Bucket hooks

[Kevin37]

Mornin' All

I'm having the dealer put bucket hook(s) on the FEL before I take delivery. I'll be dragging a lot of trees around as I clear and clean up several acres of woods.

Question: How many hooks and where do they usually put them?

Thanks
Kevin

 

[Henro]

I put a slip hook in the center and grab hooks aligned with the arms on each side. THe slip hook was because I figured i could use a strap or rope with it if I had reason to. I usually use chains though. Chains all the time really, so I could have used three grab hooks I suppose.

I tend to pull/lift from the center most of the time. I run the chain through the slip hook and into one of the grab hooks.

Attached is a photo of the way I did it. If you do a search you will find a lot of photos I think.

 

[Kevin37]

Henro

Thanks. I wasn't trying to be the lazy guy that doesn't use the search feature /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm at work and I wanted to call the dealer ASAP so I could keep the delivery on track. I was hoping someone on TBN would shoot an answer right back. It's tough to have the TBN site on the screen at work and not have it be seen.

Kevin
Counting the days till I'm Green /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[BB_TX]

Definitely go with 3 hooks. There are times when it is better to use the 2 outside hooks and times when it is better to use the single middle hook.

 

[Richard]

probably too late to comment for you, but I'd vote 3 hooks also. I recently transplanted a bunch of trees and had them hooked to my center hook (and only hook). I butchered a couple of trees because they were top heavy and fell to side sliding across bucket lip and it cut them up.

Had I had 3 hooks installed, I would have hooked to all three locations & helped imobilize the tree in the center.

You dont ever have to use them, but when you need them, you'll wish they were there.

 

[ljh2]

One additional thought is that you might have them weld a little reinforcing to the upper lip of the bucket to support the load on the hooks. Standard buckets can get a little distorted if you start pulling hard on the hooks.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> One additional thought is that you might have them weld a little reinforcing to the upper lip of the bucket to support the load on the hooks. </font>

Good point. Before I welded those hooks on my bucket pictured above, I welded a piece of 1/4 2x2 angle across the top lip.

That also gave a good place to weld the hooks to, and it makes for a very strong bucket when accompanied by a toothbar on the lower lip.

 

[Kevin37]

Thanks for the input guys.

I was at the dealer this morning to sign some paperwork and I talked to them about the hooks. I'm getting one on each side of the bucket where they'll be reinforced by the bucket sides. They did say that a center hook would distort the bucket under a heavy load because there is no extra steel under it. I'll try with the two and alter down the road. I am getting a toothbar, so that should help strengthen the bottom lip.

The dealer is waiting for the extras I ordered to come in so I'm still waiting for the big day! It was a tease today climbing all over the tractors on the lot. Should be able to set up delivery next week.

Kevin
Still tractor-less /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[riptides]

Sounds like your doing the right thing. Next week will be here before you know it.

Don't forget them pics.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rozett]

My father-in-law has been a welder for many years. When I first got my tractor, I asked him to weld on a hook. He argued against putting hooks anywhere but the center. He did as Henro suggested, and welded a 4x8x1/4" plate to the top of the bucket and welded the hook to it. I know that others have not had any troubles with hooks welded near the loader arms, but I'll go by his 40 years of experience. Besides, the SO likes it when I follow her fathers advice. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif