M9000 Bucket Hook Receiver Pictures

[JRP]

The recievers are great, good job.

The hooks, IMO, are not so ideal. Next time you hook onto a log with chain notice how it is difficult to get the chain grab hook to stay hooked, as gravity may try to pull it free from the chain. Also, if the load is not the same on both chains, which it nver will be, the heavy end of the load will drop as the chain slips thru the rounded hook, causing the load to be unstable.

One you figure out what I'm talking about get some 2" square tubing and weld 3/8 grab hooks to them. Install these into your recievers. The hooks should be angled such that gravity keeps the chains in the hooks. Using 3/8 hooks allows you to use 3/8, 5/16, or 1/4" chain. If you weld 1/4" hooks then you are screwed when you try to hook on 5/16 chain to them. One other justification for installing grab hooks - you can even haul stuff with chain not equipped with hooks.

You can cut off the chain attachment pin with a hack saw before you weld.

I got the idea on TBN to also install a vice on 2" tubing. Sometimes when doing pipe work, for example, it is nice to have a portable work station.

If you want to install two 2" recievers and plug in a single attachment to both it is essential to be very precise when positioning and welding them. They should be exactly parallel. If either is skewed up or to the side then when you attempth to install your attachment it will bind. This binding is another thing, like the big round hooks, that you won't fully appreciate and understand until you have experienced it.

 

[JRP]

The recievers are great, good job.

The hooks, IMO, are not so ideal. Next time you hook onto a log with chain notice how it is difficult to get the chain grab hook to stay hooked, as gravity may try to pull it free from the chain. Also, if the load is not the same on both chains, which it nver will be, the heavy end of the load will drop as the chain slips thru the rounded hook, causing the load to be unstable.

One you figure out what I'm talking about get some 2" square tubing and weld 3/8 grab hooks to them. Install these into your recievers. The hooks should be angled such that gravity keeps the chains in the hooks. Using 3/8 hooks allows you to use 3/8, 5/16, or 1/4" chain. If you weld 1/4" hooks then you are screwed when you try to hook on 5/16 chain to them. One other justification for installing grab hooks - you can even haul stuff with chain not equipped with hooks.

You can cut off the chain attachment pin with a hack saw before you weld.

I got the idea on TBN to also install a vice on 2" tubing. Sometimes when doing pipe work, for example, it is nice to have a portable work station.

If you want to install two 2" recievers and plug in a single attachment to both it is essential to be very precise when positioning and welding them. They should be exactly parallel. If either is skewed up or to the side then when you attempth to install your attachment it will bind. This binding is another thing, like the big round hooks, that you won't fully appreciate and understand until you have experienced it.

 

[stevenf]

JRP, Look closely at picture #4 they are 1/2" shackles with 3 links of 1/2" chain and a 1/2" grab hooks on the bottoms. My Yoke chain between them is 1/2" and I have a single slip hook attached to a 3/4" shackle and also have a 3/8" and a 1/2" grab hook for the center that attach thru the chain so it can't slide around on the yoke. I've been using them for almost two years and haven't found anything that I can't rig my current setup for. The big hooks in the receivers as well as the slip hook in the center are used on cable and rope lifts and the other grab hooks are used for chain lifts. The reason I went with the big hooks is they are rated at 10,000lbs each and the heavyest 3/8" grab hooks in the premade receiver hooks are only rated for 5,000lbs and their welding was shoddy where the big hooks are forged steel. I got them from Northern Tool. I realize I can't pick up 10,000 lbs but they will never break or pop a weld off on the ends of them little 3/8" grab hooks and unload someplace where I shouldn't. It would be a lot better about now if I'd learned to Weld in High School instead of run a printing press then I wouldn't be limited to paying someone to weld it for me or buy them premade at a premium.
Steve

 

[stevenf]

JRP, Look closely at picture #4 they are 1/2" shackles with 3 links of 1/2" chain and a 1/2" grab hooks on the bottoms. My Yoke chain between them is 1/2" and I have a single slip hook attached to a 3/4" shackle and also have a 3/8" and a 1/2" grab hook for the center that attach thru the chain so it can't slide around on the yoke. I've been using them for almost two years and haven't found anything that I can't rig my current setup for. The big hooks in the receivers as well as the slip hook in the center are used on cable and rope lifts and the other grab hooks are used for chain lifts. The reason I went with the big hooks is they are rated at 10,000lbs each and the heavyest 3/8" grab hooks in the premade receiver hooks are only rated for 5,000lbs and their welding was shoddy where the big hooks are forged steel. I got them from Northern Tool. I realize I can't pick up 10,000 lbs but they will never break or pop a weld off on the ends of them little 3/8" grab hooks and unload someplace where I shouldn't. It would be a lot better about now if I'd learned to Weld in High School instead of run a printing press then I wouldn't be limited to paying someone to weld it for me or buy them premade at a premium.
Steve

 

[stevenf]

JRP, I forgot to mention I know what you mean about the tubes needing to be perfect and this will probably come back to haunt me because they are welded to my bucket which is used to haul lots of heavy material. Currently they are absolutely perfectly parrallel but if I ever tweak my bucket even just a little I'd have trouble using both tubes with a welded up bracket maybe I should have 2 L's made with a bolt on bale spear then I'd have a little slop to play with when I bend something. Thanks for mentioning it or I'd have probably just had a welder weld them up and then have to have them cut up later.
Steve

 

[stevenf]

JRP, I forgot to mention I know what you mean about the tubes needing to be perfect and this will probably come back to haunt me because they are welded to my bucket which is used to haul lots of heavy material. Currently they are absolutely perfectly parrallel but if I ever tweak my bucket even just a little I'd have trouble using both tubes with a welded up bracket maybe I should have 2 L's made with a bolt on bale spear then I'd have a little slop to play with when I bend something. Thanks for mentioning it or I'd have probably just had a welder weld them up and then have to have them cut up later.
Steve

 

[JRP]

Stevenf,

Now I see and now I feel like an ****. You really have a nice setup.

The problem with the two tubes parallel - I saw a profesional welder use a cutting torch to cut up his custom made hunting seat assembly he made and weled to the - you guessed it - two tube reciever hitches on the customers front bumper. He never thought to make sure they were parallel.

Regards,

 

[JRP]

Stevenf,

Now I see and now I feel like an ****. You really have a nice setup.

The problem with the two tubes parallel - I saw a profesional welder use a cutting torch to cut up his custom made hunting seat assembly he made and weled to the - you guessed it - two tube reciever hitches on the customers front bumper. He never thought to make sure they were parallel.

Regards,