BX 22 Bucket Hooks

[bmac]

So, I'm still frothing at the mouth for a BX 22. Was talking to a dealer yesterday about bucket hooks. He stated that because the BX 22 has a single hydraulic cylinder centered on the FEL bucket, he recommends that you only add a single hook on the bucket, also centered. His logic was that it would prevent torquing the bucket with uneven loads, which might occur if you had 2 hooks (one on each end).

While this seems logical to me, I wonder if this is really good advice or if he was just blowing smoke with an uninformed tractor neophyte.

What say you, the wise and experienced BX owners in TBN land?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I agree with that. Also, you could easily tip yourself over if you lift anything from either side. Definately want to keep the weight centered. When you get a little "tippy" to one side, well, that's what everyone refers to as "pucker factor".

There are several post on bucket hooks and pictures of what some folks have made themselves.

If you get a toothbar for the loader you can use that for hanging a rope on for lifting. Toothbars really strenghen the front edge of the bucket.....

But, a hook to the center is the only way to go with a single cylinder. Tom

 

[bmac]

Thanks, Tom. Like I said, the dealer's explanation made sense to me. But then again, I'm pretty easily convinced about things I know little about.

 

[yakima]

I, too, was told to have a single bucket hook centered so that it would be lifted with the center cylinder and the load would be even. I have a BX22 with just such a hook and have already used it for many things: pulling logs with a chain, pulling stumps after I have dug them out with the BH, etc. It has been invaluable and i would highly recommend having one on your BX!

 

[watersjj]

Here is a pic of the single hook that I welded on my BX2200 bucket. Hope this will help you with your plans.

 

[JMP]

I HAD THE DEALER WELD ONE ON MY BX2200 AS PART OF THE DEAL. NOT A BIG EXSPENSE TO THEM. IT IS A SINGLE HOOK IN THE CENTER. A MUST FOR A LOADER. I USED MY LOADER W/HOOK THE OTHER DAY TO PULL FENCE POST, THEN TO LIFT THE 60MMM TO CLEAN AND SHARPIN BLADES.

WOLFMAN

 

[bobsedor]

Thanks for sharing the picture. I am interested in learning how to weld and it has been suggested that a small MIG welder would be the way to start for someone like me. Is this a project I could do with a small MIG welder?

How would you suggest that I learn more to be able to do small jobs like this?

Bob

 

[Boone]

I own the small lincoln 100 wire feed with the gas setup. It is not the right welder for the hook. Either a larger mig or an arc welder would work.
Be careful if you plan on buying a small wire feed welder, you might not be very happy with it as a flux core welder.

 

[bobsedor]

I confess to knowing very little about welding. What is meant by the term flux core welder? I assume it all has to do with what metals I can weld?

Thanks!

Bob

 

[Boone]

Flux core is the wire that is fed through a wire feed welder. It uses a flux to clear away the gases for the weld, the gas welder uses the bottle gas to blow away the air for the solid wire.

With the Lincoln 100, I had a hard time getting any penetration with the flux core, luckily it is convertible to gas and solid wire, but at a price for the kit and a gas bottle.

The Lincoln 100 is not enough welder for what I like to do now days, but I also have a 295 amp stick arc welder for the heavier metals so it gets to stay. I can't justify spending any more money on a better wirefeed welder right now, and I like how nicely a arc welder sticks steel together.