CARRYING WITH BUCKET HOOKS

[flINTLOCK]

I just took delivery of a NH TC40DA wednesday. I needed to move several implements including a disc, rake, box blade, rotary cutter and rock bucket to safe spot about 80 yards from delivery spot. If one of the the hydraulic toplink hoses was not leaking vigorously when first tested after delivery, no problem since most are 3-pt tools. No manual toplink available at the time, either. Decided to use bucket hooks and chains to very slowly mooch the pieces across clear flat ground to resting spot. I had to raise the bucket fairly high to get equipment moved, but left the pieces barely scraping the ground. Wanted to avoid pendulum effect of swinging equipment. This approach seems like the safest possible, short of waiting for the toplink to be redelivered. What do the safety police think??

 

[mjarrels]

Risk assessment... I never lift using bucket hooks (I have one on each side). I only use the hooks to secure chain for holding large items in bucket like 55 gallon barrels. When lifting, I will curl bucket and place chain hooks on the lip (cutting edge) on each side. My hooks are welded good but I don't trust them for heavy loads. Just my .02.

mark

 

[RoyJackson]

I do use the hooks to move implements.

With my rotary cutter, I get as close to the cutter's 3PH hook up frame as possible (bucket in the dump position...maybe not full dump), then rig the chain from one bucket hook to the cutter frame to the othe bucket hook. I'll raise the bucket enogh to get the front end of the cutter off the ground and tow it to where I want it. I do not lift the cutter completely off the ground even though my loader has the capacity. I do this because of how I store it in the outbuilding. There's no way I can hook up to the 3PH although that's the best way to transport it.
My back blade... Again, the bucket is low and aligned with the 3PH frame...chain it to the bucket hooks and off I go.
In both cases, the implement is just high enough to clear the ground or road.

If you've an old tire, it helps if you tie it to the grill guard...for obvious reasons.

If you do lift any heavy implement, make sure to add air to the front tires.

As far as how you did it...it worked and you typed a post...so I suppose your method was safe enough.

 

[flINTLOCK]

I like the idea of keeping old tire around. My brushguard protects the nose, but a little cushioning would be better. Thanks

 

[AKfish]

I use my bucket hooks to move implements, also. My FEL capacity is (depending upon what date/version of manual..) is right around 1,200 lbs at full-height.
Manual says that the loader will lift around 2,200 lbs at 1.5' high.

The 3/8" hooks have a breaking strength in the neighborhood of 5,000lbs (don't know about the welds, though..)

Long and short of this --- I think my loader would stall before the hooks or chains failed.

More or a question would be safety of attaching the load to the bucket so as the load was balanced and not likely to suddenly shift or tilt.

And of course, "low and slow".

 

[RayH]

I also used my bucket hooks and chain on my Kubota 3130 loader to move implements and other odds and ends around. things that swing and heavy items were carried low enough that I could get them on the ground fast if need be. I dont have hooks on my BX so I used a nylon sling strap wrapped around the bucket to carry stuff.

 

[tuolumne]

The 3/8" hooks have a breaking strength in the neighborhood of 5,000lbs (don't know about the welds, though..)....

A properly executed 1/4" fillet weld has an allowable static load capacity of 3700 lbs. per inch. If you have 2" along each side of the hook and throw in an additional factor of safety of 2 for dynamic loading you still have over 7000 lbs available from your welds. Likely your loaders lift capacity will limit things, not the hooks or welds.

 

[AlanB]

We carry all sorts of stuff off the bucket hooks.

I try to always treat stuff like it is going to fall, as in, nobody under or around it, but that is why I have the hooks there.

I am in the camp of, my bucket hooks are stronger then my loader and what they are attached too, and if I do break something, weld it back together.

Usually the failure is not a sudden break away, what has happened so far is the bucket metal has torn around the hooks or the trailer ball. Lets me know what area's to reinforce.

 

[mboulais]

I carry with my bucket hooks a lot. As much as the bucket can lift (1900 lbs). I worry more about bending the top of the bucket than ripping the hook off. If you got good penetration when you welded it on, the weld is stronger than the steel around it.

 

[scott_vt]

If you do lift any heavy implement, make sure to add air to the front tires.

Mornin Roy,
Hmmm I knew something didnt look right with my front tires when I was carting my disc harrow up the road !