Kens Bucket hooks Price worth it?

[Don87]

They are also BXpensive. Do you feel that the extra cost is justified? Are they a solid mount? It's difficult to tell from the video on their site. It seems the point that they were trying to get across was that it was quick and easy to install.

Yes..

 

[jeff9366]

I have two Ken's grab hooks inline with FEL cylinders and one of Ken's clevis hooks in the center mounting a slip hook.
Ken's material, welds and priming are first class.
The bolts, flat washers, lock washers and fine thread nuts Ken supplies are Grade 8; the best. With the fine thread bolts/nuts one can tighten down the assembly smoothly "feeling" how much torque is being applied.
I have been using the hooks in forestry work for a year. The orange paint I applied is chipped. The gray primer, hook shapes and hook positions are as the day hooks were installed. QUALITY PRODUCT.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I was looking for something to occupy my time a bit a couple days ago and decided it was time to put on some hooks on my B26. NO one stocks weld on hooks around here, so I just bought a couple of regular chain hooks, removed the pins that might be used for something some day and cut the ears off with a zip disc. The area on top of the B26 FEL is 1/4" plate so I didnt feel a reinforcement plate was needed for this small tractor. I bevelled the edges of the hooks a bit and 5 LH 7018 rods later the hooks were on. After buffing and cooling, a can of Kubota orange covered the new welds and hooks and also touched up some scratches on top of the bucket and loader cylinders. Hooks were $5.99 each. paint $4.99 and maybe $1 of electricity and couple bucks in consumables, so I am guessing that about $20 total material investment and about an hour of enjoyable time in the shop. I suppose those of you without welding equipment should be very thankful for folks that will build stuff for you that bolt on. A few days ago it was trailer mod time to weld on some new D ring clips that were designed as bolt on but a few welding rods later they are permanently mounted to the frame and not the wood planking. A good welding machine is not a luxury for equipment owners, its a necessity.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I was running low on projects so I decided to do some customization to my B26. I had bought some chain hooks to put on and had been just waiting for a no work in sight day to do it. So I decide that it was time. While at it, I needed a tool box fitted to it so I picked up a plastic one at Atwoods and then went looking for a place to mount it. I also had been using a rod that the previous owner used to push on the hydro pedal when using the backhoe to move it a bit and decided that it needed a resting place when not in use rather than just laying around on the operator platform. I mounted the tool box on the bracket that was for holding on the slow moving vehicle plate by welding up some more flat bar and then fastening it to the existing bracket with self tapping screws that also went thru the tool box to hold every thing together. It came out extremely sturdy. They portable hydro mover bar I made from a piece of 1x1 tubing by welding on a bracket to bolt into some existing bolts. I then relocated the SMV bracket to the opposite side of the FOPS bar by building a small bracket and using self tapping screws again rather than weld as I know how you guys are about welding on the ROPS/FOPS even though it wouldnt hurt a thing in my opinion but by using screws I didnt have to repaint.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If later I decide that the tool box bracket is overloaded, I can put in a 45 degree brace to the bottom again using self tapping screws on the FOPS bar.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I just noticed in photo 3 that you can see the bars that I welded on to the stabilizer pads to keep them from sliding back. I need to also weld some on the other sides to keep it from sliding to the side on hills or when digging to the side. That is a project for another day.

 

[pat32rf]

Kens hooks may be quality items, but a couple (one on each side) of Chims brackets are much more versatile and can be made with just a drill and hacksaw if necessary. They can also strengthen a weak top on the bucket just by making them longer.

 

[kennyd]

Kens hooks may be quality items, but a couple (one on each side) of Chims brackets are much more versatile and can be made with just a drill and hacksaw if necessary. They can also strengthen a weak top on the bucket just by making them longer.

I Google'd "Chims brackets" and found nothing? What exactly do you mean?

 

[chim]

Pieces of heavy angle with slots for the chain.

 

[dkizerian]

I just bought a pair of Ken's hooks, ordered friday afternoon, and they were in my hands monday afternoon.

Can't wait to get them on the bucket, and start moving the railroad ties I "get" to move.