Bucket hooks with round top bar?

[skyhook]

Thank's Chim, I assumed they were individual fork's, I see now that it's a whole unit.
Great idea.:thumbsup:

 

[Xfaxman]

I'd weld a piece of flat bar between the top of the lip to the bend and mount the hooks to that.

There are alternatives. I used slotted heavy angle on the last two tractors for the past 22 years and prefer it over hooks. The chain drops into the slots easily. I can unhook the load by rolling the bucket fully, dropping it, and backing away. Extra chain can be dropped into the slots to keep it out of the way. They are bolted on against the back of the lip.

Slots are what I prefer. One advantage over hooks is you can also run the chain down the back of the bucket for maximum lifting power.

Also two chains over the front an one or two over the back to better control and position what you are lifting.

Like this.

 

[torchroadster]

The extra slots are mostly for keeping extra chain out of the way. There are times when I'll pick something with only one chain. Like Wednesday evening I picked the rear blade to put it in the shed. For storage it sits on the face of the blade with the frame locked so it takes up less space. Dropping the extra chain into the spare slots kept it out of the way. Without plenty of slots, extra chain would probably end up being carried in the bucket and getting dumped out when I roll the bucket.

There are times when I want to pick something and keep it parallel with the bucket using two chains. Then the outside angles are used and there are still plenty of slots to drop the extra chain into.

The bucket doesn't roll far enough to dump the load and the chains won't slip out of the slots until the top of the bucket is roughly as low as the connection to the item being picked and moving away from it.

Making decent slots was just a matter of drilling holes and sawing to them from the edge of the angle.

I went to buy angle today but the thickest my supplier had was 1/4" . That doesn't seem sturdy enough to me so I passed. What thickness are you using?

 

[kennyd]

I went to buy angle today but the thickest my supplier had was 1/4" . That doesn't seem sturdy enough to me so I passed. What thickness are you using?

You can get some door/window "lintel" angle, usually available in 5/16 and 3/8, and also one leg is longer than the other.

 

[chim]

I used 4x4x5/16" on mine. The bottom leg is trimmed off about even with the bend in the bucket. I have not been able to damage the angle regardless of what I hooked up to.

Yesterday I used the Kubota to relocate an 86 Volvo wagon that was in harm's way for dropping the tree (of course it wouldn't start). I was alone at the time so I chained up to what I guess is a shipping tiedown point behind an access panel in the air dam. The Kubota was able to pick up the front of the wagon for course correction.

 

[RHP]

Thanks for the shout out BCP, but I think the agle iron welded to the top rounded part, then to the roof of the bucket might be the best solution as GP noted in post #6.

This is the solution I used years ago with my New Holland bucket. It offers a flat place to weld the hooks and strengthens the top of the bucket at the same time. Because you're welding flat to curved, there are voids that are easily filled with sections of round bar filler material. Lots of choices are offered in this thread.

 

[Ralph Copp]

Just reinforce the top of my bucket today. Added 2x3 tubing and had to increase the sides. I put pins aligned with lift arms and chain grab in the center. I used 1/2" plate under all 3 hookups.

 

[Bradbilt]

I'll try and get pics of my bucket. I have 3 hooks welded on. I used some 1/4" plate in 6x6 squares welded directly to the top of the bucket. That helps disperse the load. then the hooks were welded to the flat plates

 

[torchroadster]

Time to report back on what I ended up with. I fabbed the slotted chain bracket using 4" x 3/8" thick angle. I am fortunate to have a small milling machine so I used that to machine the slots. I bolted it to the bucket with 3 - 1/2" bolts. I am very happy with it - easy to attach the chain and adjust the length. There have been zero problems with the chain coming off when I didn't want it too. I have attached a few pictures of the fabrication and in use. My next step is to make two more for installation in front of the loader arms. I will probably take the first one off and put a couple coats of paint on it.

 

[kennyd]

Looks great TR, that's a fine solution! Nice to have a milling machine also, I'd be lost some days without mine...