Bucket Hooks Hooks on buckets

[TomG]

I've got to take some measurements and write stuff down today when I'm out at our camp. Good chance I'll remember to read my hooks too. Maybe the explanation is that it's part of the free-trade marry-go-round. It wouldn't be the first time a country exported virtually all of some manufactured product.

 

[W5FL]

Yeah, I have noticed that you can't get a car on the North South Freeways in Texas in the last couple of years since NAFTA. All of those truck must be going somewhere. At least 3 of them manage to hit another moving vehicle every morning, so I will be on the lookout for chain hooks on the freeway. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[TomG]

The hooks are grade 70. There's not much else on them except a logo that probably ID's the company. The pins do have 'A BM' stamped on them, but the pins and hooks could come from different places.

While I was at it, I noticed my ag tow chains (ring on one end and a 'C' hook with a bale on the other) don't have a country of origin on them. The hook and chain links are ID'd with grade 70, and there's a plate on the ring. The plate gives a 10,000 lbs. towed vehicle rating and cites several standards. Wonder where they came from? Off a Texas highway maybe.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The problem I've seen with hooks mounted to the center of of a loader bucket is that over time the top of the bucket gets bent and deformed. The service shop at my dealer had a good idea that I've used very successfully for a few years now.

You weld two hooks (3/8" in my case) one on each side of the bucket. They mount flat against the side panel of the bucket at the top edge where it joints the top plate of the bucket. It's very stron there and will not deform. You can lift moderate loads from either corner of the bucket where it's easier to see what you are doing, and for heavy loads you drape a chain between the hooks and center the load.

If you are interested, I could probably take pictures.

Peter

 

[Bird]

I agree with the two hooks which is what I have, but I wouldn't recommend picking up anything but very light stuff with one corner of the bucket. I'm afraid you'd either turn the tractor over or bend the boom arms and do more damage than bending the top of the bucket. I always drape a chain between the hooks to center the load if I'm using a single pickup point.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

Bird,

Did I miss something. I have the Kubota Quick Bucket Detach Kit, but there are two really nice slots on each side. I drop a 3/8 chain through that and pick up 2200# easily. Never did see any real reason for hooks. I usually just wrap a chain when I need a single attach in the center of the bucket to pull T posts.

I noticed the Kubota place had a really nice hook that was about 5/8 inch and about 12 inches long. They used it from a loader to pick up box blades and set them in trailers without scratching them. Pretty neat.

 

[Bird]

Wen, I don't have one of those great big tractors like you have./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[W5FL]

Just depends on where you are. On the Ag board, less than 100 HP is a toy tractor to those guys. On alt.rural, all sizes are tolerated. Point was that it had a neat place to drop a chain for the load at each bucket attachment point.

Sometimes you can fool those 100HP guys when they see these little tractors with 4WD can operate the same HD equipment that they can.

 

[jgh]

7/24

A local chain & related specialties dealer told me to be careful when welding hooks on a bucket, etc. He advised the use of hooks that are backed with a particular kind of steel designed to retain its strength when heated to welding temps. Of course he was selling such items, at a pricey level.

Comments?

Jim

 

[RobertN]

please describe hooks

Can someone please explain the various types of hooks? What are slip hooks, grab hooks, ect?

I'm sure I've used both and didn't know what they were called.

Are there other hooks?

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[MChalkley]

Re: please describe hooks

RobertN - I thought I referred somebody to a link that had pictures of the various hooks on it, but I can't find it.

A slip hook is a hook with a wide throat and a round hook to allow the chain to slip through it so you can form a loop that will tighten. A choker hook has the same round inner area but a much narrower throat so the chain can only slide out if a link is lined up perfectly.

A grab hook is only a slot so you can hook it on a link, but it won't slip. With this kind of hook, the loop formed when you attach the chain to itself will not slip but stays the size you made it.

Mark

 

[MChalkley]

Re: please describe hooks

RobertN - Found it: Look at http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=owning&Number=6392&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=hook picture&Match=And&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=6388.

Mark

 

[Bird]

Re: please describe hooks

Jim, I don't know a lot about the hooks, but I can understand that you could affect the temper, and therefore the strength, of the steel by welding on it, but it's done quite commonly with no problem. I don't have to worry about it because I drilled two holes on each corner at the top of my bucket and mounted my hooks with u-bolts instead of welding.

