Needed a hook on the bucket tractor.

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My boss let me use his tractor for a few days to level out some dirt. I had a 90' Oak tree fall down from high and the tree guys messed up my yard. But i needed to pull post with cemet around them and a 12' pine tree. So i welded a 1" half moon plate on there! Worked good too! 6010 root and then 2 passes of 7014.Lincoln SA 200 Lincoln Idealarc 300/300 TIG
Reply:Might have considered beveling the base first to get a good and deep weld.Looks like 6010/6011 in a single pass. Hate to say it but that won't last too long when it is stressed.My choice would have been to put a 45* bevel on the plate so a 100% weld could be made with 6010/6011. Then a few cap passes of 7018 until the bevel is filled plus a bit more.Another trick is to weld the hook to a 4"x4" (or larger) plate and then weld the plate to the bucket. It spreads out the load.But that's just me.Last edited by GWD; 08-04-2013 at 10:24 PM.
Reply:We have a JD 5320 with a 300CX bucket on the front. It has 3 hooks for chain lifting welded to the top rim (one on each end and one in the center) and the principle reason I'm buying a stick welder is to fix the center hook that's separating from the bucket ridge AT THE WELD. I could probably grind and clean and re-weld with my 180 MIG but it gives me an excuse to buy a new toy and learn a new welding discipline.  Anyway, point being is John Deere factory part and absolutely NO PENETRATION. I think they need some better weldors. I'll post some pix when I snap some tomorrow. Yours looks real nice!
Reply:I prefer to weld lug or hook to a piece of plate and then bolt to bucket. My center hook has a plate for hook and another with matching holes to sandwich bucket.
Reply:Is that bucket material even 1/8th inch ?  Shouldn't take too many pounds of filler on there to hold all that lip is going to hold."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Should weld a plate on the top of the bucket or it will bend i used 3 x 3 x 3/16 angle on mine to reinforce the top and mounted 3 hooksBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Reinforcement is always a good idea but I've polled stumps out of the ground that were so entrenched that the hydraulic system stopped which meant it was pulling at maximum force and failed to bend the top bar. Now I should emphasize that Al's (Killdozerd11) a heavy equipment guy that's forgotten more than I'll ever know about equipment limitations and safe working specs but our JD 3520 uses a 300cx loader (http://www.ag-power.com/new-products...der-attachment) operating off an 8.6gpm hydraulic pump generating 2500 lbs of working pressure and I've bent the center hook when the weld failed (hence my interest in getting a stick welder!!!) but the top bar is still straight as an arrow.
Reply:Think I figured it out. Just went out and looked at our tractor and loader and it's the 300x which is box reinforced all the way around the edges; top, bottom and sides while the walls are 1/8". See http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/...0x_loader.page. The 300cx is not and the picture above shows an un-reinforced perimeter (I think) in which case Al's reinforcing idea is a good one. The one problem I see with the ball hitch on the lower lip is that, with repeated use, it'll stress and bow that area meaning there can't be a clean, flat, straight edge to scrape material or level with. Just some thoughts. I too use a ball hitch but I have it drilled into one of the forks on our pallet attachment and it's removable so I can maneuver trailers with it in place and then remove it when I'm moving or loading pallets or hay bales. Again, just some thoughts.
Reply:Shoulda built a whole new bucket!
Reply:Looks like the weld could of used a little more heat IMO but what do I know.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:Kubota is a little differentwhat didn't show in these pics is that i put 3 10" long 2" wide 1/8 gussets under the original lip and the angle where they butt up to each other two on the outsides and one center to also support the original lipI had just gotten the TB and 12RC and was running NR-212 .045 FCdidn't have a good camera then took these with my phoneAttachment 443661Attachment 443681Attachment 443691Attachment 443701Attachment 443711I was running a little cold so i had to grind out and re weld on the hooksBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:I put my trailer ball on the back of the gannon so i can back up under the hitch pick it up move the trailer and drop it without getting off the tractor Ball and mount is from Harbor Freight just ground off powder coat and welded on with 7018Attachment 443721Backed my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Those hooks are exactly the setup that's served our farm so well for so long. there's no end to their use!!!
Reply:There's just no end to the fun things you can build for a tractor with a bucket and/or a 3-point hitch!!! Some nice work. My concern and I think everyone here's was over stress. The folks here care about the well-being and success of fellow members and ,as for me and the folks I know, take the time to write constructive recommendations. Those owner-built things are just great. As a matter of fact, I think I'm gonna steal your idea about the 3x5 haul about!:-)
Reply:Originally Posted by killdozerd11Kubota is a little differentwhat didn't show in these pics is that i put 3 10" long 2" wide 1/8 gussets under the original lip and the angle where they butt up to each other two on the outsides and one center to also support the original lipI had just gotten the TB and 12RC and was running NR-212 .045 FCdidn't have a good camera then took these with my phoneAttachment 443661Attachment 443681Attachment 443691Attachment 443701Attachment 443711I was running a little cold so i had to grind out and re weld on the hooks
Reply:Some good points and good pics of your stuff! I was going to weld a plate in under the hook but ran out of time before work. So i just tried to pull the stumb. I had the back tires off the ground and jerking it back and forward. Didnt bend anything so i didnt add the plate to the bottom side. Thats probly the only time it will get used. lol The owner has a Case backhoe he uses all the time.Lincoln SA 200 Lincoln Idealarc 300/300 TIG
Reply:Originally Posted by killdozerd11Should weld a plate on the top of the bucket or it will bend i used 3 x 3 x 3/16 angle on mine to reinforce the top and mounted 3 hooks
Reply:Like this  The padding spreads the stress over the face of the plate, and it ties the side walls in.Same principle on any flat piece of plate subject to either pullout, or shear, as in the case of a hook.  It's pretty simple/cheap insurance."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Sizing of welds is an interesting conversation.First off, the size of most welds are determined by the thinnest member being welded.  Second comes the consideration of tearout.  If you're worried about tearout while the part is in tension/shear it pays to add another pass, keeping mind that you're still dealing with the base material limitations.I suppose it's a judgement call based on past success, or past disasters"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1I prefer to weld lug or hook to a piece of plate and then bolt to bucket. My center hook has a plate for hook and another with matching holes to sandwich bucket.
