I use mine to hold or lift things. It's nice not to kill your back when cleaning up the mower deck. (The bucket is level. But it doesn't look that way in the pic)
Looking for bucket hooks
- Thread starter JustJeff
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85Hokie
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But I've managed ok without just by wrapping a tad longer chain around the bucket.
I could not imagine wrapping around the bucket every time I needed to pull or pick up something.
Just how are yall using the hooks to real advantage other than just decorating your bucket?
If they were for decorating - I would not have them, I would say that without THEM the bucket capabilities are reduced!
Once you get them on - and then get some 5/16 chain.....you'll understand they are needed and not for looks!
I could not imagine wrapping around the bucket every time I needed to pull or pick up something.
Just how are yall using the hooks to real advantage other than just decorating your bucket?
If they were for decorating - I would not have them, I would say that without THEM the bucket capabilities are reduced!
Once you get them on - and then get some 5/16 chain.....you'll understand they are needed and not for looks!
You what you say about pictures!But I've managed ok without just by wrapping a tad longer chain around the bucket.
I could not imagine wrapping around the bucket every time I needed to pull or pick up something.
Just how are yall using the hooks to real advantage other than just decorating your bucket?
If they were for decorating - I would not have them, I would say that without THEM the bucket capabilities are reduced!
Once you get them on - and then get some 5/16 chain.....you'll understand they are needed and not for looks!
If you had the choice between Ken's bolt-on hooks, exactly like the ones in the pictures posted...or a set of hooks welded to a length of angle iron - which, in turn, is welded to the bucket....which would you choose?
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Did the same thing with mine tonight. Got my hooks from Bxpanded earlier today and wanted to give them a shot. The deck looked terrible. (This was not from me. I just bought the tractor and found the deck like this), so I got it cleaned up pretty good considering I don't have my garden hoses out for the Spring yet. Taking the deck in tomorrow to have the blades either sharpened or changed out for new ones as these ones look pretty chewed up to me. I would have just taken the blades in, but I don't have any sockets big enough to remove the nuts holding the blades on. Loving the hooks so far. No trouble putting them on at all, and they seem pretty sturdy.I use mine to hold or lift things. It's nice not to kill your back when cleaning up the mower deck. (The bucket is level. But it doesn't look that way in the pic)
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JustJeff, looks like your hooks are doing just what they're meant for!!
Your mower was put away after mowing some damp grass. Often normal in the world of mowing. Your blades look fine, probably need an edge returned to them.
Since you have an nice piece of equipment and enjoy keeping it in top shape, you might consider some tools to do all your own mower maintenance. You could start out with a 1/2" socket set, a 1/2" breaker over bar, and one of these.....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Blade...960157?hash=item33c821569d:g:34IAAOxyLN9SeYgS
You may be able to find the little balancer at your local lawn and garden store, but they are simple and do an excellent job. Get you mower blades off, clean them with a putty knife and wire brush, or a wire wheel on you angle grinder. Sharpen, put on balancer to check if too much weight is one one end, adjust...then install.
All done quicker then you can drive to the mower shop, wait in line, get a ticket and a promise date of when their finished!
You would also need a bench grinder or better yet, for this job, a 4" angle grinder.
If you could buy these items at Harbor Freight, and for this kind of work would last as long as the mower (well except for the grinder)! And after a couple of sharpenings all your money has been put in tools, not paying someone else.
Your mower was put away after mowing some damp grass. Often normal in the world of mowing. Your blades look fine, probably need an edge returned to them.
Since you have an nice piece of equipment and enjoy keeping it in top shape, you might consider some tools to do all your own mower maintenance. You could start out with a 1/2" socket set, a 1/2" breaker over bar, and one of these.....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Blade...960157?hash=item33c821569d:g:34IAAOxyLN9SeYgS
You may be able to find the little balancer at your local lawn and garden store, but they are simple and do an excellent job. Get you mower blades off, clean them with a putty knife and wire brush, or a wire wheel on you angle grinder. Sharpen, put on balancer to check if too much weight is one one end, adjust...then install.
All done quicker then you can drive to the mower shop, wait in line, get a ticket and a promise date of when their finished!
You would also need a bench grinder or better yet, for this job, a 4" angle grinder.
If you could buy these items at Harbor Freight, and for this kind of work would last as long as the mower (well except for the grinder)! And after a couple of sharpenings all your money has been put in tools, not paying someone else.
Creature Meadow
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Agree with DCAT, I sharpen my own blades, I use a 4 1/2" angles grinder with a 80 grit flap disk.
I have a nail in the wall and a level line traced on the wall to balance blades with.
I have 3 sets, once 2 are dull I sharpen 6 blades at once, I change blades on my zero turn every 3 cuttings. Why, blades rarely get too dull and are easy to resharpen and secondly easier on mower with sharp blades.
I have a nail in the wall and a level line traced on the wall to balance blades with.
I have 3 sets, once 2 are dull I sharpen 6 blades at once, I change blades on my zero turn every 3 cuttings. Why, blades rarely get too dull and are easy to resharpen and secondly easier on mower with sharp blades.
Thanks very much for your advice. I did do all of my fluid and filter changes right after buying it, since I bought it from a John Deere dealership and I didn't know the history of the machine. I also greased all of the zerks on the machine, loader, and mower deck. The blades looked bad (to me, but maybe I don't know anything), and I didn't have a socket large enough. I do have several ratchet sets and sockets, just didn't have a socket on hand large enough. I will get one though. I dropped it off this morning, and they did in fact change the blades. I have the old ones and may try sharpening them myself from this point forward. They did also replace the belt (it had a couple of holes in it), and changed the oil in the deck. I overlooked the oil in the deck, as I hadn't read the MMM owner's manual. I will probably do all of my service from this point forward though. The bill for all of the work was 271.00. They had it in and out in two hours, which wasn't too bad at all, time-wise. And they power washed it for me. Thanks again for the advice. It's appreciated.
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And the 1/2" grade 8 bolts are overkill also, not that there's anything wrong with that! When I first saw this thread of Ken's Hooks, I thought "you got to be kidding me, this Ken guy is cutting a fat hog." But then I saw his pricing...very reasonable, and a good way to go for those who don't weld. Nice site also, everything well presented, go Ken!
I'm welding 3 hooks on my bucket tomorrow, one in the middle, and the other two a couple inches from the sides. I also have a fork attachment coming this week, my first, so the hooks (5/16", to be used with grade 70 5/16" chain, plenty strong for my L 3301's grunt) won't be used for much heavy stuff. They are "weld on" hooks, not sure of the exact nomenclature or the metallurgy of them.