Advice on bucket hooks

[arkydog]

i would also use slotted angle iron. can use from either direction easily.

 

[Sysop]

Hear all sorts of stories of bad dealers that do or won't do all sorts of things. I still don't think liability is the main reason we don't see them shipped with such things, I just don't think it's anything they could do "right" by all customer's standards, so it is something they leave for the customers who want such things to do on their own.

 

[jeff9366]

Hello all,

I am receiving my new LS XJ2025H soon and the first customization I want to do is put a pair of bucket hooks on it. I see a lot of people seem to like Ken's Bolt-on hooks but I would like a more universal style hook like tow hooks that you could use with chains or straps. This route would also be much cheaper by about 75% savings.

The trouble with nylon straps is that they wear. If under tension when a strap separates the two pieces can cause serious injury as the fly at high speed, releasing stored energy.

Chains, in theory, just drop.

So, you have spent X-thousands on a new tractor and now you want to add cheap hooks with untested strength to your bucket for high stress applications? This does not make sense to me.

 

[Sysop]

The trouble with straps is that they wear. If under tension when a strap separates the two pieces can cause serious injury as the fly at high speed, releasing stored energy.

Chains, in theory, just drop.

So, you have spend X-thousands on a new tractor and now you want to add hooks with untested strength on your bucket for high stress applications? This does not make sense to me.

The hooks I used are grade 70 chain grab hooks. They're tested for high stress applications.

Chains pulled to the breaking point do not just drop, they fly too. You should never pull with anything that doesn't have something else attached to it to keep it from flying. Use a slacked rope to tie down a pulling chain or use a slacked chain to weigh down a pulling rope, this keeps things from flying...

 

[JerryK]

Thanks JMC :thumbsup:

Have you seen the new RingSlings we are making now?
View attachment 428458

Heh....!!!! Them thar Ringslings have sling rings on the end...!!!!! Wow....!!!!! [[[ ]]] [ it's a slow day here ... ]

 

[dragoneggs]

I regularly use my clip on hooks from BXpanded. I know, maybe not the load capacity some have but don't laugh they work great for my needs. As far as repositioning them... Never had to, located them between the outside of the FEL arms and side edge of bucket. A third one in the center could be useful but I haven't needed it to date.

 

[SCWOOD]

The Dealer put this style hook on for me.Just another idea.The hole works good for ratchet straps or rope.The hook works for straps.

 

[trowber24]

The trouble with nylon straps is that they wear. If under tension when a strap separates the two pieces can cause serious injury as the fly at high speed, releasing stored energy.

Chains, in theory, just drop.

So, you have spent X-thousands on a new tractor and now you want to add cheap hooks with untested strength to your bucket for high stress applications? This does not make sense to me.

I hear what you are saying but the hooks I am looking at are advertised with a 10,000lb rating. I'm pretty sure they have to be tested to advertise as such. I can see them not being enough in an industrial situation but not me on my property lifting a tree root ball with my tractor that only has a maximum 1,600lb break out force/1,200lb lift capacity. Any real pulling would be done with the rear end.

 

[Baby Grand]

Thanks JMC :thumbsup:

Have you seen the new RingSlings we are making now?
View attachment 428458

Those look really nice.
Bet they'd be great for anything you don't want to gouge up with a chain.

 

[CalG]

i would also use slotted angle iron. can use from either direction easily.

I welded a piece of angle across the top of the loader bucket to reinforce the bucket and to give a sturdy flat surface to weld on a pair of grab hooks.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE FLIPPED THE ANGLE and slotted it! Grab hooks only grab one way, and that has been a problem a couple of times.

Slotted angle just makes so much sense, Standard issue on logging winches to tie in a hitch.
Rings and loops and all sorts of "extras" can be accommodated with short lengths of chain that terminate in the appropriate fitting.

Like I wrote, I wish I would have done the slotted angle. I feel it is the most versatile.

 

[pat32rf]

I welded a length of 3" channel along the top of my bucket and welded a loop to it. Then a clevis to a 3/8 slip hook. Slotted angle is on the 3pth counterweight/2" receiver assembly out back.

 

[Teikas Dad]

I welded one hook onto a mounting plate that I bought from Ken's on the lower portion of the rear of the bucket. I also welded a shackle mount to one of Ken's plates and welded it to the underside of the bucket lip inside the bucket. Combined with a clevis shackle I can use that for a single point lift using straps for lighter items.

