Bucket hook reinforcement

mlmartin · Jul 3, 2001

I have the hooks on my FEL bucket at both ends as well. Very handy for picking up objects like the 5 1/2 foot granite curbstone that I placed as a step in front of the back door of the barn. This weekend I'll be placing a 7 foot granite billet in front of the front barn door. Two chains, two hooks, no problem.

BTW, both of these pieces of stone were "found" by my backhoe when pulling stumps and cutting a swale.

I've also used both hooks and a chain to hold boulders that were too large to fit completely into the bucket.

Matthew

alan40 · Jul 7, 2001

Derek, just let me know the day and I'll stop down an pick up a couple of good thick T-bones to throw on the grill with all the fixin's!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Oh guess I better pick up the hooks too!!!!! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Have a great weekend,
Al

Ray_G · Jul 10, 2001

Has anyone tried to bolt the hook on their bucket ? I do not have access to a good enough welder and was going to see if I could get a hook that could be bolted on .

RobS · Jul 10, 2001

I used a bolt on tow hook and it works well. Only drawback is it's a slip hook, not a grab hook. I use a "grab ring" when I need a grab hook there. It's a forged ring with a grab slot at one end. Minor inconvenience, but saved me having to weld /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird · Jul 10, 2001

Ray, I drilled two holes on each end (on top) of the bucket and mounted my hooks on U-bolts, so I can swing them forward when I want to use them, and they lay back out of the way the rest of the time. I welded brackets on for my fork lift forks and welded hooks would interfere with that.

Bird

PaulT · Jul 19, 2001

Bird,

Can you post a picture of your hook setup? I bought the weldable grab hooks (no clevis), but I like your idea. Is it strong enough?

PaulT

Bird · Jul 19, 2001

PaulT, here's a picture of the hook on one end of the bucket; laid back out of the way.

Bird

Bird · Jul 19, 2001

And here's what it looks like with a chain attached. Of course, when the hooks are not being used, they swing around a bit and take some paint off the bucket. And I bought Kubota paint to paint the steel plate I welded on the end of the bucket for my forks, but never applied it./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Anyway, I mounted my hooks like this for two reasons: (1) used material on hand without buying anything/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif, and (2) they're out of the way when I want to put the forks on.

Bird