Chain Hooks on a FEL

[nickgalyon]

I bought a new JD 790 the day before the second hurricane hit us. I am moving lots of downed trees and am glad to have the tractor. It would be real handy to have a couple of chain hooks welded to the top of the bucket. The metal on the top looks a little thin and I'm thinking about welding a doubler on the top and welding the hooks to that. Anyone have any insights?

 

[adlertom]

I have 3 chain hooks welded to the top of my FEL bucket, one on each end and one in the middle. I have a New Holland TC33DA with their standard quick attach bucket. I purchased the tractor new and had the dealer do this for me at the time of purchase. He didn't charge me anything for the hooks or the labor.

I've used the hooks several times and they're very handy. The top of my bucket seems beefy enough for the hooks, and there's no additional reinforcement.

I suppose if I tried to pull something really heavy I could bend or break something, but for most of the chores I encounter (pulling logs) I'm sure they're plenty heavy enough. I do use common sense such as pulling in a straight line, looping the chain through both end hooks if appropriate, etc.

My hooks are 5/16" "grade 70" (as are my chains) which are rated for 4700 lbs. This size chain was lighter and easier to handle than 3/8" and met my needs. You'll have to evaluate your loads and decide what makes sense for you.

 

[nickgalyon]

Thanks for the information. I can see where 3 hooks would be very useful. I am not sure the JD 790 loader is thick enough across the top to work without reinforcement though.

 

[SCB]

My dealer put a reinforcement plate in the center on the top of my bucket. Maybe 3" by 4" then welded a hook on. They also put one hook on each side welded to the outside of the bucket up near the top. I thought it was odd having them on the sides instead of the top, but it gave it more stability and has worked great on the occasion that I have used them. I generally us the middle one for most chores though.

 

[Dave___in___CT]

Hi...


My previous Deere 750...
...experienced welder used "U" channel steel (1/4" ?) welded with "U" facing down across the entire width of the bucket top... 3 chain hooks welded to that...

Never a problem with bends...


Dave...

 

[Dargo]

I had a JD 890 and welded 3 hooks on the bucket. If I recall correctly, I welded 3 3" X 4" 7/16" pieces of flat stock on the top lip of the bucket and then welded the hooks onto those pieces. On one of the JD buckets I put hooks on, there was only a curled lip on the top. I had to weld the pieces of flat stock to the back of the bucket just behind the curled lip and then make a "platform" for the hook that came out level with the back side of the curled lip. If you have that type of bucket, PM me and I'll email you the drawings of where I made that. Attached is how I put 3 hooks on the bucket of my Kubota bucket. This was quite easy as the top of the bucket was already 3/8" thick.

 

[MikeFromVA]

I have a 4110 and I had the dealer attach 2 hooks when I bought it. As far as I can tell, he did not have to add any additonal reinforcement when he did it and it works fine.

 

[Henro]

I welded a piece of 2x2x .25 inch angle across the top of my bucket. Makes it much stronger. Especially in combination with my toothbar on the bottom.

Also, I like having a slip hook in the middle and grag hooks on the end. Seems like a slip hook is gentler on a strap or rope than the grab hooks are, and you can still use chain with it if you want too, either by running the chain over to one of the grab hooks, or by hooking it back on itself.

If I were to do it again, I would still use the slip hook in the middle...

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Or, you can be lazy like me and buy two tow hooks, like the kind on the front of your pickup, for $4.99 ea and bolt them to the top of your bucket. I used a piece of flat steel for a washer. Whole job took less than 20 minutes.

 

[pekabu]

I think it depends on the top lip of the bucket. On the smaller Kubota's the lip is rolled backed and I feel it must be strengthened like Henro did. On my NH bucket, it's basically a square tube at the top lip and quite beefy. Some have welded in patches to strengthen the steel then welded the hooks on. My 24hp though very strong, has yet to make any noticable adjustments to my bucket.

 

[Malibu]

Welded 3 hooks to a piece of 3 x3 angle. Welded angle to bucket body and top curl as well as both end plates. Don't think I have to worry about bending the bucket. Load is spread out over whole top frame. Welds across angle are about a inch long and spaced about 4 or 5 inches apart to minimize warpage to bucket.

Hope this is some help.

Malibu

 

[GregJ]

You're getting lot's of good responses here. I thought I'd add my experience here too. My dealer installed mine and put 2 chain hooks on and a larger hook in the center. I like this setup because I can use the center hook for larger diameter rope, etc.

Just another approach. Picture attached.

Greg

 

[Syncro]

I've been impressed with the ingenuity found here. I just installed a hook on the back side of the bucket on my MF 1240. Its a little different approach, I welded a clevis to a piece of 1/4" flat stock, then bolted it in the same plane as the flat back side of the bucket for strength. The clevis allows the hook to pivot and its also removable.

 

[Charolais]

I use weldable grab hooks on my loader also. I weld them on right in front of where the tilt cylinders pivot. Seems to have more support there and get equal lifting from both sides. I use a Shaver post driver for fencing and drive them 3'-4' in the ground. I've had to pull some of those post up for changes and the hooks sure come in handy for that. Also use one grab hook on one end of the chain and it fits right in the notch of Tee post. Makes it fast pulling those up also.

Here's a link for the type hooks I used on the last loader. Looks like a factory job after welding them on. Hooks

 

[jmc]

Syncro,

YOU get the prize for ingenuity here since you can interchange different hook sizes and styles.

John



One very minor point about prominent hooks on the bucket lip that I found out the hard way: If you invert the bucket to stabilize the front when backhoeing, the hooks grind into the pavement.

John