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.

 

[Big Barn]

Personally I think that’s a bad idea. Just weld on a couple of hooks or lifting eyes. You’ll be able to make that work for everything.

 

[WranglerX]

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.

I have to agree... Strut is for static load, if you start torquing on it its going to bend/deform and release bolt/nut/hook/loop.... Whatever.... Bad Idea...

Dale

 

[goeduck]

I agree that strut is not going to be near strong enough, I would just weld or bolt on a few more hooks to give the versatility if that is important. Preference would be to weld. As for me, I have a slip hook in the middle and a grab hook on each side.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I agree that strut is not going to be near strong enough, I would just weld or bolt on a few more hooks to give the versatility if that is important. Preference would be to weld. As for me, I have a slip hook in the middle and a grab hook on each side.

I am about to weld that same setup on my bucket after the single grab hook that I had mounted in the bucket center broke off when a log I was dragging hung up and popped the hook off. My poor novice welding was likely to blame

 

[RjCorazza]

If multiple points are necessary, consider cutting chain slots in a heavy piece of angle iron across the bucket. I did that on a previous loader, and it worked great.

 

[mpsmith60]

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.

Kenny, I agree with you 100%. Unistrut is great, but not intended for severe side loading. That's an accident waiting to happen. BTW, I have a set of your bolt-ongrab hooks mounted on my Kubota FEL bucket and one on the back of my backhoe bucket. I LOVE them!

Martin

 

[kennyd]

Kenny, I agree with you 100%. Unistrut is great, but not intended for severe side loading. That's an accident waiting to happen. BTW, I have a set of your bolt-ongrab hooks mounted on my Kubota FEL bucket and one on the back of my backhoe bucket. I LOVE them!

Martin

Thank you Martin :thumbsup:

 

[goeduck]

Here is a slip hook with keeper that I am going to weld on the center of my small bucket. I will also mount a grab hook on each side of that bucket.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Here is a slip hook with keeper that I am going to weld on the center of my small bucket. I will also mount a grab hook on each side of that bucket.
View attachment 612567

That is the same hook I just mounted on my bucket center and also will mount 2 grab hooks in line with the loader arms.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Done