bucket chain hook alternative

[gerard]

Here's what I made instead of welding/bolting three chain hooks on the top of the bucket. It's a heavy piece of 3 inch angle iron. Used a grinder to cut the slots, drilled some holes and bolted it to the top of the bucket. Works the same as a clevis hook and has the added benefit of beefing up the top of the bucket and distributing the pulling force along the length of the angle iron. I don't think my tractor has the ummph to bend this setup. Just an idea for the welding challenged

 

[JB4310]

Should be OK as long as your loader can't bend it, also make sure you don't roll the bucket forward to far when you have a loaded chain on it, chain could slip out, but that could happen to any vertical mounted chain hook, like mine.

Good luck,
JB.

 

[gerard]

Neither issue is a problem, even all the way rolled forward the chain can't slip out and the angle iron is unbendable with the tractor power/traction. The wheels will spin when pulling and with only 800 lb lift capacity I can't life enough to bend the top lip of the bucket like I've seen done opn a lot of other tractors that just weld a hook to the bucket, concentrating all the weight to a small area

 

[gerard]

Looks like your bucket is double walled on the top and so is a lot sturdier. My bucket just has the curled lip but is pretty thin and bendable otherwise. I've seen too many buckets bent because just welding a hook concentrates all the weight on a small area.

 

[allen in texas]

jb4310,
I love that receiver hitch on the bucket. I'm gonna build me one. Wonder how much weight it will take before the top of the bucket tries to bend?

 

[JB4310]

jb4310,
I love that receiver hitch on the bucket. I'm gonna build me one. Wonder how much weight it will take before the top of the bucket tries to bend?

Yeah it's very handy, my bucket is double walled at the top, not sure what the max would be? it'd be easy to reinforce it if necessary. here's my thread on the subject if you care to read more.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/93535-bucket-buddy-instead-weld-hooks.html

Good luck
JB.