what size hooks/chain

[BWS]

getting my new kub 3830 tommorow and am going to weld on 1 to 3 hooks on the bucket.i have seen some of the posts with reinforcement plates but i,m not sure i'll need them due to the heavy duty bucket[l7223] looks pretty stout on top.should be able to weld straight on.i will be picking up hooks tommorow and am wondering what size 5/16 or 3/8??i think the fel is rated 1500 or 1800 lbs lift so 5/16 should be fine i think??is one enough??should i disconnect the loader before welding[or just battery at the least]??

 

[rdbrumfield]

By all means use 3/8 chain hooks. The day you try to pick with a 3/8 chain you will cuss yourself. A 3/16 chain will work fine and the small amount of slack is nice if it gets jammed.
Before you talk yourself out of reinforcing the top of the bucket, I Highly recommend that you put a piece of tubing inside up against the top lip. It will not only keep the hook from bending your new bucket, it will keep something from shoving it up from the outside when you are pushing, and believe me, it's just a matter of when.
If your bucket is a quick detach from the loader, I would while welding. I keep my ground as close to the area that I'm working on, keep the current localized. You can't be too safe with the computerized dashes and do-hickys that they have now.
here's a pic of mine after over 2000hrs. If it weren't for that tube, my bucket would have been scrap by now.

 

[MikePA]

I have 3/8 inch grab hooks directly in front of the lift arms and a slip hook in the center. I also had the dealer box in my standard duty bucket. Here's a Boxing In The FEL Bucket thread.

 

[rancar]

<font color=blue>"...I will be picking up hooks tommorow and am wondering what size 5/16 or 3/8??...."</font color=blue>

I would get the 3/8" hooks. It doesn't hurt to get these bigger hooks even if you use smaller chaining. What size chain do you have? If 3/8" chain, then you'll need the 3/8" hooks.....if 5/16" chain, then you may get by with the smaller hooks. Also, get the American made hooks not the Chinese made ones. See attachment to view the placement of 2 hooks on my JD HD bucket.

.....Bob

 

[BWS]

the kubota h.d. bucket has what looks like a solid round tube up under the upper edge.looks really solid to me.anyone seen these new buckets?if so what do you think?[will go 3/8 chain now]

 

[BWS]

what would you use a big hook in the center for??i was going to make all 3 the same??

 

[JerryG]

I put 5/16" hooks on my loader 3 years ago. I have picked up some unreal things and have pulled a locked up tractor that none of the wheels would roll(TO30). I would not have any larger of chain on a compact tractor. I don't like to lug around all that weigh/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. 5/16 is big enough for me.

 

[DannyWilliams]

If you want the real thing (weld on tow hooks) check out the following Web address. The Price is $3.50 for 5/16", $4.50 for 3/8" and $6.25 for 1/2".
(http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/finditem.cfm?itemid=7299).

 

[BWS]

those are the hooks i,m getting.5/16 chain would be easier to carry.would a bigger hook in center be an advantage?[maybe to hook rope on or something?]

 

[JerryG]

The only time that I have wished that I had a middle hook was when I was pulling posts. And I really didn't need it then, because I just loop the chain around the other two hooks and drap it to the middle.

 

[rdbrumfield]

On the side of safety, do not use a rope to pull, if it parts, from the seat you are looking right down a loaded gun. Also when lifting cutting poly or fiber on the cutting edge is inevitable.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I've got a JD 521 loader and plan to add hooks. Yours really looks good. I had thought of welding the hooks to the rear of the bucket where there already is a reinforcing plate. You put yours on the front, with no apparent reinforcement. I'd appreciate learning why you decided on that placement and how's it worked for you. Also, what disadvantages do you see with placing hooks as I suggested? More chance of chain breaking on front of FEL?

 

[rancar]

Hi Doug...

<font color=blue>You put yours on the front, with no apparent reinforcement. I'd appreciate learning why you decided on that placement and how it's worked for you.</font color=blue>

This is a heavy duty JD bucket that appeared to me to be more HD than in name only. In other words, it's very well built. I just didn't think I needed the extra reinforcement and when I brought this issue up with my dealer, he concurred. I've used the hooks a few times to chain down heavy, over-sized fieldstone I'm re-locating from some hedgerows I'm working on. I've experienced no problems with the chaining, the durability of the hooks, or structural integrity of the bucket (ie., the front bucket lip remains intact with no bending).

<font color=blue>Also, what disadvantages do you see with placing hooks as I suggested?</font color=blue>

I've seen this type of placement before. There's likely nothing wrong with it. Some dealers I've visited actually prefer to reinforce the bucket lip where the hooks are placed and to place the hooks further back on the bucket to increase integrity. Apart from the chain 'rubbing' on the front bucket lip during transport, I can't see any major disadvantages. One caveat though....if you're carrying a heavy load, the 'downward' pressure of the chain on the bucket edge may place undue stress on the edge causing it to bend. The only way I can see the chain breaking is if you're moving an extremely heavy load that's placing maximum tension on some of the chain links.

....Bob

 

[BigDave]

<font color=blue> The day you try to pick with a 3/8 chain you will cuss yourself. </font color=blue>

At TSC, the weight of their pre-cut chains is almost constant, you just get a shorter chain for the thicker gauge.

3/8" - 14ft
5/16" - 20ft
1/4" - 28ft

I keep two lengths of 3/8" chain in a metal popcorn bucket, and I just roll it into the FEL, transport them to the job site, and then take them out. I don't think their girth is required for FEL work, but I trust them for draw bar work.

 

[rdbrumfield]

The day you pick with a 3/8 you will cuss yourself.

Didn't come out right. I was meaning welding 5/16 hooks on, then at a later date having a 3/8 chain and not being able to use it with the hooks. sorry for the confusion.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a 540 JD loader and welded my hooks on the reinforcing plates as you have described. I took 3/8" hooks and ground the "back" flat and they fit very nicely on those plates. Can post pictures later if interested. This placement puts the load right at the strength, where the cylinders are mounted.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks. Pictures would be great!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I cut the end off the end and ground it flat to lay better. Hope the picture shows you what you want.

 

[rdbrumfield]

Nicely done

 

[CTyler]

Nice job.

Looks like someone was drooling over your work...LOL!!