Got my Kens Bolt on Hooks installed today

mic214 · Jan 15, 2019

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 · Jan 15, 2019

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 · Jan 16, 2019

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

rkidd · Jan 16, 2019

mic214 said:
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 · Jan 16, 2019

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 · Jan 16, 2019

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 · Jan 16, 2019

sdquick said:
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 · Jan 16, 2019

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

kennyd · Jan 16, 2019

Thanks for the great writeup Mic214 :thumbsup:

kennyd · Jan 16, 2019

some zilch said:
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....

WranglerX · Jan 16, 2019

Does not have to be welded and does not have to be "hooks"....

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/404148-bucket-hooks.html

Dale

cathy liebchen · Jan 16, 2019

DL Meisen said:
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

bucket hooks are very useful: we need heavy duty everything so don’t do any bolted on anything if it can be welded, and our dealer welds them on for almost nothing

some zilch · Jan 23, 2019

kennyd said:
-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....

i mean, just using TSC as an example. heres $5 hooks on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Products-11-...Z8QTH7XRYPH&psc=1&refRID=GDEKFY2HAZ8QTH7XRYPH

people pay a premium for convenience

sdquick · Jan 23, 2019

Looks great!! Thanks for the write-up and answer to my question. I have used (and maybe abused) my bolt on hooks from Ken and they have been great!! Just need to get one for the middle!

Langanobob · Jan 23, 2019

some zilch said:
i mean, just using TSC as an example. heres $5 hooks on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Products-11-...Z8QTH7XRYPH&psc=1&refRID=GDEKFY2HAZ8QTH7XRYPH

people pay a premium for convenience

Those Amazon weld on hooks are about the same price as Ken’s. And what do Amazon and TSC do for the TractorByNet forums? I’d rather spend my money with a forum sponsor who helps to make this place possible.

kennyd · Jan 24, 2019

some zilch said:
i mean, just using TSC as an example. heres $5 hooks on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Products-11-...Z8QTH7XRYPH&psc=1&refRID=GDEKFY2HAZ8QTH7XRYPH

people pay a premium for convenience

We sell the weld on hooks too, as well as some laser cut blank backing plates. You obviously can weld and fabricate yourself, so there is no need for you to denigrate those who can’t or chose to buy Bolt-On’s for one of the other reasons I posted above.

kennyd · Jan 24, 2019

Langanobob said:
Those Amazon weld on hooks are about the same price as Ken’s. And what do Amazon and TSC do for the TractorByNet forums? I’d rather spend my money with a forum sponsor who helps to make this place possible.

Thank you very much.

kennyd · Jan 24, 2019

sdquick said:
Looks great!! Thanks for the write-up and answer to my question. I have used (and maybe abused) my bolt on hooks from Ken and they have been great!! Just need to get one for the middle!

And thank you as well.

TCowner · Jan 25, 2019

If only more businesses would follow the lead of Ken's "bolt on hooks" with respect to customer service. This business responded to an issue that a customer raised and delivered an answer and guess what, the customer is more than satisfied and tells others. What a crazy idea for business? You make customer after customer happy and you get more and more customers. Who would have thought? Or, use the other business model which is maximize profits for the month and lose customers who are annoyed and tell everyone they meet. The business fails and the owners question, what did we do wrong?

Well done "Ken's Bolt on Hooks." You've got my attention.

WranglerX · Jan 25, 2019

TCowner said:
If only more businesses would follow the lead of Ken's "bolt on hooks" with respect to customer service. This business responded to an issue that a customer raised and delivered an answer and guess what, the customer is more than satisfied and tells others. What a crazy idea for business? You make customer after customer happy and you get more and more customers. Who would have thought? Or, use the other business model which is maximize profits for the month and lose customers who are annoyed and tell everyone they meet. The business fails and the owners question, what did we do wrong?

Well done "Ken's Bolt on Hooks." You've got my attention.

What a unique process....Most concepts today are "take the money and run" (hide)....

Dale