Grading Front Hydraulic Blade for Branson FEL

[sassafraspete]

I haven't put the hooks on my bucket yet. I bought the tow hooks...but later was thinking I should get the the ones that would catch the chain like yours. So do you think the front bucket on your Branson is strong enough for the hooks without reinforcement? My bucket has some reinforecment inside near the top.

 

[Zork]

Yeah, mine has reinforcement too, but I'll lift everything with the bucket in a dumped position if I can to allow for a straight down pressure rather than a flexing of the steel.. I put my hooks on the outside edges with #8 grade large washer reinforcement. I may put one in the center as well, maybe a loop type from TSC for 7.98 @10,000 lb rating (in the 4wd/ bungy section). I dont think that I'll hook anything close to working rating of my loader unless in an emergency. Franz

 

[19th_VA]

I mounted my hooks not on the main part of the bucket, which I found to be less than adequate structurally, but on the brackets behind the bucket which are quite substantial. There are two of them, about 3' apart towards the center of the bucket. I'll post a pic when I get a chance. I would be nervous about hooks on the bucket, unless you aren't doing any super heavy lifting.

 

[19th_VA]

Franz,

Might want to check out this link for towing stuff. Very specialized. Fantastic service. Usually cheaper than TSC, even with shipping, depending upon what you get. Hope you are enjoying your new rig! Awdirect

 

[sassafraspete]

Jonathan, I would like to see your hook placement....before I start tearing into mine. Franz...assume you placed hook at edge of bucket as stronger there. I had the same thought. I see other posters that actually weld extra material on the bucket.

 

[sassafraspete]

I had a chance on Sunday to get better aquainted with the front blade and I think I am getting spoiled already. You can run it either in float mode or non float....by just removing a pin. Don't have to use the fel float. Looking forward sure beats looking backwards. Hydraulic angle is nice...being able to change quickly...eg want to push straight...just square it up...if you want to roll off to side...just angle it. All that gravel I windrowed to the side when plowing snow....well just reverse the angle and roll it back into the drive now that the snow is melting. The plow pivots forward with springs holding it....when you hit that snow pile that is really a rock underneath. Has a place for a couple of bolts/pins to keep the pivot function from working...ie if you are doing light dozer work in the dirt you can lock the pivot function. So not just something to use in the winter. This also means, I won't have to take the bh off and put on a back blade....I can just keep bh on for added weight. Has adjustable skid shoes. Handy if you just spent $200 on gravel and don't want to scrape it off in one snowfall.

 

[Zork]

Great site, thanks Jonathan. Franz /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Zork]

Jonathan, I mounted my hooks just on the inside of the outside, side of the bucket, along the upper horizontal face--just behind the top roll of the bucket. This, I believe, gives me all of the strength of the 3/16 vertical plate that is used for the sides of the bucket. One on each side allows me to chain an item in the bucket and then curl it so the the item is tightened by the pitch/angle. I think that most manufacturers spec their loaders from the rear pivot (pins) of the bucket, so hooks mounted behind the bucket on the thicker steel would be stronger, but in my opinion would be far more inconvenient to get to over usage. Franz

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Franz, you need to get a camera so I can see what you are talking about. Did you mount on the top of the bucket...which is flat but fairly narrow..... or did you mount on the back slope near the top? I found the flat top part of the bucket too narrow to mount the hooks I got.

pete

 

[Zork]

Yeah, I need to get a camera /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif