Would you use this pic in an advertisement?

[BlueKnife]

IMO, it's better to weld hooks on, but if a person doesn't have that skill the ones from Bolt On hooks are less expensive, look like a better product and are made in the US. Can't imagine a reason to buy the Titan version.

 

[Dman1981]

I have had guys put t on those nice pretty welds

 

[jwmorris]

Would you buy this based on this pic?

No, it would seem silly to me to buy a hook welded to something that I then have to drill holes and bolt on, when I could just weld the hook to what I want myself and skip the other work.

 

[5030]

Exactly what I do. You can buy alloy hook blanks online or at any hardware outlet for a lot less than one welded to a base and that base does nothing to strengthen the attachment when that base is bolted to the sheet metal of said bucket in the first place. 99% of the FEL buckets sold with tractors today are what is termed 'material buckets'. That is, they lack the structural integrity to have 'hooks' bolted to them and will deform under high imposed loads.

The remaining percentage of FEL buckets will be 'excavation' buckets that are structurally strong enough to have lift hooks bolted or welded to them without deformation.

Problem is, the average buyer isn't aware that most every tractor builder offers both buckets but the buyer MUST specify which one they want or the 'default' bucket will be a light duty 'material bucket'. In my case, I have both and my buckets totally interchange on my tractors because they both have SSQA plates welded to them and both my tractors have the SSQA quick attach bolsters on the FEL's.

 

[5030]

Exactly what I do. You can buy alloy hook blanks online or at any hardware outlet for a lot less than one welded to a base and that base does nothing to strengthen the attachment when that base is bolted to the sheet metal of said bucket in the first place. 99% of the FEL buckets sold with tractors today are what is termed 'material buckets'. That is, they lack the structural integrity to have 'hooks' bolted to them and will deform under high imposed loads.

The remaining percentage of FEL buckets will be 'excavation' buckets that are structurally strong enough to have lift hooks bolted or welded to them without deformation.

Problem is, the average buyer isn't aware that most every tractor builder offers both buckets but the buyer MUST specify which one they want or the 'default' bucket will be a light duty 'material bucket'. In my case, I have both and my buckets totally interchange on my tractors because they both have SSQA plates welded to them and both my tractors have the SSQA quick attach bolsters on the FEL's.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'd argue that the plate does help somewhat over directly welding it to a light weight material bucket. The closer you can get the hooks to the side plates of a bucket, the better in terms of strength.

 

[Willie B]

A weak weld will have 60,000 PSI strength. Fusion to weldment is usually the point of failure. Still the weld is over engineered for the application. This is unsightly, but won't fail attached to a compact utility loader bucket.

 

[California]

... the weld is over engineered for the application. This is unsightly, but won't fail attached to a compact utility loader bucket.

With a loader capacity under a half ton, I don't need something as strong as that. Long ago I put Cold Shuts (chain repair links) 'temporarily' where there were already bolt holes in my loader, to lift something odd shaped. They're still on there, and have turned out to be sufficient.

 

[jwmorris]

Exactly what I do. You can buy alloy hook blanks online or at any hardware outlet for a lot less than one welded to a base and that base does nothing to strengthen the attachment when that base is bolted to the sheet metal of said bucket in the first place.

I just don’t throw anything away. So when I need a heavy duty differential screw for a project, I bought a load binder and cut the hooks off, like to adjust the angle on this box.

Then they are already sitting there collecting dust when I weld them onto something.

And already there when I do actually need them.

 

[5030]

I wonder how long your electrical powered extension and retraction cylinder will last?? They are not designed or sealed to run in a dust / dirt atmosphere.

 

[Patches]

I welded a 4" X 5' channel to the top edge of the bucket, notching it so as to incorporate the sides of the bucket, then welded the hooks to it. The load will have to rip the top of the bucket off, if it fails at all, and the loader is not that stout

 

[JohnnyMX]

In a way, you have to give them credit for showing the reality of what you might get. If you see one that looks like a piece of art in the ad and then you get one sent to you that looks like crap you might be much more upset.

 

[700R]

I prefer the weld on hooks. Already broke a G43 3/8 hook on a chain with mine…

 

[bmaverick]

Inconsistent bead size, substantial crater at the lower end of the weld, insufficient throat depth also at bottom. Will it break, maybe not, would I put my name on it...nope.

It looks like the welding on my USA fabricated King Kutter brush mower. So, it would pass in my book. None of those welds ever broke for the past 45 years, and it's taken a beating.

 

[jwmorris]

I prefer the weld on hooks. Already broke a G43 3/8 hook on a chain with mine…


View attachment 840454

Keeps one from wondering if the bolts are going to be strong enough and brings up a great point. The people that are going to buy a hook welded to a plate and then bolt that on, probably don't know enough about welding to critique.

 

[jyoutz]

My current tractor has hooks welded directly to the bucket by the dealer before I took delivery. On my previous tractor, I welded the hooks to a bucket length piece of 1/4” thick angle iron, then drilled and bolted the angle iron to the bucket edge. This strengthens the entire bucket edge. After 20 years of using that tractor and the hooks frequently, the bucket was completely straight.

 

[jwmorris]

I wonder how long your electrical powered extension and retraction cylinder will last?? They are not designed or sealed to run in a dust / dirt atmosphere.

It’s a trailer jack, I modified (the trunnions), it’s designed to be a couple feet behind a truck throwing road debris around, rain or shine.

My guess is a long time though, not sure when the last time I adjusted it was. The only reason it’s there is that I originally used it without a 3 point, so I couldn’t just raise and lower the attachment point, to change the blade height.