Bow shackle mounts

[Teikas Dad]

I'm in the process of getting together everything to add chain hooks to my FEL bucket. I wanted to be able to use a
couple bow shackles my bucket too so I could attach nylon straps, rope and things like that. I was going to try to fabricate something out of angle steel and not having a 3/4 drill bit, I went to buy one of them. Big box wanted $21.00 for a 3/4 inch twist drill.

I found these online for $20 a pair including shipping. They are being offered at 1"X2"X4 3/4". They are really made for a Jeep bumper, but I figured if they were shorter, like 2 1/2" they would work on top of the bucket lip or even welded to the inside of the top bucket lip. I made contact with the ebay vendor and he said he could produce them with a 2 1/2" length.

I know, I could have fabricated them myself....if I had 1" thick by 2" wide stock and a 3/4" drill bit, but I figured it wasn't worth my time or the cost of a drill bit for the $20 so I ordered a set.

Here's a link to the online auction if anyone else is interested.

Extreme Duty Weld thru Shackle Mounts 1" Thick | eBay



His ebay store: Knockover Targets A36, Jeep and Offroad items in Ground Pounder Fab store on eBay!

 

[JRP]

Very nice.

Chain hooks are also available that have a hole instead of a chain pin. The shackle can mount thru the hole.

When you weld the hook be sure the slot tilts up so gravity hold the chain in the slot.

It would be frustrating to have the chain slip out from tractor vibration or every bump!

BTW, 3/8" chain hooks work fine for 1/4, 5/16, and 3/8 chain. IMHO

 

[Teikas Dad]

Got the shackle mounts in the mail today. These things are beefy. 1" thick X 2" deep X 2 1/2" high.

I've also got a set that I bought from Ken's Bolt On. I paid $20 total for the ebay mounts and Ken's are $5 each plus $12 shipping. (I did buy 5 of the weld on plates, 3 chain grab hooks and a 1/2" bow shackle too that were shipped in the same box.)

Here's a comparison between the two. Ken's are 1/2" thick versus the ebay mounts which are 1". They are both 2" front to back.

I'm going to weld a piece of 3X3 angle on the top of my bucket lip and weld three chain hooks and two of the shackle mounts to the top.

This photo was taken using a piece of 2X2 that I had laying around just for the concept.

Here's what the shackle mounts look like on the lip of the loader.

With the 1" mounts (ebay) I will need to use 5/8" bow shackles. The Ken's only need a 1/2" bow shackle.

Now I'm undecided about which mounts are going where. I'm putting two chain grab hooks directly in front of the loader arms on the steel angle and one centered on the top of the bucket. I was going to put the shackle mounts about 6" outboard of the loader arms figuring that I would not be lifting anything as heavy with a strap, rope or hook compared to a chain so I could go slightly outside the width of the loader arms. I'm thinking that the heavier mounts and shackles may be overkill on top of the bucket so what I'm considering is using the Ken's mount on top of the bucket then take one of the heavy mounts, weld it to a small steel plate and weld that to the underside of bucket top in the center. That way I can lift something heavy with the one center mount. Then I'll take the second heavy mount and weld it to the back of my backhoe bucket so I can use that to lift also. Or, mount the heavy ones on top of the lip, one of the Ken's inside the top of the bucket and backhoe.....decisions, decisions. You guys have a lot more experience with this than me, what do you think?

 

[JRP]

Consider this for heavy lifting. You have a bucket that can be removed and increase lift capacity by the bucket weight, but you would want to lift with both loader arms so you don't torque the loader frame. This is the only way I can lift the 16 ft concrete beams used with a cattle guard. Consider chain hooks on the loader arm.

The only time I use lift holes like you are contemplating is when I lift my bucket, not attached to the tractor. Can't ever remember using a rope. Only chain. Knots can be hard to untie.

To lift the bucket I welded on two 1" nuts, the cost about 50 cents each. They are not pretty.

 

[Baby Grand]

I think Ken's are plenty big enough for anything you could possibly lift with an SCUT FEL. If you're loading it to the point of damaging the 1/2" pieces, you're FEL is in for a very short life. They are meant for scooping and straight lifting. They are relatively fragile in most other uses. I'd much rather have a shackle "fuse" than to break the FEL in almost any scenario that I can think up.

 

[BWSSR]

did you build the quick connect brackets that are mounted on the FEL ends?
Ok, found out that is an option on the B3200 w/ the LA504 loader. Can this be used on the L3200 w/ LA524 loader?...anyone knkow..sorry to hijack...guna do the hooks to mine as well.
Thanks