Chain Slots

[DaveK OR]

Some time back I asked about weld-on chain hooks vs a clevis mount for putting hooks on your tractor bucket. One of the ideas that came out of that thread was to use chain-slots instead of hooks, and I thought that was a brilliantly simple solution. Yesterday, I broke out the welder and bandsaw, cut up some 1/4" x 2" angle iron, and mounted those on my tractor bucket, with a pair of slots ahead of each loader arm mount point. I used a 13/32" rod to space the angle pieces, and with a bit of molten steel, "glued" them to the bucket. Much more versatile than welded-on hooks, and no worry about clevis pins coming loose. Perhaps not the most beautiful welds, but I'm not worried about them holding under any load that my Bobcat CT230 can lift.

 

[topbuilder]

Nice welds. Well done.

 

[DaveK OR]

You don't see the weld I had to grind out... A slight breeze came up and took away the shielding gas, resulting in a very porous weld (foamy, you might say). A bunch of bad words ensued, and on the second try I closed the shop door for better results.

 

[kevin37b]

Hard to tell by the pics . Looks like the chain could slip out rolling the bucket ? Just curious ,not criticizing . Nice welding . Kevin .

 

[DaveK OR]

Well, I suppose the chains could slip out if the bucket gets rolled down, but I'd have to roll it nearly all the way, and (I think, I'll need to check) even then, only when the loader arms are low.

Thanks for the compliment on the welds... sometimes I get the settings right, and it just works. It's a Millermatic 211, running .030" E70-S6, with a 75-25 mix. I've been very happy with that machine.

 

[jonsstihl]

I have the same welder and am really happy with it too. Thank god for the auto set.

I suppose it is 1/4 inch thick but seems like maybe a few gussets would make it much stronger.

 

[DaveK OR]

...seems like maybe a few gussets would make it much stronger.

I did ponder that very thing. In the end, I decided that any load I could lift with my bucket was less than what the "teeth" could hold. I do plan to keep an eye on them, and if I do see signs of bending, the gussets will be added.

 

[dfkrug]

Looks like the chain could slip out rolling the bucket ?

That's actually a feature of using slots instead of welded-on hooks. I learned it years ago from
the excavation contractor I hired to dig my house foundation.

After lifting the load, I release the chain by curling the FEL bucket up, and I save myself from
getting off the tractor. Works with chains or straps.

On the CT230, the QA FEL bkt has a very convenient cross-beam that provides a
great location for a chain slot. You can lift even more if you do it with the bkt
removed (photo).

I used 1/2" plate with a 1/4" plate reinforcement. I only put these lift points
on middle of the FEL.

Slots also let you secure the chain or strap from above OR below, while chain hooks
work in only one direction.

 

[DaveK OR]

On the CT230, the QA FEL bkt has a very convenient cross-beam that provides a
great location for a chain slot.

A very nice setup! There are times I wish I'd gone with the Bobcat QA system, but I was stretching my budget as it was with the conventional FEL bucket system. Hindsight is 20/20, ya know!

 

[bumperm]

dfkrug,

Besides the utility with using a strap direct on your bracket, putting the slot plate in line with the load, as you did, is a stronger design that gives nothing away to a perpendicular slot. I like it!!