Back Dragging with a Toothbar

[Corm]

This question is for you folks that have a toothbar installed -

I can see and understand how a toothbar would be a significant advantage when digging tough soil, picking up field stones like Rowski plans, digging up roots, trying to get a bucket full of crushed rock, etc.

It seems that I spend as much time back dragging areas I've been digging in as I do digging them up. It seems to me that with a toothbar on the bucket, the result of back dragging would not be nearly as 'nice' with a toothbar as it is without one. In other words, when I backdrag an area with my 'toothless' bucket, the end result is a nice smooth area left behind. I use this technique often for driveway maintenance as an example. If I had a 'toothed' bucket, it would seem that the end result wouldn't be nearly as nice. It also seems like it must be a pain to install and remove the toothbar very often, so I'm guessing it doesn't get done very often by you folks. Is that correct?

I'm trying to justify a purchase of a toothbar, but I'm having troubles doing this if I have to take it off every time I want to do a nice job back dragging my driveway. I've not seen this issue addressed before, so I'd appreciate the benefit of some input from you toothbar users if you would be willing. Thanks in advance.

Corm

 

[mikim]

When back dragging with a toothbar - roll the bucket to lift the toothbar up and use the "heel" of the bucket to backdrag smooth - works like a charm.
mike

 

[TerryinMD]

The toothbar is one of the best buys to enhance the use of your FEL and the use of the tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Backdragging is one the better uses of the toothbar. I probably spend more time backdragging than going forward when using the toothbar. It is amazing at the amount of stuff that you can move. Once you get all of the junk out of the way, you can then drop your bucket and float it to smooth out the area.

Terry

 

[EdKing]

I agree with the others on this one. When I am cleaning up I tilt the bucket foward using the teeth like a rake, works great to get larger debris out of the way. Then I Tilt the bucket back and use the heel with the bucket floating for a nice smooth finish.

 

[fishman]

Good question Corm. I too have been hesitating on a toothbar for that very reason, but just haven't put the question into words. Looks to me that the consensus is that it isn't an issue. I think I'll get one.

 

[TerryinMD]

You will not regret your decision. I too had the same questions. But the $300 or so dollars will probably saved me thousands in not having to depend on getting in a backhoe operator.

Terry

 

[gordon]

Ditto, to what the others have already replied. Just use the heel of the bucket. You will find that you have much better control of your material when floating it out with the heel.

If you want some added compaction at the same time do it with a full bucket while back-dragging with the heel of the bucket. I use this option often and it works well.

Of course everything is not perfect. The downside to using the heel of the bucket over a LONG period of time it will wear your bucket steel thin. On my last tractor I added plate steel to the heel because it had worn to the point of being paper thin at the heel joint. This was a standard duty bucket and it took years to do that so average use you would never have to even think about it.

Gordon

 

[Rowski]

Corm

I will most likely order my toothbar on Monday or when they (Carver's) return my e-mail. So when I get it and install it you should come up and we'll see how it works. Depending on which model I get it couls be as early as 2 weeks and as late as 3 to 4 weeks. I had not given it much thought about back dragging with the tooth bar installed. But as Gordon mention I use the heel of the bucket most of the time. The heel seems to work better especially for compaction. So we'll see when I get it. Let me know.

 

[MikeBurr]

Here's a little bit of a different type of tooth bar. Called a Rezolok edge. Back scraping, no problem. Works great for raking dirt to get rocks out. Since it bolts to the bottom of the edge, it adds a lot of strength to the digging part of the bucket. And since it sticks out quite a bit, it really helps in moving things with the bucket.

 

[EdKing]

Looks pretty good, but I'd hate to have to take it off with all those bolts holding it on.