bolt holes in the middle of the plates for added weld strength. I then welded my hooks to the leaf spring plate. Since it was about 4x8 inches in size it fit nicely on the top edge and gave me plenty of area to spread the load. I think the leaf spring plates were about $4 each and the 3/8" chain hook a couple bucks each so about 10-12 in cost for material minus the weld rod, electricity and my time. Sorry no pretty pictures. Didnt get a chance to paint them up before I blew a hydraulic hose and got oil all over so have to clean that up good next trip home and try to get some black paint to stick. I had thought about the swivel connectors, but didnt want to listen to them rattling around all the time. If I need to hook up from the rear, I will just add another hook facing the opposite direction.

[weedpharma]

Originally Posted by Cacinok

perhaps his next project could be some custom spinners for all four wheels.

nice job weehpharma, i definitely like the ability to to move the hook from front to back and/or to be able to use a shackle. any reason you bolted 'em on versus welding?

The main reason was that my workshop is in the city and the farm only has 12v solar for power. It also means that if I ever need to remove them, it is a simple matter with a spanner.

Weedpharma

[weedpharma]

Originally Posted by OlderToday

Dang...I like that. I been hacking code since '72, hex, octal, and binary and it still took me a few seconds to get it!

I actually stole it from someone else in an electronics forum. I likewise thought it very clever.

Weedpharma

[sparker133]

Originally Posted by Gary Fowler

Sparkler123; I hope you put more weld on than the tack welds is in the photo. I had to use the same type hook because I was unable to find the weld on type. I took my chop saw and sawed the bottom edge off so the round eye was no more. I was at an Atwoods (similar to TSC) and since I wanted some stiffener steel and they had no flat bar, I ended up getting some plates that were for bolting together leaf springs and 3/8" thick. I welded these solid to the FEl including the 4 1/2" bolt holes in the middle of the plates for added weld strength. I then welded my hooks to the leaf spring plate. Since it was about 4x8 inches in size it fit nicely on the top edge and gave me plenty of area to spread the load. I think the leaf spring plates were about $4 each and the 3/8" chain hook a couple bucks each so about 10-12 in cost for material minus the weld rod, electricity and my time. Sorry no pretty pictures. Didnt get a chance to paint them up before I blew a hydraulic hose and got oil all over so have to clean that up good next trip home and try to get some black paint to stick. I had thought about the swivel connectors, but didnt want to listen to them rattling around all the time. If I need to hook up from the rear, I will just add another hook facing the opposite direction.

There is alot more welds there than it looks trust me. I also cut the bottom of the hooks down. I have already lifted about 1400lbs with no problems. Thanks for the concern.

[Mattlt]

Originally Posted by OlderToday

Dang...I like that. I been hacking code since '72, hex, octal, and binary and it still took me a few seconds to get it!

I like it too! I had a co-worker that always liked to give his age in hex - x'28' sounded a lot better than 40!

[PANHAPP]

Dont cut the round eye off of your hooks. They work great for attaching ratchet straps.

[Workstead]

Originally Posted by JoelD

The only item I've found to be handier than my bucket hook are my forks. ...

I really like my pallet forks, and man were they easy to build. $40 worth of pallet rack steel and chain and a little cutting and welding and I was done.

Joel

Hey Joel,

Any pictures of your forks? I have some pallet rack steel hanging around looking to be used.

Clem

[JoelD]

Not trying to hyjack thread, I really do use my forks all the time.

Joel

[jcummins]

I put bucket hooks on my M7040 and couldn't do without them. It even made me wonder why the buckets were not made with them from the factory. Then, I bought a grapple couple of months ago and haven't used the hooks since then.