Loader Bucket Upgrade

The obvious use for a loader on your tractor is to move material from a seated position rather than with a shovel in your hands. The loader can scoop, transfer, and dump all manner of material as well as do some minimal digging if you take your time.

But there is a secondary use for that loader, and that is lifting heavy stuff. Maybe you need to move a filled fuel drum from your pickup into the shed. Or perhaps you need to position some railroad ties for new fencing and get them ready to set squarely in the ground. The loader on your tractor can save your back and save your time.

However, you’ll likely find that the owner’s manual that came with your tractor will instruct you not to lift with the bucket. Only move gravel, dirt, compost or other scoopable materials. Lifting is inherently dangerous and should not be done.

But, you live on a farm and have heavy stuff to move. You now have a tool in your possession that can make your life easier and allow you to accomplish more work in less time and with less people to help you.

If your tractor loader is like mine it did not come equipped with any way to secure a chain to the bucket to lift with.

You certainly do not want to just wrap chain around the bucket. Without solid anchor points that chain can slip and cause your load to shift or fall. You need solidly placed chain hooks to secure your load.

On a Sub-Compact or Compact Utility tractor you are likely dealing with a bucket that is made of 1/8″ thick material. Like mine, you may have a square or round reinforcing bar welded inside the top edge to help prevent bending and add stiffness to the upper edge of the bucket. If you are set up to weld you can easily add a couple chain hooks to your bucket with readily available weld-on hooks. However, if you are like me, you are not set up for welding at home, yet. Now what? How do you safely add the attachment points you need if don’t have ready access to a welder and want to keep costs at a minimum? The solution is simple: Bolt On Hooks.

After some reading and researching various websites and blogs I decided this was an easy, cost-effective way for me to add hooks to my loader bucket. The process for ordering was easy and 5 days later my hooks arrived in the mail. All the hardware and detailed mounting instructions are included in a very well packaged box.

Below are the tools I used to install the hooks on my tractor. I did have to grind just a bit off the big washers so they would sit flat against the bucket. Remember that reinforcing bar on the top edge? In order to properly locate the hooks and have full contact on the top of the bucket, the mounting holes were just a little too close to the reinforcing bar. That said, 5 minutes with a pair of Vise Grips and the grinder and all was ready to assemble.

Ken, at Bolt On Hooks, recommends mounting the hooks in line with the lift arms on sub-compact and compact tractors as this is the strongest point of attachment. I used blue painters tape to mark my location and the centers of the 1/2″ holes for the mounting bolts.

I used a nail to center punch my drilling locations then drilled a pilot hole with a small drill bit. I lubricated the bit and metal with WD-40. I then switched to step bit from Harbor Freight to drill the 1/2″ holes. Having never used a step bit before I was a bit skeptical. However, I will never be without step bits in my tool box again. These bits drilled perfect holes in a matter of a couple of minutes for the entire project. I highly recommend them.

Next, I used a round file to take off the burrs on the inside of the bucket and wiped off all the WD-40. I did a quick test fit to ensure everything was properly placed. Ken suggests putting a bead of silicone caulk around the edge of the hook plate to help keep any moisture from getting under the hooks and causing rust on the bucket. I added the caulking then tightened up the bolts with a 3/4″ wrench and socket. Installation complete.