Bucket Hooks Weld hooks or bolt them ?

[Tractorguy1038]

Just got a new Cub Cadet Yanmar 32 HP and forgot to ask the dealer to weld drag hooks on the bucket. My old machine is a Bolens G274 and I used the hooks a lot. I don't have electricity on my "farm" and it's a 2 mile drive to take the tractor where they could be welded. I'm thinking of just bolting a couple hooks on. About the heaviest thing I lift is a 600# garden tractor. Any thoughts ?

 

[ustmd]

Just got a new Cub Cadet Yanmar 32 HP and forgot to ask the dealer to weld drag hooks on the bucket. My old machine is a Bolens G274 and I used the hooks a lot. I don't have electricity on my "farm" and it's a 2 mile drive to take the tractor where they could be welded. I'm thinking of just bolting a couple hooks on. About the heaviest thing I lift is a 600# garden tractor. Any thoughts ?

I was in the same boat.

I found a welder on CL--$70 for adding the hooks--including the hooks and paint

 

[RoyJackson]

Can you drop your bucket off the loader? If you have a pick up or a trailer, just take the bucket (although a 2 mile drive on your tractor shouldn't take too long either..10-15 minutes).
As far as welding vs. bolting...for what most of we CUT owners do, either should be of adequate strength. I do suggest you use grade 8 bolts though and large flat washers on the inside of the bucket (to distribute any stresses).

BTW, since you don't have electricity, how are you planning to drill the holes? A cordless drill probably won't hack it unless it's a professional model and you have plenty of battery packs.

 

[Tractorguy1038]

Good ideas - grade 8 and washers under. I do have a small 5,000 watt generator but that's not going to power a welder. Thanks

 

[JoelD]

I welded mine, I don't think there is much of a difference in smaller machines.

What I absolutely would do without is the c-channel I welded to the top side of my bucket so that I would have no chance of bending my bucket with a heavy load on the hook.

I would not install a hook without strengthening my top bucket edge.

As I was welding that on I just welded the hook on while I was at it.

Joel

 

[JoelD]

Good ideas - grade 8 and washers under. I do have a small 5,000 watt generator but that's not going to power a welder. Thanks

Yes it will, your 5000 watt will easily power a small buz box or 90 amp flux wire welder.

I've powered a small buz box with a 3500 watt generator no problem.

Joel

 

[kennyd]

Have you seen these?

Bolt on Grab Hooks

 

[BethesdaEC]

Have you seen these?

Bolt on Grab Hooks

I got mine a couple of weeks ago and used them for the first time today to pull over an 8 foot tall rotted stump. Thanks Kenny it's a great product.

 

[Raspy]

I welded my hooks onto small doubler plates to spread the load a bit. Then I bolted a set of D rings on in another place with grade 8 bolts and washers.

Either system works fine if done well enough.

 

[IslandTractor]

Yes it will, your 5000 watt will easily power a small buz box or 90 amp flux wire welder.

I've powered a small buz box with a 3500 watt generator no problem.

Joel

Agree. Watts = amps x volts so at 110v you have about 45 amps which is way more than a household 110v circuit. Any fluxcore 110V MIG would work. At 20amps of 220v from that generator you could run moderate voltage from a 220 welder too, plenty for 1/4 inch.

 

[JB4310]

Agree. Watts = amps x volts so at 110v you have about 45 amps which is way more than a household 110v circuit. Any fluxcore 110V MIG would work. At 20amps of 220v from that generator you could run moderate voltage from a 220 welder too, plenty for 1/4 inch.

Weld on grab link hooks with a 110 mig? Not me. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I wouldn't do it. Those hooks are pretty thick, .75" probably. I don't trust my welding skills enough, I'd have the 220V stick machine cranked up for that job

JB.

 

[Grateful11]

I'm not real wild about the style of these hooks but they're ready to bolt on.

10,000 Lb. Capacity Tow Hook Kit

Speaking of hooks here's a handy looking drawbar hook:

Tractor Drawbar Grab Hook

 

[IslandTractor]

Weld on grab link hooks with a 110 mig? Not me. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I wouldn't do it. Those hooks are pretty thick, .75" probably. I don't trust my welding skills enough, I'd have the 220V stick machine cranked up for that job

JB.

