Got my Kens Bolt on Hooks installed today

[mic214]

I got my L3901 a couple of months ago. For my first mod, I decided to add some chain hooks and Clevis mounts to the bucket. After doing some research on the web, I decided to go with Kens Bolt on Hooks. I ordered three chain hooks and two Clevis mounts.

My bucket has an extra piece of steel welded across the top, which is perfect for mounting everything. The only issue is the top lip of the actual bucket does not meet up with the back edge of the top plate, so you end up with an uneven seam right where the bolts holes are located. This makes for an uneven surface for bolting everything together.



A quick email to Ken got my problem solved in no time. He sent me (For no charge!) a set of spacers that filled the gap between the two layers of the bucket and these allowed for a level surface to tighten down the bolts.





Here is everything installed:



I cannot say enough good things about Ken and his products and customer service!

 

[WranglerX]

Only though is if you have welder, is a bit of tack weld to make sure spacers stay where you want them, as you "work" with bucket it will flex some and may reduce holding tension on spacer and allow them to slip/move...

Otherwise great looking install....

Dale

 

[bigtiller]

Well now I'm envious. I didn't get a can cozy with my order last summer.

 

[rkidd]

I got my L3901 a couple of months ago. For my first mod, I decided to add some chain hooks and Clevis mounts to the bucket. After doing some research on the web, I decided to go with Kens Bolt on Hooks. I ordered three chain hooks and two Clevis mounts.

My bucket has an extra piece of steel welded across the top, which is perfect for mounting everything. The only issue is the top lip of the actual bucket does not meet up with the back edge of the top plate, so you end up with an uneven seam right where the bolts holes are located. This makes for an uneven surface for bolting everything together.



A quick email to Ken got my problem solved in no time. He sent me (For no charge!) a set of spacers that filled the gap between the two layers of the bucket and these allowed for a level surface to tighten down the bolts.





Here is everything installed:



I cannot say enough good things about Ken and his products and customer service!

Nicely done. I am a big fan of 3 hooks on a bucket so you are lifting from the right spot depending on what you are lifting and not twisting the loader. I have bought several sets of weld on hooks from Ken also as I have welder and prefer that way. I have done mine and several of my friends.

 

[sdquick]

Great Job!! I love my hooks, although I do need a third (middle) hook.
One question: Is there a reason you bolted the additional clevis hooks on top rather than underneath (Ken's option #2)?

 

[sixdogs]

For a bolt-on installation, his hooks and setup are the best and they look great. They're probably better than many welded installations.

 

[mic214]

Great Job!! I love my hooks, although I do need a third (middle) hook.
One question: Is there a reason you bolted the additional clevis hooks on top rather than underneath (Ken's option #2)?

My tractor (L3901) has the “Square back” SSQA bucket and the way it is shaped does not make compatible with putting the Clevis mounts in the option #2 position.

Here are a couple of pics of the back of my bucket. You can see where the top portion of the inside of the bucket is actually slanted a downward bit (The section where the black ID plate is located) in relation to the the actual top of the bucket itself, which is flat. First off, you would need a really long drill bit to get through everything and then that angle would make it difficult to bolt the hooks and clevis mounts together…

 

[some zilch]

why wouldnt someone weld on $6 hooks from the local tractor supply store?

 

[kennyd]

Thanks for the great writeup Mic214 :thumbsup:

 

[kennyd]

why wouldnt someone weld on $6 hooks from the local tractor supply store?

-They can’t weld themselves
-They can weld and don’t trust themselves
-They don’t want to wreck the nice paint on top their bucket
-TSC doesn’t sell proper weld on hooks, only zinc plated ones that are not meant for welding

Those are a few quick reasons....