Chain hooks on bucket

cmore · Jul 25, 2012

I saw this idea on a Back Hoe that a associate had and though it was a good one.

Took the hooks and cut off one of the eye lets that hold the pin to be attached to a chain and a flat area on the bottom. Used a abrasive cut off saw to make the cuts. Then welded them to the top of the bucket.

Fairly easy and a cheap mod.

leslawman · Jul 25, 2012

I did it to my bucket ten years ago. Works great. You just never know when you're going to need to drag something with a tow chain...

LD1 · Jul 25, 2012

Bucket hooks are great, but to save some work next time, they do make hooks all ready to be welded on. No modifying required.

Weld-On Grab Hooks - Grade 40 - 5/16 | AW Direct

TripleR · Jul 25, 2012

LD1 said:
Bucket hooks are great, but to save some work next time, they do make hooks all ready to be welded on. No modifying required.

Weld-On Grab Hooks - Grade 40 - 5/16 | AW Direct

Yep, got some of those and had them put on my L5740.

cmore · Jul 25, 2012

It seems I like to do things the hard way;>). At least it seems that way.

s219 · Jul 25, 2012

Yeah, I think you did it the hard way, but at the end of the day it will work the same!

Now pardon me while I go cut the trailer hitch ball off my truck and weld it to the tractor….

creekbend · Jul 25, 2012

I put 3 hooks on my bucket. They are the bolt on types. Grade 70. They have come in handy several times.

stingray1 · Aug 12, 2012

Been there done that. Very handy

rrrkkk · Aug 12, 2012

You are missing a lot of possiblilities leave the round end on the end of chain hook, use it for rope, bungee cord or rachet straps.

boggen · Aug 12, 2012

rrrkkk said:
You are missing a lot of possiblilities leave the round end on the end of chain hook, use it for rope, bungee cord or rachet straps.

huh? not following ya

Ed of all trades · Aug 12, 2012

I used the same hooks you did and just put them where the hook fit the bend in the top of the bucket, no cutting and still use the cheep chain hooks.:thumbsup:

rrrkkk · Aug 12, 2012

most people cut the eye (round end) of the chain hook off before welding it to bucket, therby only being able to hook a chain to it. If you have the round left on it will still hook a chain but will also have a round ring to hook rachet straps or bungee cords also

George2615 · Aug 12, 2012

I welded hooks on my bucket as well but after seeing other buckets with hooks that were bent, I first welded a piece of 3/16" x 2" angle across the bucket the welded the hooks to that. Bucket hasn't bent yet.

LD1 · Aug 12, 2012

George2615 said:
I welded hooks on my bucket as well but after seeing other buckets with hooks that were bent, I first welded a piece of 3/16" x 2" angle across the bucket the welded the hooks to that. Bucket hasn't bent yet.

Yea, one hook in the middle as the only attach point and a heavy load........bucket isnt designed for that. I like 3 hooks. Each end and a middle one. Middle hook is for light stuff ONLY. Heavy stuff gets hooked to BOTH outers.

Casco1 · Aug 12, 2012

This is what has been working for me for 10 years.

sdkubota · Aug 12, 2012

If you weld regular chain hooks onto the bucket...leave the eye portion of the hook alone. It works excellent for hooking cables without the risk of cutting them like the chain hook portion would.

Carl_NH · Aug 12, 2012

Casco1 said:
This is what has been working for me for 10 years.

Casco - good ideas - i'd say you're Kubota is all hooked up - or well hooked and ready for chains.

chad22 · Aug 12, 2012

Hooks on buckets are handy. I had a chain hook just laying around and I decided to weld it on the bucket of my home made excavator. I just left the ears on and just welded it right on. Taking the ears off would have been better but oh well it's working fine.

I figured it would come in handy some day. And it did. A few months ago me and my dad were taking out fence posts and straightening some out. He wrapped the chain around the poles and hooked the chain to the hook on the bucket and I lifted the poles out of the ground.

After we got the poles out, we went on to straightening the leaning poles. I dug around them and he wrapped the chain around the poles and once again hooked it to the bucket hook and I pulled them back straight.

The excavator held them upright while we threw some rocks down in the hole and packed dirt around it.

I will never do without a bucket hook ever again. lol

If I ever buy a mini excavator, and it doesn't have any hooks on the bucket. You better bet, I'm gonna welds a hook or 2 on right away. lol

Chad