what size hooks/chain

[BWS]

getting my new kub 3830 tommorow and am going to weld on 1 to 3 hooks on the bucket.i have seen some of the posts with reinforcement plates but i,m not sure i'll need them due to the heavy duty bucket[l7223] looks pretty stout on top.should be able to weld straight on.i will be picking up hooks tommorow and am wondering what size 5/16 or 3/8??i think the fel is rated 1500 or 1800 lbs lift so 5/16 should be fine i think??is one enough??should i disconnect the loader before welding[or just battery at the least]??

 

[rdbrumfield]

By all means use 3/8 chain hooks. The day you try to pick with a 3/8 chain you will cuss yourself. A 3/16 chain will work fine and the small amount of slack is nice if it gets jammed.
Before you talk yourself out of reinforcing the top of the bucket, I Highly recommend that you put a piece of tubing inside up against the top lip. It will not only keep the hook from bending your new bucket, it will keep something from shoving it up from the outside when you are pushing, and believe me, it's just a matter of when.
If your bucket is a quick detach from the loader, I would while welding. I keep my ground as close to the area that I'm working on, keep the current localized. You can't be too safe with the computerized dashes and do-hickys that they have now.
here's a pic of mine after over 2000hrs. If it weren't for that tube, my bucket would have been scrap by now.

 

[MikePA]

I have 3/8 inch grab hooks directly in front of the lift arms and a slip hook in the center. I also had the dealer box in my standard duty bucket. Here's a Boxing In The FEL Bucket thread.

 

[rancar]

<font color=blue>"...I will be picking up hooks tommorow and am wondering what size 5/16 or 3/8??...."</font color=blue>

I would get the 3/8" hooks. It doesn't hurt to get these bigger hooks even if you use smaller chaining. What size chain do you have? If 3/8" chain, then you'll need the 3/8" hooks.....if 5/16" chain, then you may get by with the smaller hooks. Also, get the American made hooks not the Chinese made ones. See attachment to view the placement of 2 hooks on my JD HD bucket.

.....Bob

 

[BWS]

the kubota h.d. bucket has what looks like a solid round tube up under the upper edge.looks really solid to me.anyone seen these new buckets?if so what do you think?[will go 3/8 chain now]

 

[BWS]

what would you use a big hook in the center for??i was going to make all 3 the same??

 

[JerryG]

I put 5/16" hooks on my loader 3 years ago. I have picked up some unreal things and have pulled a locked up tractor that none of the wheels would roll(TO30). I would not have any larger of chain on a compact tractor. I don't like to lug around all that weigh/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. 5/16 is big enough for me.

 

[DannyWilliams]

If you want the real thing (weld on tow hooks) check out the following Web address. The Price is $3.50 for 5/16", $4.50 for 3/8" and $6.25 for 1/2".
(http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/finditem.cfm?itemid=7299).

 

[BWS]

those are the hooks i,m getting.5/16 chain would be easier to carry.would a bigger hook in center be an advantage?[maybe to hook rope on or something?]

 

[JerryG]

The only time that I have wished that I had a middle hook was when I was pulling posts. And I really didn't need it then, because I just loop the chain around the other two hooks and drap it to the middle.