Bolt on bucket chain hooks

TGKY

Active member

Equipment
L4701DT
May 24, 2018
109
35
28
US
are bolt on bucket hooks reliable and also does drilling then weeken the bucket in any way?
I don’t have or know how to weld and id rather not go to the trouble of finding a welding shop

thanks In advance
 
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Usedb3030

New member

Equipment
b3030, bh77, 5 ft brush hog
Jun 6, 2020
2
5
3
Oregon, United States
are bolt on bucket hooks reliable and also does drilling then weeken the bucket in any way?
I don’t have or know how to weld and id rather not go to the trouble of finding a welding shop

thanks In advance
I used Kens bolt on hooks with a clevis for a backing plate. drilled at the pin on bucket mount fir max strength..Way stronger than a b3030 can lift
 
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Roadworthy

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
L2501 HST
Aug 17, 2019
1,649
525
113
Benton City, WA
I can weld and opted not to. Ken's Bolt On Hooks are clean, professional, and probably stronger than welding hooks on due to the way they're constructed. The backing plate reinforcement certainly covers more area than a weld would. It's a well designed system, just follow the instructions and measure carefully. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!! Oh, and they're great people to work with.
 
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JeremyBX2200

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2200
Aug 3, 2020
440
424
63
Indiana
I used Kens bolt on hooks with a clevis for a backing plate. drilled at the pin on bucket mount fir max strength..Way stronger than a b3030 can lift
This is the combo I am ordering next week for my BX. There have been too many times that I have had to hunt for some way to hook something to my bucket.
 
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RichardAaronlx2610

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Equipment
Lx2610 Cab, Fel, Backhoe, Grapple, Box Grader, Forks
Aug 3, 2021
413
469
63
New Jersey
I weld also and chose to get bolt on hooks for my front bucket. Simple install, strong, and with the backing plate you get even more strength. Plus you don’t have to paint them, the pain always chips off and looks like dookie lol
 
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Tim Horton

Active member
Mar 22, 2018
245
41
28
Lake Superior
I installed bolt on lifting points on the bucket, in line with the loader arms..

I did a cheap way out as I bolted welded "D" rings with a 2 bolt strap on top and on the inside of the bucket...

The "D" rings are rated for more than my FEL is rated to lift.. I also use 4' with a hook on each end trailer safety chains to do a lot of lifting jobs.. Again they are rated stronger than what the FEL will lift, so I should be good to go.. I also have used the chains with the pallet fork frame on the FEL with and without the forks...

This has worked well for me.. And with only about $30 - $35 in the set up..
 
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LarryBud

Active member

Equipment
L3130
Dec 5, 2020
241
126
43
Cleveland, MO
I installed bolt on lifting points on the bucket, in line with the loader arms..

I did a cheap way out as I bolted welded "D" rings with a 2 bolt strap on top and on the inside of the bucket...

The "D" rings are rated for more than my FEL is rated to lift.. I also use 4' with a hook on each end trailer safety chains to do a lot of lifting jobs.. Again they are rated stronger than what the FEL will lift, so I should be good to go.. I also have used the chains with the pallet fork frame on the FEL with and without the forks...

This has worked well for me.. And with only about $30 - $35 in the set up..
If you can find the time, a picture or two would be appreciated. Thanks
 
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Magicman

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
M4900 Utility Special 4WD e/w FEL & 1530 John Deere "Traveling Man"
Oct 8, 2019
5,058
6,438
113
80
Brookhaven, MS
knotholesawmill.com
Mine are bolted on the outside of each corners of the bucket.....
IMG_7940.JPG

With grade 8 bolts and three links of grade 70 chain. The swiveling action of the chain is very useful.
 
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Matt Ellerbee

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
MX6000
Jun 27, 2019
1,654
1,859
113
Canton, Georgia
Came here to ask a question, but believe I answered it once I went out and looked at my bucket...
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Weld on would be my best bet.
 

FTG-05

Active member

Equipment
L4330 w/FEL, RTV-XG850 and ZD326S
Jul 21, 2013
231
84
28
TN
Ken's good people!
 
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RichardAaronlx2610

Well-known member

Equipment
Lx2610 Cab, Fel, Backhoe, Grapple, Box Grader, Forks
Aug 3, 2021
413
469
63
New Jersey
put my hooks to work again today. Man my forks really need to arrive. But this hooks have 1019299292 uses

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JeremyBX2200

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2200
Aug 3, 2020
440
424
63
Indiana
Seeing all the pics of people using theirs is making me anxious to get mine. I am ordering them this Friday. Guess I need to pick up some orange paint.
 
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Bmyers

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
Grand L3560 with LA805 loader, EA 55" Wicked Grapple, SBX72 BB, LP 1272 mower
May 27, 2019
3,151
3,628
113
Southern Illinois
I have the bolt on hooks on my bucket and my dad has them on his bucket. They have taken a ton of abuse and have held up great.

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Now in full disclosure, since I got my grapple, my bucket (more so the hooks on it) have seen minimal use. The grapple makes it so easy to accomplish the same task. My dad and his bucket still see lots of use and his hooks are still going strong.
 
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JeremyBX2200

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2200
Aug 3, 2020
440
424
63
Indiana
Ordering the bolt on hooks? Or weld ons?
Bolt-on. Going to go with the hook on top of the bucket and the shackle on the inside top.

I can’t count the times a helper and I have fought to pick up larger items with my FEL. With the hooks it looks like I should be able to handle the items pretty easily solo.

I’m also in the middle of building a homemade snow pusher for this winter and the hooks will help a lot with securing it to the bucket face.
 
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RichardAaronlx2610

Well-known member

Equipment
Lx2610 Cab, Fel, Backhoe, Grapple, Box Grader, Forks
Aug 3, 2021
413
469
63
New Jersey
Bolt-on. Going to go with the hook on top of the bucket and the shackle on the inside top.

I can’t count the times a helper and I have fought to pick up larger items with my FEL. With the hooks it looks like I should be able to handle the items pretty easily solo.

I’m also in the middle of building a homemade snow pusher for this winter and the hooks will help a lot with securing it to the bucket face.
Couldn’t agree more. The hooks are very very handy. You can rig up just about anything your loader will handle. Can’t wait to see pics
 
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JeremyBX2200

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2200
Aug 3, 2020
440
424
63
Indiana
Couldn’t agree more. The hooks are very very handy. You can rig up just about anything your loader will handle. Can’t wait to see pics
I will make sure I post some.

I have been taking pics of the snow pusher I am building too and will post those when I get it done. Its nothing super fancy, but I usually only need it a hand full of times over the winter. I couldn't stomach spending $1000 when I can make something that will work for less than $100. Most of it is scrap stuff I had laying around.