Grab Hooks & Shackles

[Morley]

Looking at fabricating grab hooks and shackles for my LX2610 loader bucket. I will grind the grab hooks flat and weld them to a small plate which I'll drill and attach to the top of the bucket with bolts. On the underside (inside bucket) I'll weld a piece at 90° onto another small plate and drill a hole in it to attach a shackle with a pin. My question is, what quality shackle would you use if you intend to use it for the usual acreage jobs, pulling posts, maybe towing something when its stuck in the mud, etc. and keeping in mind the ability of the loader/bucket? Big range in price depending on the breaking limits of shackles.

 

[Jchonline]

You can start with Kens Bolt on Hooks as a general guide and in case you decide to buy some in the end. Great group, send some business their way if you can.

Bolt-On Hooks - BoltOnHooks LLC

Bolt-On Hooks and other accessories for compact tractors.

www.boltonhooks.com

 

[Roadworthy]

I'll second the above suggestion. Ken's stuff is top notch and will save you the hassle of reinventing the wheel. I put a couple of his hooks on my bucket and never looked back. You may source the hardware elsewhere but I don't think you'll exceed his quality. Sometimes he even has discounted "seconds" but I preferred not to wait and hope. They're cheap compared to my time.

 

[lynnmor]

Since Ken does not deburr his parts and filing off the burrs yourself will destroy the plating, I would not buy them. I was very disappointed with my recent purchase and his excuses for supplying poor quality. I deburred the things and then painted them. His website doesn't show accurate dimensions, so know what they are if you want to buy there. I think that making them yourself is a good plan, that way you can make base plates that are the best fit. You can buy hooks ready for welding.

 

[85Hokie]

Since Ken does not deburr his parts and filing off the burrs yourself will destroy the plating, I would not buy them. I was very disappointed with my recent purchase and his excuses for supplying poor quality. I deburred the things and then painted them. His website doesn't show accurate dimensions, so know what they are if you want to buy there. I think that making them yourself is a good plan, that way you can make base plates that are the best fit. You can buy hooks ready for welding.

betcha that he will take them back pronto and refund your money! Did you contact them about your hooks and if you did - what was his response?

 

[lynnmor]

betcha that he will take them back pronto and refund your money! Did you contact them about your hooks and if you did - what was his response?

Yes, I contacted him, here is the pathetic response:

The plates are laser cut, so they don't need to be deburred, but after robotic welding they are tumble blasted and transported in bulk (1000 at a time) to and from the platers, then ultimately to us, this is where some dings and sharp edges can sometimes happen-it's an unfortunate side effect from the parts processed in bulk. I'm sorry your experience with our products was less than positive.

As you can see, the burr issue doesn't matter to him. I have a tool & die shop and have never shipped parts with burrs let alone make excuses for shoddy workmanship. I didn't pursue a refund because other manufacturers make the base plates too large. In hindsight, I would have made them myself. Apparently his customers don't care or understand the issue. The edges are sharp enough to cut skin and the edge burrs will cut right thru the paint causing rust immediately.