Welded some hooks on my FEL

[milkman]

here's a hook i installed on the bucket, removable.

 

[Hydraman]

SOMEBODY WITH SOME COMMON SENSE AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

 

[ebeacham]

It is hard for me to tell, so I will ask. Is that hook held on by a bolt, and if so what is the grade of the bolt?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mike, my point is, there is no way THAT tractor will straighten out whatever it is that is welded to that bucket. Not enough hyd. capacity or weight, which determine the tractor's ability to apply force. I don't think there is a hook that is right for all applications, and if someone is using a larger machine, they should have someone authorized to choose and weld hooks on, as the weld will usually be the weak point in amateur installations.

 

[diggerjim]

splitfire_owner
IMO if only lifting by the hydraulics "maybe". But if anyone uses the FEL like I do on my Case hoe, pushing and pulling, the forces applied to the hooks must increase due to the laws of physics. I understand the tractor in question doesn't have the hp of my hoe but has anyone ever hooked a chain to a sapling, raised the bucket, curled, and then tried to move forward or backward? You should see my bucket......Not exactly straight, but its not a toy or for show, its for work. Just a thought. I do agree with you that the hooks must be welded properly, shrapnel flying is extremely dangerous or they wouldn't use it to bring down aircraft. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I fully understand the power of a Case hoe. We own a 580 Super L 4x4. We had our hooks installed by a die maker who is a certified structural steel welder. That said, I welded my own hooks on my 5400 JD 4x4 loader bucket. I will not be sending a pic in of those, they work fine(daily) under all loads.
The tractor in question is no danger of bending those hooks, period. I am just trying to defend this poor guy. All he's seen is flack since posting a decent job that will be sufficient for what he needs. Everyone responding to this is so concerned about safety, but I doubt a single one uses chain certified for overhead. So where do you call it safe? Build for what you need, use it that way, and don't get under one of the things you pick up with a loader. Period.

 

[Gfranklin]

Keep in mind that the forces the tractor is applying to the hook is only half the game. The bigger unknown is the forces the chain applies to the hook. An example we all probably know is towing a vehicle with a chain. You get a little slack and you get a little out of sync and WHAM! you've spiked the intended forces by an order of magnitude or two. I venture that in most cases, a failure is just an aggravation but for no more than around $3-4, one has now gambled on ALL failures being benign. Not smart. To dkchandlers credit, he boldly ventured an idea, got trounced, then aced the final exam with his new hook. Not bad. There are also probably more lurkers than we think modifying their thinking and actions because of it-an ideal situation and a credit to dkchandler and this forum.

IMO, the "repair link style hooks" have too low a Factor of Safety(FS). A FS is basically how much oversize something is. In designing something, you essentially calculate how big something needs to be to exactly work but no more (think of the straw that broke the camels back). Once this number is determined, then the design is beefed up (multiplied) by a FS to take care of worst case scenarios like shock or impact loadings. In airplanes, the FS is kept low to keep it's overall weight to a minimum in order to maximize payload and fuel capacity and in cars the FS is significantly higher because extra weight is not as big of an evil.

I am of the opinion now that the reason these bootleg hooks were even used in the first place is they were perceived as being easier to weld on for someone unsure of their welding skills (which is unsupported by the pictures). I don't think saving money was the real reason. I could be wrong here but I do know that for a couple more bucks, one could buy a lot more Factor of Safety and you should have some pretty strong reasons if one chooses not to go with more FS.

Greg

 

[Tractors4u]

Oh crap I think I over built my hooks for my 30hp tractor.

 

[jrlichina]

Actually that hook looks like a hook from a tie down strap. So if that is true depending on what the rating of the strap it came from would determine if it's "safe" or not. I have tie down straps rated at 20,000 lbs. (max) and I'm sure those hooks would be strong enough. Maybe BigEddy could let you guys know where the hook came from and what it is rated.

 

[diggerjim]

GFranklin I agree. If I must error (no, when I do) I want it to be on the side of caution.
I cringe when I see someone walking, crawling, laying, etc. under anything supported by a 50cent o-ring, regardless of the type of chain holding the load. Hydraulics are full of em. Maybe its just been too many hydraulics classes./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif
I respect everyones opinion, this is just mine...