Solution to stop hanging waterer from tipping?

[ChickenJerk]

Not everyone is a chicken genius, ChickenJerk.

I wouldn't consider myself a chicken genius. I have known to many of them to put myself in their class.
But I am not a bad engineer. And a fluid dynamics engineer at that.

As such I tend to use things in the manner they were designed to operate.
Double wall founts were never designed to be suspended by the handle and one should not be disappointed when they do not perform well when used that way.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Have you considered putting a slight bend upward in the center of the handle? It wouldn't take much.

Your idea has merit, but those handles are fairly stoutly made. Back when I was first thinking of this problem I tried doing just that but found it difficult to get the bend exactly right and it doesn't have to be off by much for the waterer not to hang properly.

I wouldn't consider myself a chicken genius. I have known to many of them to put myself in their class.
But I am not a bad engineer. And a fluid dynamics engineer at that.

As such I tend to use things in the manner they were designed to operate.
Double wall founts were never designed to be suspended by the handle and one should not be disappointed when they do not perform well when used that way.

If we only used things the way they were designed to operate there would be precious little innovation happening in this world. Some of us have needs that have not yet been met so have to innovate from what is available.

I have seven tractors with the Little Giant five-gallon double-wall founts hanging in them using the hooks that I show in my photo. Never had a handle pull off, nor a leak. So long as the hook is made properly never had the waterer tip even through daily moves or on slopes. The waterers actually work better so far as flow is concerned when they are hung as when they set on a flat base.

The hooks that I use are made from 9 gauge galvanized wire such as is used for building fence braces. Any sufficiently heavy wire or thin rod stock would do I think. Just a hammer, pair of wire or bolt cutters, and a vise for the tools.

I want to point out one important part. Don't neglect to bend over the points of the hooks! This is not real clear in the photo they are bent over, not simply clipped off. A full five gallon water is going to weigh more than forty pounds. Easy to poke a hole in yourself hanging it if those points are not bent over.

 

[OldGuy43]

Another idea (untried) would be to put a piece of rubber tubing over the handle to keep the hook from slipping. Split the tubing, put it on and secure it with tie-wraps. Just a thought.

 

[bubblebed]

Where did you get this hook? I could not find it anywhere. Thanks.

 

[TheBoyds]

I know I’m late to this party but I just figured this out about 10 minutes ago. Seems to work great. Old hinge. Drilled out the holes big enough to accept whatever carabiner type thing you’re gonna use. For the low side I used those small ones that you screw the shaft tight to secure. Just a regular one up top.

- G