Looking for bucket hooks

[JustJeff]

Hi guys. I've been looking around for hooks for my BX 2350. I went to Bxpanded and for 5/16" hooks it looks like they're charging 179.00 for ONE hook??? If so, that's ridiculous. I like the no drill, no bolt idea, but that price is crazy if it's for a single hook. I've read people on here talking about "Ken" and his hooks (I believe that name is correct). I don't know his prices, or if they're temporarily attached, or bolted on, but could someone please let me know how to get in touch with him so I can find out his prices and what kind of hooks he has? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[redmaher]

Google kens hooks

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[redmaher]

http://www.boltonhooks.com/

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[Greenhead]

I see a lot of comments regarding "bolt on" hooks. Most seem to form their opinion that welding is stronger.
Remember that your loader is "bolted" to the tractor...
I have Ken's bolt on and they are perfect for me.
This coming from a guy that has had a welded hook break off and
go past my head. They make a wizz sound just like a bullet (don't ask).
To each thier own.

 

[trapperdrew]

I had a set of kens hooks on my 2370, the bx stops lifting or pulling long before these hooks even blink.

 

[MadMax31]

I prefer A36 weld hooks, but not everyone can run 7018...

KennyD makes a solid product. Bolt on can be easily removed later if you wish.

Your BX wont create the shearing power to break a hook, however respect must be paid to heavy loads of any nature. Placing the hook in the center of the bucket is the best place. Or one on each end and use them in unison. Wouldn't want to tweak your loader arms hefting something heavy...

 

[JustJeff]

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

 

[Brazos]

Ken's hooks are great. Easy to install and a good clean, factory, look. No worries drilling holes in the bucket. I have a hook bolted to the top side of the center of my bucket an a clevis point bolted on the top side of the inside of my bucket. I use the clevis point the most.

 

[Montana Rick]

Ken's hooks are great. Easy to install and a good clean, factory, look. No worries drilling holes in the bucket. I have a hook bolted to the top side of the center of my bucket an a clevis point bolted on the top side of the inside of my bucket. I use the clevis point the most.

Great combo idea, thanks!

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[D2Cat]

I see a lot of comments regarding "bolt on" hooks. Most seem to form their opinion that welding is stronger.
Remember that your loader is "bolted" to the tractor...
I have Ken's bolt on and they are perfect for me.
This coming from a guy that has had a welded hook break off and
go past my head. They make a wizz sound just like a bullet (don't ask).
To each thier own.

Gotta remember, even the bolted on hooks are welded to the plate you bolt on.

A weld is a weld. If one can weld the hook to the loader as good as the weld is to the plate, the chances of a welded hook flying off is equal, whether welded or bolted.

 

[Fractal]

I just had my dealer weld some on when I bought the tractor, I think they were like $10 apiece or something. You can buy weld on hooks at tractor supply also for around the same price.

 

[Fractal]

Here is what I had them do, two smaller ones on the sides and a larger in the middle....

 

[85Hokie]

Gotta remember, even the bolted on hooks are welded to the plate you bolt on.

A weld is a weld. If one can weld the hook to the loader as good as the weld is to the plate, the chances of a welded hook flying off is equal, whether welded or bolted.

Guys,

I am gonna chime in here - as a welder (not a great one however) the WELD to the bucket is fine - but remember, the footprint of a weld on both sides of a hook are placing a hellva lot of pressure on the THAT spot on the bucket!!!

SO - if someone was to jerk the hell out of the bucket hook - all of that force will be applied to a small area OF THE BUCKET, sure the weld should hold, but the bucket could deform.

When a hook is welded to a plate - the plate is is inherently thicker than the bucket material - thus the pressure when BOLTED to the bucket places a stress on a larger surface area. Now the pressure is placed on the bolts!

I would make sure that the grade of bolts far exceeds the weld breaking strength. The washer used on the head side and nut side of the bucket will also decrease the pressure at that specific point.

Weld on hooks are fine - guessing over the last 50 years more than 80% of all hooks are welded on and 99.99% of those are probably fine. I wanted to weld on a plate and have that plate rise up a bit higher than the bucket edge- When I roll the bucket - the chain bangs up the upper lip of the bucket.....and being a finicky a$$ - I could not stand it!!!!!

This is 2 .500 inch plates with the hook - ground and welded. Cannot remember what rod I used. - and dont look at that bubble gum to hard!

 

[Fractal]

Good point, when I asked my dealer about welding the hooks, they said they wouldn't do it to the older style buckets, but the new ones are sufficiently reinforced to take the lifting strain. On the older ones, they weld a support plate in place across the top of the bucket before welding the hooks on.

 

[Greenhead]

That's exactly what fails, the metal around the weld. Never did find the hook but there was a big hole in the bucket where it used to be,

Fractal, I see your tractor got a new hat and shoes!

 

[Fractal]

That's exactly what fails, the metal around the weld. Never did find the hook but there was a big hole in the bucket where it used to be,

Fractal, I see your tractor got a new hat and shoes!

Yup, we ordered that when we bought it, and they just got it all on a couple weeks ago. Canopy, front light kit, filled R1 tires, and they still owe me the service and parts manuals. They also reinforced the loader arms as detailed in the LA525 loader issues post.

 

[Creature Meadow]

I chose to weld hooks to plates and then bolt to bucket to displace the force over a larger area.

See pics below, you can never have too many ideas some food for thought.

 

[JustJeff]

All good information guys, thanks. I ended up getting the quick attach hooks from Bxpanded. They were actally 179.00 for two of them, not for a single one like I had thought. I'm sure they're not as strong as some of the ones you guys posted pics of, but it's a little tractor (2350), and can only lift 500lbs., so I think they'll be fine for what I do. I don't know if I'll ever move them on the bucket, but I like the idea of having that option if a need arises. I also bought their Piranha tooth bar to re-grade my lawn this Spring due to a well drilling truck driving across my lawn after days of rain to replace my well pump.

 

[Kennyd4110]

All good information guys, thanks. I ended up getting the quick attach hooks from Bxpanded. They were actally 179.00 for two of them, not for a single one like I had thought. I'm sure they're not as strong as some of the ones you guys posted pics of, but it's a little tractor (2350), and can only lift 500lbs., so I think they'll be fine for what I do. I don't know if I'll ever move them on the bucket, but I like the idea of having that option if a need arises. I also bought their Piranha tooth bar to re-grade my lawn this Spring due to a well drilling truck driving across my lawn after days of rain to replace my well pump.

Congrats on your new toys! I hope the hooks work well for you.
I love those piranha tooth bars, if I didn't have a regular one and was in the market that's what I would buy too.

 

[clay45]

I have yet to mount any hooks on my bucket athough I could have used some only a couple of times. I imagined using some in conjuction with clamp-on forks of some kind to haul downed timber by rolling a good sized log up on the bucket and swinging a chain around from the top, under the bucket, over the log and pinching a link into the welded on hook. A single chain would be enough most of the time and be a fast way to secure a load before carting it to the burn pile.

But I've managed ok without just by wrapping a tad longer chain around the bucket.

Just how are yall using the hooks to real advantage other than just decorating your bucket?