BackHoe Lift Hook Suggestions

GoodGuy · May 1, 2005

I'm looking to add a lift hook to my JD47 BackHoe for general purpose lifting. My first thought was to weld one on the bucket then felt that it probably would get in the way so my next thought was on the bracket that pivots the bucket. Ok, what are your suggestions ?? Thanks, Eric

txdon · May 1, 2005

Goodguy, I just go around the teeth and under the bracket and when I tilt the bucket it is like a second way to raise and lower. No worry about the heat on the bracket or pivot points, or a in the way hook on the bucket. Just a thought.
chain on BH bucket

GoodGuy · May 1, 2005

Don...
Hmmmmm, I like your idea, I'll have to look at my setup & see if I can run a chain thru the bracket like you show. Thanks for the pic, they're worth a thousand words.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, Eric

PineRidge · May 2, 2005

If you have any serious lifting to do I would suggest doing it with the FEL rather than the BH. The FEL is much better suited for lifting stumps or boulders from a hole than a BH is.

I don't think I would risk my dipper-stick myself, I've seen a few pictures of broken ones here at this site and they can't be cheap to replace.

HomeBrew2 · May 2, 2005

Great idea! It's amazing how simple some people can make things ... I tried something similar and wound up with a worthless wad of chain dangling from the bucket.
I also find the hoe to be a great lifting and hauling device: Intelligent use of the hoe for such things is, I believe, well within their capability. Reckless use and the resultant damage is another story altogether.

GoodGuy · May 2, 2005

Pine....
Thanks ! I'm thinking about putting my rear blade on the back of my pickup, picking up heavy items in the shop & moving them around. I'm getting older, back is not great, getting lazier & simply say "why not" let the tractor do the work. Make sense ?? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Eric

Tim_in_IA · May 2, 2005

My backhoe manual says not to raise items with a chain. I am not sure why. But what is also interesting is that it is okay to use a thumb to pick up large objects. It may have something to do with the position of the weight you are picking up relative to the weight of the backhoe arm. Not sure.

HomeBrew2 · May 2, 2005

That's a good point to ponder. Maybe it's a swinging load thing. I know after this weekend of plucking and moving way-big rocks the ride to the pile I put them in was pretty danged exciting! The slighest irregularity on the ground really swayed my BX. Some places I even had to gently angle the boom to the high side to compensate. I'm thinking one may have a tough time controlling a load SWINGING on a chain ... while driving anyway.

nobull1 · May 7, 2005

Eric,
I welded one on the back of the bucket on my excavator. What I did was curl the bucket all the way back then positioned the hook on the bucket. With the hook in this position it makes it easy to do vertical lifts. The other benefit is you can uncurl the bucket and fine tune the height and depth positioning by having the chain running along the back of the bucket . With the hook in back it has caused no problems digging. Just make sure it is as far back(up) as possible. I also got my buddy down the road to weld it on. He spent about a half hour welding with penetrating and filling rods. I have a welder but these guy's do it for a living.You really don't want it to come loose when you least expect it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. By the way I thought I would use it once in a while. I find I use it all the time and don't know how I did without. I also used a slip hook as opposed to a grab hook. Most of my chains I have one of each on each side. The advantage of a slip hook is it doesn't seem to damage rope or wire cable when you have to use them.

GoodGuy · May 9, 2005

Brian...
Thanks for info, you know I want a pic or are you gonna say, buddy if you want to see it, stop by ?? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Eric