Reply:Originally Posted by SMC WeldcraftI'll go with BD1....weld to plate and bolt to bucket with four A325's.
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Yep, that's what it looks keystoneMike did on his Kubota. If Mikey did it it's gotta be good.
Reply:Originally Posted by tackitHere are some things I built for the tractor that have been worth the material and effort.I built the  3' X 5' haul about out of 1 1/2 X 3/16 sq.  I use it to unload semi trailers to trimming trees, cleaning out gutters and taking trash to the fire pit .  I have a safety rail that bolts on.The step is for my bad knees..Sprayer comes in handy for doing around buildings and drive The roof is like an air conditioner. Welding machines and tools were made by God for men to improve their lives and have constructive fun.
Reply:Snapped a few pix of the tractor bucket. Not great but you can see where the problem is. Attached Images
Reply:Gotta go with Tackit on this one. We had to save for our retirement ranch here in Konmmiefornia, land prices in which are 2-3 times those in other states, and the first thing we bought was the Gator for Joyce and the JD 3520 for me. Cab, AC, stereo, PTO 3 point, everything I ever wanted and so far, with 1000 hours on it, the only thing I can complain about is the welding on the bucket hooks. Oh and the AC only gets the cab down to 70 degrees in 110 degree summers but it sure keeps the dust and maneuer out when I'm dragging the pens and spreading the hay field!:-)  I guess it's like welding; there are so many MIGs that are "better" than our 180 and while I'd like a 212, the 180 is pretty darned good for what we use it for. I know the 3520 is a compact tractor but it fits our every need.I had to weld a chain grab hook on the center of my Kubota Tractor Loader Bucket  in a hurry one day to load some equipment to take to our deer lease.   Now that Ive seen some of the better ways to do it I am going to cut my hook off and install it in a more proper manner.   Guys I really learn a lot from you and I appreciate your post.  richey
Reply:That's what we're all here for. About the bucket, I was really surprised because the welds on the tractor and the booms are perfect, at least as far as I can see. And the seam welds on the bucket are great so I don't know what the stry is with the hooks; attachments I think most people use all the time and so put alot of stress on. So I'm having them taken off and re-welded correctly this weekend by a friend who works for the Cat  dealer out here; Quinn Machinery here in Lancaster. All he does is weld on big Caterpillars and it'll be the best 20-pack of MGD I've ever spent. Well that and I do have to take him horseback and shooting out into the National Forest that the ranch backs onto but hey, a good deal anyway I think.
Reply:Sounds like a good price to me Backed my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by tackitWrong on all accounts.  Wrong #1,  between not having a roof an having one while out mowing it's an air conditioner.  Wrong #2, the bucket hit a stump that was hidden not over loaded or pushed to hard.   Wrong # 3, the tractor I bought new in 1992 and its still running today without any problems after doing miles and miles of bush hogging, pulling a 6' grooming mower, pulling a 5' spring fork, and a 6' rear blade,   pushes snow and tears out sod for concrete pads every time I ask it to.  It costs me $50 a year for fuel, why do I need a bigger tractor?
Reply:unbelievable
Reply:Boy, I'll tell you. The best thing I ever did was order the cab with air filtration and AC.! My wife and I are 56 so we figured with the wind what it is up here and the heat hitting 110-115 in the summer, we really should be comfortable farming the alfalfa we do and building our retirement ranch so we might as well get one with all the creature comforts we can. Spreading manuer and tilling even 5 acres can be pretty uncomfortable at 100 degrees and 15 kts of wind!
Reply:Jlames,Your photo said it all. I was going to weld a set of hooks on my front loader for my little tractor - Kubota L2800. But I can see that welding it to a plate first is the way to go.I just got a forklift attachment for Bobcat at the right price - free. I am going to retrofit it to fit my loader. It should be plenty for moving small stuff - less than 1000 pounds. I am getting really jazzed about this project after getting my fix on this site.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeBD1 you get the two beer salute
Reply:Originally Posted by jlamesAbout the bucket, I was really surprised because the welds on the tractor and the booms are perfect, at least as far as I can see. And the seam welds on the bucket are great so I don't know what the stry is with the hooks...
Reply:What he Said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Backed my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck