Hooks on FEL Bucket

[bdhsfz6]

This idea isn't for everyone but for repetitive lifting, I use this SSQA to 3pt adapter. Assuming your tractor has a FEL with SSQA, it takes just a minute to drop the bucket and install the adapter:

Skid Steer 3 Point Attachment Adapter

The Skid Steer Style 3 Point Attachment Pate provides an easy three-point attachment to Category 1 implements.

www.palletforks.com

It's certainly more $$ than weld or bolt on bucket hooks but it serves a dual purpose. I bought it years ago to use 3 pt implements on the FEL. I found it works better for lifting than using bucket hooks. Without the weight of the bucket, the FEL lifting capacity is increased. The lift point is closer to the pivot pins as well. I find I get 200+ pounds of increased lift over using the bucket with my LA1055 FEL.

For center point lifting, I use a clevis mounted on a short piece of 2" square tube in the adapter receiver. For two point lifting, I use pins on either side of the adapter.

BTW, the adapter is available on Amazon for $100 less than the Titan price.

 

[Smokeydog]

B26 HD bucket.

 

[Tony H]

Talking hooks. Who and why would you choose one style over the other? chain grabbing hooks or just regular ,car towing, type hooks? I can see advantages to both.

 

[Smokeydog]

Talking hooks. Who and why would you choose one style over the other? chain grabbing hooks or just regular ,car towing, type hooks? I can see advantages to both.

Depends on your rigging equipment. Shackles, wire rope or synthetic straps don’t fit chain hooks. Good to have options. Wrong rigging can easily be damaged or severely strength comprised.

Simple holes in the side cutting bars of a bucket for a shackle works great. Stronger part of the bucket.

 

[Xfaxman]

The SSQA on the V417 has chain slots:

 

[MiserableOldFart]

I use two, and use something off the center for heavy loads. Use the lifting tongs to hold logs off the ground for bucking. Weight stays in the middle.
This was just a glamor photo, lol.

 

[WranglerX]

The SSQA on the V417 has chain slots:
View attachment 727919View attachment 727920

Did you mean these....

 

[nikerret]

I had a friend weld two on my BX bucket. They are in line with the lift arms, since the bucket is so thin. You can see how we dealt with the lip. They have been great and useful.

 

[Xfaxman]

Did you mean these....


View attachment 729038

Try again, the picture didn't load.

 

[jyoutz]

Depends on your rigging equipment. Shackles, wire rope or synthetic straps don’t fit chain hooks. Good to have options. Wrong rigging can easily be damaged or severely strength comprised.

Simple holes in the side cutting bars of a bucket for a shackle works great. Stronger part of the bucket.

Why not just make a short section of chain with a tow hook that would fasten to the bucket chain grab hooks for those times when you lifting with things other than chain?

 

[Smokeydog]

I had a friend weld two on my BX bucket. They are in line with the lift arms, since the bucket is so thin. You can see how we dealt with the lip. They have been great and useful.

View attachment 729039

View attachment 729040

View attachment 729041

Your friend did a good job.

 

[WranglerX]

Try again, the picture didn't load.

Fixed it (maybe)....

 

[Xfaxman]

Did you mean these....

No, I meant the longer slots with a chain hanging in one of them:

 

[WranglerX]

Actually.... You could use the ovals...

There are on sides of my FEL bucket, took a while to figure out what they were for........

 

[Xfaxman]

Good idea, I will look on the backside to see if it is flat.

That would be perfect for the chain in the picture since it only has one hook .

 

[Vigo327]

Talking hooks. Who and why would you choose one style over the other? chain grabbing hooks or just regular ,car towing, type hooks? I can see advantages to both.

I think one of the big things about a chain hook is that since you can hook it anywhere on the chain, you can set the length more easily than if you had a large hook or ring where you would have to double your chain back and hook it to itself to shorten it. Or if you have a bare chain or chain with hook on only one end. I think it's useful to have chain hooks and one larger hook/loop/d-ring etc.

Also, for those with a sturdy enough bucket, i swear these things from harbor freight are by far the cheapest piece for sale that gives you the functionality it does. ATV Hitch Adapter

It gives you the 2" receiver (which also lets you just run a pin through a chain link fed into the receiver), a large and sturdy hoop/loop, can be bolted OR welded, or if you turn it backwards you also get a clevis pin hole. I have it mounted backwards on a 3pt a-frame on my Case garden tractor and most 2" drawbars will still go into it from the bolt hole end. I shaved that end down a bit on mine since some of my drawbars would not fit into it from that direction.

In my case having the bolt hole end sticking out is mostly to pull pin-type attachments for garden tractors, but you could also put a shackle through it just as easily.

Could also mount it upside down beneath top bucket lip if you had a reason to. It puts in a lot of good work for $11.

 

[WranglerX]

Something that is useful that some scoff at is back to back hooks...

 

[RoyJackson]

Bend your bucket picking up in center. Corner is stronger.

Center for light weight, two in-line with the loader arms for the heavier loads
The two in line with the loader arms are used in conjunction to spread the load

 

[kennyd]

Something that is useful that some scoff at is back to back hooks...

We sell a lot of those, we call them small chain shorteners:

Small Chain Shortener - BoltOnHooks LLC

Two 5/16″ G70 Grab Hooks on a Ring Link 5,400lb *WLL

www.boltonhooks.com

 

[Xfaxman]

Did you mean these....
View attachment 729090

Actually.... You could use the ovals...
View attachment 729144

There are on sides of my FEL bucket, took a while to figure out what they were for........

Good idea, I will look on the backside to see if it is flat.

That would be perfect for the chain in the picture since it only has one hook .

The ovals will work, thanks for the tip.
Found a picture of the backside that shows the oval holes: