Welded some hooks on my FEL

[motelman]

REPLACE THOSE HOOOKS!!!
The point was brought up about what happens when the chain or hook breaks. I can tell you first hand what happens, and it isn't good. I didn't see the chain coming at me but I saw the destruction it caused. I was on an Oliver 1655 trying to pull out a stump with another tractor hooked on the front. When the chain between the tractors broke, it flew up along the side of the Oliver creating a crease on the tin panels and onto the dash, crushing 3 gauges and missing my fingers by 1/2 an inch. That makes you think a little about wanting to keep what you've got. I have seen many chains break and they all react differently, sometimes very dangerously, and sometimes not. I have seen chains break under acceptable loads and loads that should have broken them have not, so you can never tell, but you always need to be safe.

The splice links like you used are made so the ends will not open after they are hammered into place by the Double J design that keeps them from being opened by pulling on the chain. I have seen the splice links streched but not opened and I never welded one.

I would say get some real hooks welded on your bucket.

 

[bgott]

I might use something like that. The nice thing about hooks is that they are quick, just drop the chain in and go. That D-ring, however, would work well with a slip hook. It would also be nice for chaining the loader up to the shop rafters when you wanted to work on the engine. Thanks for the idea!

 

[MikePA]

FYI...AWDirect has both weldable D-Rings and bolt on.

 

[bgott]

Hmmm, a bolt on D ring and a bolt on hook!

 

[soarkrebel]

Well i have been following this thread a little and today i put hooks on my FEL bucket. I did it this way . a 60 " piece of 3/8 x 3" steel welded to the top of the bucket. and two 3/8 hooks with holes , welded to the 3/8 steel. the hooks have holes to tie rope to also instead of clevis setup. the paint was as expensive as the hooks and metal. looks good.

 

[tiltbed]

yeppers that`s the idea.you must weld these puppies on the peen end....Sid

 

[dkchandler]

Well, I did not think these two hooks would cause such a controversy. Thanks for all the "constructive" comments.
I have decided to keep the hooks for light work. I have purchased a hook rated at 5400 lbs that I am about to weld between the original hooks, for heaver work.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...welded some hooks on my BX2200 FEL...</font color=blue>

<font color=blue>...a hook rated at 5400 lbs that I am about to weld between the original hooks, for heaver work...</font color=blue>

/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
How much do you think that BX loader will handle...?

By the way... as a kid... did you ever have an opportunity to walk through a "hornet's nest"...? /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[dkchandler]

Well, I finally welded a "real" hook on my FEL between the other "questionable" hooks. I am leaving the other hooks, they are great to loop my tie straps through when strapping my BX to the trailer.

 

[cpicton1]

That should do it. At least we will all feel better about you & your helpers safety. Good job. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

Looks great!

 

[MossRoad]

I don't think that will work either..... just kidding /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[sleepyhollow]

dkchandler,

I bet you never imagined in your wildest dreams that a couple of $2 hooks would result in a melee, a bruhaha of 72 posts and well over 3000 views!

I also bet that's the last time you weld something on your tractor without wondering if the TBN'rs are going to read you the 11th commandment: "Thou shalt not weld unsafe devices to your tractor." /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

That's a lot of people that care about your safety who never even met you. That's pretty darn cool. Hope your next post is well... uneventful... All the best!
Sleepyhollow

 

[Gfranklin]

I feel like you earned a merit badge or something. Sure you're not setting us up for a one chain vs. two straps question? (Just kidding, that was referencing another great thread.)

Good job! No countin' sheep tonight.

P.S. Don't be postin' any pictures next week of that third hook bent open.

Greg

 

[mrcaptainbob]

I love it! Thanks for putting us at ease. Annnnnd for puitting UP! with us!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[BigEddy]

Okay - at the risk of starting this up all over again, here's a picture of the hooks I welded on. My logic was that there is a lot more weld with these hooks than the "slip hooks" I had and the hooks are thicker than the chain I use anyway. The nice thing about these is that there is no torquing of the hook when I pull versus a grab hook which is always being torqued.

I read all the notes above - no need to repeat all the concerns.

 

[MossRoad]

No. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[cpicton1]

deja vu /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Looks like a tire chain link to me. Here we go again !

 

[MikePA]

Look like <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tirechains.com/images/crosschainhook2.jpg>cross chain hooks</A> for tire chains. Not a good idea to lift with. No offense, but when the right hooks are available and are not all that expensive, why use anything else?