Front-End Loader Tooth bar advice please

[Folio]

Have had my JD 3032E (my first tractor) with a 305 FEL for about a year and a half and am wondering what advantage I might gain by investing in a tooth bar. My needs:

*moving piles of decomposing hay and composted manure from one place to another
*moving piles of dead fall and cut limbs (some up to 12-14" in diameter) for trimming into firewood or into the back of my pickup for alternative disposal
*scooping/moving dirt and gravel (e.g., driveway) as needed.

I don't do any digging below grade to speak of, which I understand a tooth bar is good for. On the other hand, I'd like to be able to do a better job of getting under my loads than I'm currently doing with just the loader itself. Seems like I'm always cutting too deep, not getting into a pile deep enough, or just pushing it away when I want to dig into it.

Given all this, what advantage is there to a tooth bar? Have done all manner of searches on this site, but all I find are choices of tooth bars. Mine is a more basic question: do I need one at all and just have to improve my loaders skills?

Thanks for any help...Ray

 

[texasjohn]

You need a toothbar.
Makes digging into any pile easier.
Increases total bucket capacity.
Gives you points to hook chains to for lifting.
IMHO, doubles the usefulness of your FEL.:thumbsup:

 

[samandmax]

Piles of stone and dirt for sure a tooth bar. Used mine to take apart a railroad tie retaining wall put together with rebar and long spikes. The teeth would pry in between the ties and I could pop them up and carry away. Had it done so fast it was amazing! I wouldnt be without one.

 

[smfcpacfp]

The two posters above mentioned some advantages.

I can't think of any disadvantage in having one on - another way to think about the issue.

Kubota B3030 HSDC snowblowing Jan 2012 (HD) - YouTube

 

[wcampbell47]

Have had my JD 3032E (my first tractor) with a 305 FEL for about a year and a half and am wondering what advantage I might gain by investing in a tooth bar. My needs:

*moving piles of decomposing hay and composted manure from one place to another
*moving piles of dead fall and cut limbs (some up to 12-14" in diameter) for trimming into firewood or into the back of my pickup for alternative disposal
*scooping/moving dirt and gravel (e.g., driveway) as needed.

I don't do any digging below grade to speak of, which I understand a tooth bar is good for. On the other hand, I'd like to be able to do a better job of getting under my loads than I'm currently doing with just the loader itself. Seems like I'm always cutting too deep, not getting into a pile deep enough, or just pushing it away when I want to dig into it.

Given all this, what advantage is there to a tooth bar? Have done all manner of searches on this site, but all I find are choices of tooth bars. Mine is a more basic question: do I need one at all and just have to improve my loaders skills?

Thanks for any help...Ray

Seems to me like the decomposing hay and dead fall limbs would be better handled with something like a debris fork like the link below if you have no interest in a grapple.

Paynes Forks Steel Debris Fork 1500-Lb. Capacity, Model# PFDF52 | Bucket Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

There is a bit of an art to scooping up loose and light weight stuff. I think bucket design has something to do with it as well. Pay attention to or practice lowering the bucket and adjusting it to where you are just skimming the ground. Feel and sound of engine should tell you if you are digging or just skimming. If possible have some kind of backstop you can push against.

I recently cleaned out an old barn of composted manure. I used 2wd and lowered my engine rpms so I could tell if I was digging too deep. If I was too deep the rears would spin or the engine would pull down slightly. In that case I curled the bucket up slightly. Got a full bucket each time.

Practices makes perfect. You will get the hang of it.

 

[Ken45101]

I can't think of any disadvantage in having one on - another way to think about the issue.

#1 disadvantage - you cannot get a smooth surface backdragging if you have a toothbar.

#2 disadvantage - you cannot pickup small amounts of fine material, e.g. do final cleanup.

I only find a toothbar necessary for digging into compacted (e.g. virgin) dirt. Other than that, I prefer a smooth bucket, it will do most other jobs just fine. As a couple of posters mentioned, technique is important. In some cases, a toothbar can make up for poor technique I guess.

A toothbar won't help at all for pickup up cut limbs (12-14") or decomposing hay. It won't hurt, but it won't help. A grapple would help there.

I have a toothbar on the bucket of my skid steer. But unless I'm digging virgin dirt, I am more likely to put my tractor bucket (smooth) on the skid steer.

Ken

 

[Deere Dude]

My lawn looks like a bunch of chipmunks got ahold of it from all the times I dug down to deep with the toothbar. I try to get it level but before i know it I have about 7 stripes about 2" down. I think no toothbar would be better for scraping and maybe moving piles that are not hard packed. Back dragging is much better if you want a smooth surface.
A toothbar does work nice for back-dragging on ice to make it less slippery.

 

[texasjohn]

Toothbars are installed with 2 bolts, easy to remove when smooth lip is needed. I've done that twice in 4 years. Options are good.

 

[Ken45101]

Toothbars are installed with 2 bolts, easy to remove when smooth lip is needed. I've done that twice in 4 years. Options are good.

True...sort of. Easy to put on and off if the fit is perfect and everything is perfectly straight. The tooth bars for the larger buckets are heavy, I can only lift one end of mine at a time.

But for the OP's uses, it doesn't sound like a toothbar would be all that helpful and good ones are not cheap.

Ken

 

[texasjohn]

You don't use what you don't have. Besides my steering wheel spinner, the tooth bar gives me the most value per dollar spent of any attachment l have.

A toothbar also prevents your FEL bucket from "smiling" at you after a while.

OP now has answer to his question and can make informed decision based on his current and future needs.