Tooth Bar: What a difference

[lakngulf]

In one of my first posts last fall, after purchasing a Kioti CK30 in October, I listed several jobs that I wanted to accomplish with the tractor. In the replies to that post came the suggestion from MossRoad that I add a tooth bar to the FEL bucket. Subsequently, I read with interest several tooth bar posts, paying special attention to pros and cons.

I did quite a bit of work with the bucket as purchased (straight edge). It worked well, I moved a lot of dirt, cleared out some ditches. Still, I knew I had lots of dirt to move, had some rocks to place at the sea wall and spread on the driveway, and wondered if a tooth bar would be more effective with these tasks.

Finally, I called Markham Welding and made the purchase. I ordered one day, it was at my door two days later, I bolted it on and went to work. For the jobs I am doing the difference is night and day. I am a believer.

There are a few things, however, to keep in mind:
1. You have some added length on the bucket. You reach the trees, buildings and trailer a lot quicker than before
2. The forks allow the bucket to slip into the soil and under roots that the lift and curl of the FEL CANNOT budge. Previously, the straight edge would stop the tractors at the root, before the bucket was under it.
3. The forks may not allow you to slide the bucket edge all the way to the front of the trailer
4. When digging near water lines the forks, being longer than the bucket alone, are attracted to the pipes, and the lift and curl of the FEL can easily move the pipes

Thanks, MossRoad and others for the tooth bar suggestion.

 

[ragkar]

It sounds like you have an interesting story of toothbars and pipes.

 

[lakngulf]

No story yet, just an almost. I am putting about 50 feet of culvert in a ditch along the side of my dirt drive way. Problem is the water line uses one side of that ditch, and it is better to find out where it is with a shovel than with a tooth bar.

I see you have a Markham as well. I am sure other companies have some great tooth bars, but the folks at Markham were pleasant to deal with. BTW, I did email four Kioti dealers in my area, asked about 400 hour service and implements like tooth bar, grill guard, etc. Maybe my email was not working that day but I did not hear from any of the four. I was willing to use a local dealer (I bought the tractor used).

 

[Mousefield]

Did Markham welding make one for you are was it off the shelf factory made? Any pics of you using it?

 

[lakngulf]

I called and gave inside measurements of my bucket, 8 inches from the cutting edge as instructed. Mine measured 60 inches exactly on the inside, after several attempts because I distrusted my measuring. I called and gave Melissa the measurement, credit card number, and she said they would get right on it. Each is custom made but they may have some 60 inch ones ready to go, thus accounting for the fact I got mine so quickly.

Sorry no pictures. Around here we have had rain, rain and more rain, and now some snow. So when it will do to operate the tractor I seldom even think of taking a picture. When I get back on the culvert installation I will try to remember.

 

[lakngulf]

Any pics of you using it?

I took a couple of pictures of the tooth bar in action. This first set of photos shows the toothbar all dirty and a part of the overall bucket, along with some shots scooping and moving brush.

The teeth give you a short fork to aid in getting under any material you want to lift or push. I tried to get a shot showing the teeth moving under the small trees that I wanted to place on a larger pile. One shot shows how the teeth help hold the material in place, until dumped. The last photo shows a larger log. I picked it up by approaching from downhill, and with a little coaxing.

 

[lakngulf]

Next, I have been working on the ditches on each side of my drive. One side has a bank that I wanted to angle a bit, and I needed the dirt in other areas. These pictures show the toothbar cutting into the bank, the load of dirt you are able to get because the tooth bar breaks up the soil for you, and the tooth marks in the bank to show how it digs in.

One thing to note. With the bar the bucket will easily and quickly get into the soil at a depth that the curl and lift will not handle. I did not remember the bucket straight edge doing that so easily. I find that I have to back off to allow the curl and lift to work. Takes some practice, and I need a lot more.

 

[lakngulf]

Another job involved preparing the other side of the drive for another section of culvert pipe. In these shots you can see the bucket angle dig into the ditch, loosen the dirt so that it is easily scooped out. The last shot shows the ditch (aka mud hole these days) ready for another pipe. Hopefully, one of these days the land will dry out enough so I can smooth the new area over the culvert pipe and cover it with #57 gravel.

These jobs could have been done without the toothbar, and in the last couple of months I have done similar jobs without it. My conclusion is the jobs are much easier with the bar--(1) scooping items into the bucket and (2) loosening the soil. I understand that it will help me greatly when I get ready to move rock and rip rap.

 

[AHNC]

Happy the tooth bar worked out for you. What leads me to post however is the attached family picture you include. You are a lucky man!

 

[lakngulf]

Thanks, ANHC. That is my wife and our three joys: grandsons 1 1/2, 2 and 5. They are the reason I have {Being Poppa} as one of my interests. I have a blast when they are around, and I have to rest a week afterwards. Here are a couple of more shots