Need help shopping

[mccash40]

I would like to get some type of tooth bar for my BX2360. I plan to use it for general brush and rock removal. Since I'm retired and since the govt. is taking more and more of my retirement money every day, I need to decide between the Ratchet Rake and the Piranha tooth bar. I like the quick attach feature of the RR, but I'm not convinced about the double row of teeth. Comments on either one or both will be appreciated.

 

[T Dew]

I have been going over the same problem for the last couple of days, so I will be following this post with great interest. I also like the quick attach/removal of the ratchet rake, but I'm curious how much that really matters. As I think it over, I wonder if I wouldn't just be fine leaving a tooth bar on all the time. I feel that with anything other than the RR I would get lazy and leave it there and just learn to adapt to it being there. I hope people on both sides will chime in with their thoughts.

 

[Carl_NH]

McCash,

I got the RR 3 years ago based on what I read here to clean up logging and stumping debris on 2 acres and also to prep for seeding.

Long story short, the RR, aound rough soil and ledge with embedded rocks dont get along well at all it just skips over the rocks and ledge. As to leveling soil, well it works OK but frankly back dragging with the bucket is just as effective. Also the soil has to be loose, sandy and not wet or clumply or the RR doesnt like it.

Personally I see a lot more use of the Piranha bar with the flat bottom, as you can leave it on and use the bucket as a normal bucket. It also looks like a decent cutting edge to rip out roots and rocks.

NOTE: I dont have a Piranha but I do have the bolt on HD edge on my B21 and I've picked lots of rocks with the bucket and the BH too.

One thing, once you get the rock out you will want to scoop it up, and that should be easy with the flat bottom as well. BTW I know where you can find a 56" RR for a good deal!

Hopefully you will get some users of the Piranha.

 

[oldballs]

Although I've never owned a RR, I'd agree with Carl in projecting its utility. I did have a WR Long Flat tooth bar on my BX, and it worked really great for moving old truck loads of dumped rock/dirt and back dragging. On my current Kubota B model, I opted for the Piranha bar in anticipation of just ordinary dirt/sod/brush/rock usage.

One thing that I've noted is that without a QA on the FEL, moving from a bucket (with bar mounted ) to Clamp-On-Forks requires removing my Piranha bar. But that's just a two bolt job. The BXexpanded people have an answer for that. When I had the BX model, I had a set of "pin on" Pallet Forks....and they were quite expensive and tedious to "pin on" and repin the bucket , if you get what I mean. Cheers, Mike

 

[mccash40]

True, oldballs, I too have a set of clamp on forks and I have considered the removal job of the Piranha Bar whenever I use them. As much as I like the looks of the RR, I guess the flat bar would be more practical in the long run. Thanks for all the advice here. When I hit the lottery, I'll buy one of everything. :laughing:

 

[PhysAssist]

True, oldballs, I too have a set of clamp on forks and I have considered the removal job of the Piranha Bar whenever I use them. As much as I like the looks of the RR, I guess the flat bar would be more practical in the long run. Thanks for all the advice here. When I hit the lottery, I'll buy one of everything. :laughing:

When I ordered the PTB for our Kubota B2320, Harry at BXpanded asked where on the bucket we wanted to use the forks, and then left 2 flat spots on the PTB (one on either end for me) to allow mounting on my chainon forks.

Works well for us.

It has made everything from digging, to prying out large rockes, to raking away brush dramatically easier.

The only reasons I can ever imagine taking the PTB off are to mount our bucket spade, and to take some pictures of the PTB and mounting details for another TBNer

Thomas

 

[T Dew]

I've decided to go ahead and get the piranha bar for my tractor. It seems to have too many upsides and no downsides that I can see. I'm glad everyone on here chimes in the way they do. It's good to get good, useful feedback from actual end users. More importantly it helps me justify expense after expense.

 

[Carl_NH]

TDew,

Glad we were able to assist your decision, and please post your pics, results and feedback once you put it on and have some feedback.

Carl

 

[PhysAssist]

I've decided to go ahead and get the piranha bar for my tractor. It seems to have too many upsides and no downsides that I can see. I'm glad everyone on here chimes in the way they do. It's good to get good, useful feedback from actual end users. More importantly it helps me justify expense after expense.

Sometimes at the end of the day, all you've got is being able to tell yourself: "I'm really glad I bought that, and I don't know how I ever got along without it."

I'm always looking for the next tool or implement to make the job go easier, smoother, or step up the quality of the end result.

While this approach inevitably leads down some dead ends, (like the Paumco Quick Spade Combo), it also leads to improvements that save time (and my back), like the PTB, our Gannon Eathcavator, and our Yankee Warehouse Chain-on Bucket Forks.

I'm glad you decided to go with the PTB because I think that you will really like it, and will feel that it is something you don't want to have do without, but if you don't, all I can offer is an apology.

Thomas

 

[T Dew]

I do not think I will regret it one bit, but I will hopefully find out next week. I already placed the order, so I'm hopeful I'll see something by the end of the week. I have lots of work planned with it as soon as I get it mounted, so I'll have a good review pretty soon after its arrival.