I got a length of 3/16X3X3 angle to set on top of the bucket lip which would then be welded to the lip and to the back of the bucket. This was my only problem of the day. When I measured everything up and bought the angle I forgot about the 3/16" thickness of the angle. When I set the angle flat on top of the lip there was a 3/16" gap under the vertical leg on the back. Fortunately I had some 3/16"X 1 1/2" flat stock in the shop. I welded the flat stock to the back of the bucket and then set the angle on it and welded the angle to flat stock. I stitch welded everything and moved from front to back and left side to right side when I made each weld in order to not overheat the bucket. One solid bead would have looked better, but I didn't want a warped bucket. I took my time and continued welding in the gaps until I had a solid bead all the way across the front edge and bottom leg of the angle. Hooks went on with no problem, 1 in the center and the other 2 centered on the FEL arms. Then I added 2 small shackle mounts that I got from Ken's outboard of the hooks, again just for lighter lifts with nylon straps. I didn't run the angle all the way across the bucket as the FEL is only rated for 900 to 1,000 lbs so I won't be lifting anything too heavy.

Primed then painted it all up with Kubota orange paint and this is how it came out.

 

[/pine]

This is just my opinion but without upgraded cylinders...I would not use the loader on any compact tractor for anything other than it's intended purpose...Not sure about this but in some cases modifying a FEL in any form could void a warranty...

 

[k0ua]

A FEL bucket with some kind of hooks is like a day without sunshine. Like washing your feet with your socks on, like taking a vacation to Hawaii, and never seeing the beach or ocean, you get the idea... It is an inalienable right to have hooks on your loader.

 

[texasjohn]

Me, I researched on TBN and found lots of different hooks and attachments and locations recommended.
My conclusion...yep, every idea has it's use over time. So, I did the following.
top of my bucket is very heavy duty, thus didn't need reinforcement.
1 chain grab hook welded in middle of bucket
1 chain grab hook welded in line with each loader arm
2 slip hooks welded about 6 inches inside of each outside grab hook.

so, that's 5 hooks total. I've used them all from time to time.
Wish that middle position had rather been a 2 inch receiver hitch so flexibility could include trailer ball,.

 

[k0ua]

Wish that middle position had rather been a 2 inch receiver hitch so flexibility could include trailer ball,

I bet you have a grinder and wheel don't you?

 

[trowber24]

A FEL bucket with some kind of hooks is like a day without sunshine. Like washing your feet with your socks on, like taking a vacation to Hawaii, and never seeing the beach or ocean, you get the idea... It is an inalienable right to have hooks on your loader.

Haha Very true! Thank you to everyone who is giving their ideas for hooks. I am a professional production loader operator at a mining company so I know just how useful hooks are and no loader is complete without them I'm getting many great ideas from you guys, just wish my fabricating skills were as good as many of you!

I am also looking at installing a bucket grapple at some point also, so I would like to keep the center of the bucket clean at the present time.

 

[/pine]

A FEL bucket with some kind of hooks is like a day without sunshine. Like washing your feet with your socks on, like taking a vacation to Hawaii, and never seeing the beach or ocean, you get the idea... It is an inalienable right to have hooks on your loader.

I get the idea...and your amusing way of stressing it (no pun intended)...
I can't imagine a piece of construction equipment without hooks on a bucket...unthinkable...!

My personal aversion may be in part due to the fact that where I operate there are literally no natural flat spots...so in most of the conditions I face raising the loader any higher than absolutely necessary is no advised...for pulling or dragging I always use the draw bar...being able to turn the tractor around on a dime and also being able to knock the hook a hook off the clevis on my draw bar (with my cane I keep clamped to a ROPS post)...honestly I've never missed having hooks on my little B series...

I wonder how many under-sized tractor operators that have thumb grapples and hooks on their loader buckets...use the hooks (for anything other than dragging/pulling etc)...?

BTW...I am looking for a set of weld on hooks for a skid steer bucket I just installed a thumb grapple on for a friend...we allowed enough room on either side of the grapple mount support bar specifically for hooks...

 

[dragoneggs]

I can't imagine a piece of construction equipment without hooks on a bucket...unthinkable...!

I wonder how many under-sized tractor operators that have thumb grapples and hooks on their loader buckets...use the hooks (for anything other than dragging/pulling etc)...?

Agreed, ergo my previous comment about every bucket ought to come standard with hooks. :thumbsup:

Not sure what is your point on under-sized tractors and use of hooks, but if I understand right... I have a BX and I get plenty of use with my hooks and chain. :cool2:

 

[dirt ditch]

My personal aversion may be in part due to the fact that where I operate there are literally no natural flat spots...so in most of the conditions I face raising the loader any higher than absolutely necessary is no advised...for pulling or dragging I always use the draw bar...being able to turn the tractor around on a dime and also being able to knock the hook a hook off the clevis on my draw bar (with my cane I keep clamped to a ROPS post)...honestly I've never missed having hooks on my little B series...

I wonder how many under-sized tractor operators that have thumb grapples and hooks on their loader buckets...use the hooks (for anything other than dragging/pulling etc)...?

I understand your aversion to bucket hooks in you situation. Dragging is the most logical choice for you because pucker factor should be figured in before starting any work. Unfortunately the world is flat where I live so bucket hooks are a great asset to have in situations where where I don't have the forks with me.

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