Backhoe chain hooks

hayden · May 2, 2002

OK, don't report me to the safety police, but I put craining hooks on my backhoe bucket. Yes, I'm going to do what they say not to and lift stuff, but I promise to keep it light weight.

Photos attached of the first hook in position, then of the two welded on. It was too cold to paint them, but I'll do that when it stops snowing.

I mostly plan to use them to lift rocks for making/repairing stone walls.

billfires · May 3, 2002

hayden, are those hooks from AW Direct (towing supply co.)? I think hooks on the BH bucket would be only slightly less useful than FEL hooks. I would envision using them as much for pulling objects as lifting them.

Bill C

ronjhall · May 3, 2002

Peter
Looks like a great project. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Where did you get the hooks?
I’m in the process of closing a deal on a 4690 BH. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif I will need to add the hooks.
/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif What size bucket do you have on your BH?

Egon · May 3, 2002

Hayden:
Your not alone. There are many out there who do the same thing.

Egon

MJB · May 3, 2002

Believe it or not, and I have a hard time believing it myself, the manual for my JD48 hoe actually has instructions on how to hook up the chains to lift things with the backhoe bucket./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif There is no mention of using lifing chains in the loader manual though./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif I wonder if something slipped by the product liability lawyers at Deere?/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

chim · May 3, 2002

When the boys are installing pipe in trenches and manual labor doesn't cut it, the pipe is placed with the hoe. Due to the size of the trench, the "hoe" is often a track hoe. This is the only way I've ever seen it done on the job. The hoe bucket gives a lot more manuverability than a loader..............chim

edt · May 3, 2002

When I bought my tractor with backhoe attached the dealer installed hooks for me two on fel and one on backhoe I have used it to move large rocks and tree stumps with no problems
I have not seen anything in the directions not too do this

MJB · May 3, 2002

I'm not disputing the handiness (or even necessity) of using a hoe to lift or position things with chains. Far from it. I was just surprised that the lawyers would let Deere put the instructions on how to hook chains on the hoe for lifting.

Anonymous Poster · May 3, 2002

edt, Maybe your backhoe is big enough for lifting, but if you have a Kubota B4672 or B4690 backhoe the manual says:

"WARNING: This backhoe has been designed for excavating only! DO NOT use this unit for lifting or craning. This light utility backhoe unit does not have sufficient capacity for most loads and lacks the necessary stability for most lifting operations. If lifting or craning is required on your jobsite, locate another backhoe that has lifting capabilities"

Andy

hayden · May 3, 2002

It's a 16" bucket made by Gannon/Woods, but it's a Kubota part number. I got the hooks from BB Chain, aka Chappell tractor in Milford, NH. They are designed to be welded on so you don't end up with eyes and other stray metal hanging around.

BB Chain will probably ship them to you,and I think I saw some like them in Labanville's catalogue.

Peter

hayden · May 3, 2002

Yup, that's the warning that I'm ignoring.

I can easily see how you could get yourself into trouble craining. If you lift up something heavy in close to the tractor and directly behind, you have good stability, but if you the extend the hoe so the load is reached way out, then swing it to the side, I could see trouble.

Gary_in_Indiana · May 6, 2002

My John Deere model 47 backhoe manual also lists lifting instructions and load capacity. It even includes a diagram on how and where to attach the chain. I used it for just that purpose on the back of my 4200 this weekend and it worked great. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif I think I may have to add a couple hooks on the backhoe when I'm welding a pair on my FEL this week or next. Thanks for an idea that'll make me look pretty sharp. /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

Richard · May 7, 2002

What am I missing here?

I’m not suggesting anyone do anything that would jeapordize anything. That said, I lift all the time with my hoe.

Let me phrase my question this way.. If I have a load in my hoe bucket and it’s extended ALL the way out to any side and that load weighs 1,000 pounds. (I think hoe is rated to 2,000 pounds fully extended, so 1,000 is within specs)

What is the “substantial” difference if I chain an engine to the bucket and crane it? (let’s presume the engine also weighs 1,000 pounds)

How is that substantially different than “craning” a bucket of dirt that weighs 1,000 pounds, OTHER than the fact, that the engine is chained.

In my specific case, I have Grade 100 chain and WRAP the chain around bucket and teeth so that I do not have a hook that can accidently snap off.

Is it the CHAIN that is the concern here? Or the fact of using the hoe? If the concern is bursting a hose, does that not apply in either example?

I’m not trying to incite, just owning up to what I’ve done (as I now see others have). Seems to me, that if weight is the issue, the relief valve ought to stop you at it’s limits?

I’ve simply become more confused on reading this as to what the EXACT issue is.

/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif
Richard

Anonymous Poster · May 8, 2002

The issue is that smaller backhoes are not RECOMMENDED to be used as overhead cranes. Yet, we all do it in one way or another. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Personally, I just use a heavy duty shackle attached to the buckets lower holes. For heavier stuff, I have hooks welded to the lower boom.

hayden · May 8, 2002

I agree. That's why I welded the hooks on.

Volp · Jun 21, 2002

I can only agree to the above!
I have a short chain with a hook passed through the drainage hole in the bucket secured with a shackle as you can see in my signature below.

mdbarb · Sep 6, 2005

This looks good but I wonder about just putting one in the center down in between the two fins for protection....

hayden · Sep 16, 2005

You could do that. I didn't for a few reasons.

1), the name plate is between the two braces and would have had to be removed (not a big deal)

2) Access to the hooks is easier where they are.

3) I liked the idea of two for better load distribution

4) I felt mounting them to the braces was least likely to cause bucket bending and distortion when lifting. I was worried that welding to the bucket surface woudl lead to bending of the bucket. This was the more significant reason for me.