Loader Where to put Hooks on M7060 bucket?

[Hozzie]

I had bolt on hooks on my MX5800 and was planning to do the same on my new M7060. The buckets are of a different design and I am having a hard time figuring out where best to place them.

There is a "boxed" in portion, but it seems fairly thin by my standards to bolt the hooks. I am just using them to lift things off of trailers, etc and not yanking anything so it won't really have shock loads, but still seems like it would be more prone to bending. It would also have to sit slight wider on the bucket to clear the loader arms when tilted back.

2nd place is on the back flat of the bucket, but it sits pretty deep comparatively and may make hooking chains more cumbersome. The lip of the bucket is probably center to slightly above center of the actual hook.

A couple of pictures of what I talking about are below. The hooks have backer plates that I will cut to make sure they can be used in either location so there will be support behind the hook in both cases.

Anyone have a place they wish they hadn't put them (seems like the most important question) or place that works well. I want them inline as much as possible with the loader frame hence the reason I will go inside of the "box" if I put them on the bucket flat.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I like the angle iron directly in line with the bucket cylinders.

 

[Roadworthy]

You could try contacting Kenny at Bolt On Hooks directly for a bit of input. He may have some ideas.

 

[Hozzie]

Yeah, I looked at his. His seem to be a bit narrower and go on top. I will probably just modify the ones I have to fit there. Was just curious what anyone else had done.

 

[kennyd]

Yup, we have the smallest ones available, and all made in the USA

 

[5030]

You do realize that both buckets in the pictures are light duty material buckets and not heavy duty excavation buckets which Kubota offers as an option when buying a new tractor. You need to be very careful where you place the hooks on the light duty bucket or you'' bend the lip where you mount them. I have both with my M9's, light duty and heavy duty.

 

[Hozzie]

I’m fine with the bucket. I am not going to be beating the crap out of it using it as a bulldozer. They won’t be going on a lip anywhere.

 

[5030]

Good idea about placement. For some reason a lot of dealers fail to inform buyers that there are actually 2 bucket options available, the standard material bucket that 95% of new tractors come with and the heavy duty double bottom round back bucket that is an option. I happen to have both of them myself.

 

[Jaeger]

I'd go with Kenny's 3/8" WELD on hooks with that light bucket, put them out towards the end on top of the loader where its stronger. I've picked up huge rocks and logs with these on each end.

 

[Hozzie]

I bought some of his bolt on hooks that have the smaller base and will put them inline with the loader arms. Have been out of the country for a week so they should be there when I get back and can put them on.