Bucket Hooks

[jmc]

Everyone needs and loves bucket hooks. I've had this tractor a couple years now. The guy I bought it from had just one bucket hook. It is in the center. A little hard to use for a lot of things so I finally put hooks on the ends. After I welded the first one on backwards (Duh - I have an excuse but it is pretty lame.) I decided to just go with it and put a second one backwards in case I ever want to hang chains off the back of the bucket. So I ended up with a reverse pair and a forward pair of hooks plus a pair of lugs for a 1/2" shackle. The first chance I get I will use the backwards hooks just to make me feel better.

View attachment 607956

gg

It looks fine and purposeful- like when you don't want the loose end of the chain dangling in the bucket.

 

[lennyzx11]

You did it that way to minimize leverage from a heavy load. Dropping a chain behind the bucket allows you to pick up closer to loader pins!

Everyone will say you’re brilliant!

 

[TractorGuy]

Gave mine a test yesterday. It held.

 

[RoyKing]

Is that a mep 802a genset

 

[goeduck]

My preference is a slip hook in the middle and a grab hook off to each side. All large loads should lifted centered do the fl is not twisted. With the slip in the middle the load is secured by a grab hook on either side. Small loads can be hooked direct to a grab hook.

 

[Blstr88]

Is it pretty standard practice to weld a plate onto the top of the bucket, then weld the hooks onto that? Versus just welding the hooks directly onto the top of the bucket?

 

[k0ua]

Is it pretty standard practice to weld a plate onto the top of the bucket, then weld the hooks onto that? Versus just welding the hooks directly onto the top of the bucket?

It depends on how sturdy the top metal appears to be. Many loaders will profit by having a reinforcing plate welded on first to keep the weld from tearing out. But is unneeded on some others. In my case there was a piece of reinforcing metal already welded in place from the factory to weld hooks on to, so I did. The pix of the gray Kioti bucket shows that metal piece. The modified Kubota bucket has a piece of metal all across the top I put in myself

 

[chim]

Yesterday I bought an old side discharge Caroni 5' RFM to replace the one on the Ford. The seller had an L3130GST he used to load the deck on my trailer. I had taken my own chains, but his bucket had only a bare edge to hook the chains on. The experience made me glad I don't live with that setup. Buckets should have some means of connecting chains to them. My BIL has Ken's hooks and clevis mounts on his L4740HSTC and they're the ticket if you're not into DIY.

 

[Diggin It]

Figger me something .....

I want hooks, but I'm not sure I want them at a fixed point. I like the idea posted somewhere about slotted channel for versatility, but that still limits what can be attached.

I'm considering having a piece of electrical Super Strut welded to the bucket. They make a few different types of bolts and fasteners to work with the strut for strength but allow adjustment. I'm thinking of being able to use their fasteners to bolt hooks on that could be slid sideways as needed. That would also allow me to remove the hooks completely if necessary or to use other things like bolt eyes.

Remember, I have a 25HP SCUT with a smaller bucket and lower load capacity than most. I'm not pulling stumps or other heavy, solid loads. I'm just looking to be able to chain or strap things into the bucket for moving.

 

[kennyd]

Figger me something .....

I want hooks, but I'm not sure I want them at a fixed point. I like the idea posted somewhere about slotted channel for versatility, but that still limits what can be attached.

I'm considering having a piece of electrical Super Strut welded to the bucket. They make a few different types of bolts and fasteners to work with the strut for strength but allow adjustment. I'm thinking of being able to use their fasteners to bolt hooks on that could be slid sideways as needed. That would also allow me to remove the hooks completely if necessary or to use other things like bolt eyes.

I don't think unistrut would hold up in this application very well since you'd be pulling to the side of it. IMHO, you're overthinking the placement of the hooks, you can easily use fixed hooks with any chain lengths ( or straps if you prefer ) without the need to move the hooks, especially on a 4' or 5' bucket.