Robert N, a grab hook is what you most commonly see on a chain; the slot, notch, or whatever they call it in the chain is narrow so that one link of the chain will fit into it, but the next link, being turned the other direction cannot slip through. Slip hooks, on the other hand have a curve that is wide enough that if you hook a chain through it, the chain can slide through.

I use grab hooks on my chains, but have a slip hook on a cable for a choker. My Tractor Supply Co. catalog lists grade 43 slip hooks from 1/4" to 1/2" and grades 30, 43, and 70 grab hooks in the same sizes.

Bird

 

[MChalkley]

Re: please describe hooks

RobertN - Here's a couple more links for you to check out (they're not standard chain hooks but they make the point): Grab hook - http://www.slingchoker.com/sling2/cm/iv/iv.htm. Slip hook - http://www.slingchoker.com/sling2/cm/iv/iv2.htm. Grab link: http://www.slingchoker.com/sling2/cm/v/v6.htm.

Mark

 

[gordon]

I have a grab hook at the center of my bucket BUT I also welded a piece of 4" channel iron across the top of my bucket it does two things more cap in bucket and to give some strengh across the bucket top. I believe your right without the added strengh and extra steel on my bucket it would be bent to pieces by now.
I've also welded a plate for the hook to mount to on plate steel and welded the top to the channel iron and the back of the plate is bent to meet the bucket back. On each side of the bucket I've got slip hooks welded to the bucket.
Gordon

 

[TomG]

Re: please describe hooks

Mark: your description of how to use a grab hook seems a little ambiguous. A grab hook is used by turning a link sideways and inserting the link into the slot on the hook. I only say this because the first time I used a grab hook, I inserted the point of the hook into a link. Sort of works, but very dangerous. I think somebody else said the same thing, but I think it's a thing worth being real clear about.

Other notes, a choker hook is also called a logging hook, and I believe they're hard to find since the use of cable chokers has become common. There also is a version of a grab hook used on the ag safety chains I have. The hook is shaped like a heavy box capital letter 'C.' There is a safety bale over the slot so the chain can't pop out.

Regarding lifting things with the loader bucket. Something that's heavy and long and lifted from a single attachment point will tend to turn and may smash into the radiator. Same thing can happen, since a load will tend to swing when it comes off a dock or trailer bed. Radiator damage also can happen when lifting more than a couple feet or so. When the bucket is lifted, the load comes back toward the tractor. Something that's fairly wide can smash into the radiator if the bucket is lifted high. Of course, you and other very experienced persons on this board already know this basic stuff, or can tell me I'm wrong.

 

[RobertN]

Re: please describe hooks

Thanks to all!

I have used a number of various hooks, but never had a name associated with them. Now I know what to ask for if I don't see it on a shelf.. Thanks!

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[jgh]

Re: please describe hooks

7/26

I'll make a suggestion to avoid what TomG talks about and you guys tell me if I'm right:

Connect the log or other load at 2 points, ie, with 2 pieces of chain or with one using both ends. In the latter case attach each end to the load while running the chain thru the hooks on either end of the loader bucket as previously described (grab hook it in the center, too). That restricts the load somewhat, althought it can still gitcherradiator, esp if you reach out for it at enough of an angle instead of cozying up close with the loader.

Another suggestion, put the bucket really close to the log, etc, to minimize the swing arc.

I pulled up a big stinkweed /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif tree the other day with a chain & tongs. Those 80 horses felt really good. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Gonna do it again.

<font color=blue>Arrruoghhhhg</font color=blue>! /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

J
/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[MChalkley]

Re: please describe hooks

TomG - Good point! You should never put the point of a hook, no matter what kind, into a link of chain.

I don't think I've ever seen the "safety grab hook". You don't know where I might be able to see a picture of one, do you?

Mark

 

[TomG]

Re: please describe hooks

I just plugged in the charger for my video camera. Haven't used it in a couple of years. If the battery takes enough of a charge, I'll video the chain and pull a frame out for an image. That, I've done. Posting pics here I haven't.