I appreciate the scepticism regarding 110v welders but remember the bucket lip is probably 1/4 inch at most. Yes, those hooks are big (but not 3/4 inch I don't believe). Still, weldable with a 110v fluxcore machine with appropriate technique. Certainly ain't gonna be done in a single pass. Would 220v be better? Sure bigger welders are usually better but with a 5000 watt generator there are some practical limits to what even a bigger welder could do. It really boils down to the welders skill more than the size of the welder.

 

[JB4310]

I'm not real wild about the style of these hooks but they're ready to bolt on.

10,000 Lb. Capacity Tow Hook Kit

I bought a couple, haven't decided what for yet but they would work for just about anything, sling, cable, rope, chain etc. and a higher capacity than a weld on chain grab hook, which is 6,600 Lb for 3/8 grade 70.

JB.

 

[JB4310]

I appreciate the scepticism regarding 110v welders but remember the bucket lip is probably 1/4 inch at most. Yes, those hooks are big (but not 3/4 inch I don't believe). Still, weldable with a 110v fluxcore machine with appropriate technique. Certainly ain't gonna be done in a single pass. Would 220v be better? Sure bigger welders are usually better but with a 5000 watt generator there are some practical limits to what even a bigger welder could do. It really boils down to the welders skill more than the size of the welder.

I agree about the skill level, I'll have to take your word about the multi pass part, I'm just a one pass man. One big, pretty sloppy pass :laughing:
Though I have surprised myself on some of my welds since I upgraded to dc stick. inconsistent though as far as looks goes, nothing I've welded ever failed, but wouldn't win a beauty pageant ether.

I don't know if the bucket wall is even 1/4, mine is double walled and I'm pretty sure the walls aren't 1/4. So I think you would need a heavier plate between or put it on a reinforced part of the bucket top.

JB.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree about the skill level, I'll have to take your word about the multi pass part, I'm just a one pass man. One big, pretty sloppy pass :laughing:
Though I have surprised myself on some of my welds since I upgraded to dc stick. inconsistent though as far as looks goes, nothing I've welded ever failed, but wouldn't win a beauty pageant ether.

I don't know if the bucket wall is even 1/4, mine is double walled and I'm pretty sure the walls aren't 1/4. So I think you would need a heavier plate between or put it on a reinforced part of the bucket top.

JB.

Agree these are all considerations. It basically still comes down to the welder's skill and planning.

Bird poop welds hold much of this country together. The trick is to use enough of them.

 

[amaxwell]

I had a pro weld my hooks to a 1/2 X 3" piece of steel the entire lenght of the bucket: then bolted that to the top of the bucket with bolts near each side of the 3 hooks and one at each end . Looks nice and strenghtens the bucket too; painted it cub yellow.Congrats. on the cub/yanmar purchase I think you will love it,I do my EX 450 I also put a 3/8 piece on the underside ;but large washers would probably work also.

 

[galaxie428]

I don't know which would be better, I guess that would depend on your skills at either using a welder or if you have something that could drill metal. I chose to weld some hooks not on my bucket but on my bobtach part of my loader. The metal was thicker and with the bucket off I can lift more.

These are what I bought. They have a nice beveled edge along the bottom which makes the welding easier.

Weld-On Grab Hook - Grade 70 - 5/16" | AW Direct

 

[Perplexed]

When I bought my CCY tractor, I asked for three 3/8" hooks to be welded onto the bucket - one in the center and one in front of each loader arm. The fellow who did the welding used a triangular piece of 1/2" steel on the inside of the bucket, directly below each hook. The piece of steel fits into the angle formed by the top wall and back wall of the bucket, and it acts as a support bracket for the hook. The welder's comment was that the brackets would lend more support than a flat piece of bar welded along the top of the bucket's lip. I thought it was a nifty alternative, and the brackets cannot be seen unless the bucket is curled and raised a couple feet, or you crouch down to peer up under the lip of the bucket.

 

[RoyJackson]

The welder's comment was that the brackets would lend more support than a flat piece of bar welded along the top of the bucket's lip. I thought it was a nifty alternative, and the brackets cannot be seen unless the bucket is curled and raised a couple feet, or you crouch down to peer up under the lip of the bucket.

He's right...adding any kind of bend increases stiffness.