Bucket hook reinforcement

[Rowski]

I finally got around to installing a hook on my bucket. Just a single 3/8 grab hook welded in the center. The hook had to ground to it the contour of the lip. I also had to reinforce the top lip of the bucket. The reinforcement plate is 1/2 thick by 6" deep and 72" long. The plate is/was a bolt of cutting edge from a Fisher snow plow. Shouldn't bend I hope.

Derek

 

[Rowski]

Well had to try out the hook! Picked up the rock barely. The back end felt a lillte light even with the 2k lb. backhoe on the back. The chain is a 3/8 grade 80 chain. My guess is the rock weighs about 1700 lbs. I could (barely) pick it up with the lift arms. But the curl could pick it up higher. The hook or bucket didn't bend, yet.

Hey Harv, I wish I could say I took it with a timer and make a mad dash to pose for the camera. Well I didn't, had my father take the picture. I haven't found that little wedge thing that hooks the camera to the tripod /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

Derek

 

[Harv]

YIKES, Derek! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

That's twice as much rock as I could lift with my li'l Bota! Hope you were wearing your steel-toed shorts that day! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif Heck, I'd worry about the front of tractor, too.

You know, you could have just told me you did the mad dash thing, and I would have believed you. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

<font color=blue>I haven't found that little wedge thing</font color=blue>

I assume that's why you're looking under rocks. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Boondox]

You can't see it from the picture, but that boulder is only 1/2" thick! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[alan40]

Nice job on the hook!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Hope you had steel toed shoes on!!!! Bit windy here today. How's Montgomery?
Have a great day!!!!
Al

 

[Rowski]

Thanks. We gotta do your bucket next. I'll come up help you get the bucket off, drive it up to the shop and weld it, bring it back home and we'll put it back on. I knew the hook would be handy to have but this is the greatest. Attached is a close up of the hook. Did a little grinding and it fit pretty well.

Pretty windy here too. If it didn't get any warmer for the rest of the summer, I wouldn't mind at all/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.


Derek

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Rowski on 07/02/01 09:44 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[gordon]

Derek nice looking job, when can I run my bucket by your place. I miss not having a hook on the bucket. A very very handy investment. But it won't be long until I weld one on this new bucket.

I also miss my cab. Got slammed by a branch yesterday. ouch!

Gordon

 

[Boondox]

I drove Clementine thru town yesterday to the welding shop and had a pair of hooks welded onto my bucket. Put them on the ends where the inherent stiffness (hopefully) would make reinforcement unnecessary.

On the way I noticed how pretty much everybody loves a tractor. It seems like everybody waved like I was their personal friend, even those poor folks who got stuck behind me for a couple of minutes on a blind curve! Also noticed a lot more about my community driving at 15mph and sitting up high like that. And those aggies sure give a lumpy ride!

Had a brief chance last evening to use the hooks and absolutely love them! Cool stuff!

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Now you need the toothbar.......

Muscle, muscle, muscle... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Boondox]

If I EVER hope to get another implement I need to hunker down and move all those huge hardwood logs out of the firewood rotting muck and into the air where they'll dry! Started already. Put a couple of big spruce logs about ten feet apart in a sunny part of the meadow, then laid a couple of maple and beech logs crossways on top of them. It works. So now I need to get the rest of next year's firewood up off the ground so I have wood -- and not rot -- to work with next spring.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[mlmartin]

I have the hooks on my FEL bucket at both ends as well. Very handy for picking up objects like the 5 1/2 foot granite curbstone that I placed as a step in front of the back door of the barn. This weekend I'll be placing a 7 foot granite billet in front of the front barn door. Two chains, two hooks, no problem.

BTW, both of these pieces of stone were "found" by my backhoe when pulling stumps and cutting a swale.

I've also used both hooks and a chain to hold boulders that were too large to fit completely into the bucket.

Matthew

 

[alan40]

Derek, just let me know the day and I'll stop down an pick up a couple of good thick T-bones to throw on the grill with all the fixin's!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Oh guess I better pick up the hooks too!!!!! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Have a great weekend,
Al

 

[Ray_G]

Has anyone tried to bolt the hook on their bucket ? I do not have access to a good enough welder and was going to see if I could get a hook that could be bolted on .

 

[RobS]

I used a bolt on tow hook and it works well. Only drawback is it's a slip hook, not a grab hook. I use a "grab ring" when I need a grab hook there. It's a forged ring with a grab slot at one end. Minor inconvenience, but saved me having to weld /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Ray, I drilled two holes on each end (on top) of the bucket and mounted my hooks on U-bolts, so I can swing them forward when I want to use them, and they lay back out of the way the rest of the time. I welded brackets on for my fork lift forks and welded hooks would interfere with that.

Bird

 

[PaulT]

Bird,

Can you post a picture of your hook setup? I bought the weldable grab hooks (no clevis), but I like your idea. Is it strong enough?

PaulT

 

[Bird]

PaulT, here's a picture of the hook on one end of the bucket; laid back out of the way.

Bird

 

[Bird]

And here's what it looks like with a chain attached. Of course, when the hooks are not being used, they swing around a bit and take some paint off the bucket. And I bought Kubota paint to paint the steel plate I welded on the end of the bucket for my forks, but never applied it./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Anyway, I mounted my hooks like this for two reasons: (1) used material on hand without buying anything/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif, and (2) they're out of the way when I want to put the forks on.

Bird