Bucket Teeth

[Dougster]

I'd think hard about going with those wrap around shanks as someone above mentioned. I don't think those top surface only jobs would last a minute with the nasty rocks and boulders that I routinely hit.

Opps!!! Looks like I need to eat my words. Just came back from visiting with my new 66" Loflin digging bucket (that I will actually own as soon as one or both of my trailers are road-worthy again)... and to my shock, horror and amazement... it has top-welded only teeth. And that is the toughest digging bucket I was able to find anywhere.

So here I am recommending something that is opposite from what I soon will own.

It's tough getting old and senile.

Dougster

[john_bud]

Those top only shanks (sometimes called adaptors) are used on skid steer buckets all the time. They have 2 benefits. They don't interfere with using the bucket for backdragging and you can add a bolt on cutting edge under the welded edge. Bolt on edges are usually double sided so you can flip them when they wear.

Dougster, you should look into getting one for your bucket. I have a 3/4 on my TLB and it is tough. I'm looking into some bolt on tooth adaptors to go with it. But they are spendy and I have to save some pennies....

jb

Rob, were you saying that I'm not sensitive? Ouch - the truth hurts!

[Dougster]

Originally Posted by john_bud

Dougster, you should look into getting one for your bucket. I have a 3/4 on my TLB and it is tough. I'm looking into some bolt on tooth adaptors to go with it. But they are spendy and I have to save some pennies...
jb

My 78" HD bucket already has a very nice, thick cutting edge. Even I can't seem to destroy it!!! The 72" LD bucket is getting bottom reinforcements and a doubling in thickness of the cutting edge before I do anything else with it. The new Loflin 66" digging bucket "is what it is." It speaks (rather loudly) for itself!

In other words, the only real debate is what to do with my old LD bucket after it is straightened and reinforced. Add a regular 8-tooth toothbar? Add 8 weld-on teeth? Or add a landscaping toothbar with double the number of teeth?

Funny you should mention bolt-on teeth. I just stopped at a Blue dealer late afternoon and he tried to sell me a skidsteer bucket already drilled for a cutting edge... and he said something about using the holes for bolt-on teeth instead. I thought he was joking. Is there such a thing???

Dougster

[john_bud]

You betcha. The real HD applications use bolt on adaptors and pin on teeth. They expect them to wear out and be replaced several times in the life of the bucket, so bolt on is much better than weld on.

Usual bucket will have the weld on edge. That is a mild steel - so it can be welded to the structure of the bucket. But mild steel is easy to wear and bend, so it isn't the best for longevity. Better buckets will have that weld on edge with holes on 8" center IIRC. Then you can bolt on a 6" wide or 8" wide high carbon steel wear edge. They come in many thicknesses 5/8, 3/4 and 1" are common. There are tooth adaptors (shanks) that go around the front of both edges and are bolted in place. They are usually forged steel and are priced accordingly.

Hey this must be a first, a sales guy being right! (just joking - hold your fire sales guys!)

jb

[Dougster]

Originally Posted by john_bud

There are tooth adaptors (shanks) that go around the front of both edges and are bolted in place. They are usually forged steel and are priced accordingly.
jb

That is a new one on me! Sounds like it might be an option for my 72" LD bucket. I was originally going to drill and put on a bolt-on cutting edge after the reinforcements were done... but then it didn't make much sense having two wide "cutting edge only" buckets after I had purchased the 78" HD bucket and scoped out the 66" Loflin. I needed to do something more with that surplus 72" LD bucket to justify reinforcing and keeping it... although reinforcement plus bolt-on cutting edge plus toothbar just seemed plain wasteful and a little silly.

Now if you are telling me that I can have my bolt-on cutting edge and additional bolt-on teeth as well... Without the need for a toothbar???

Google time!!!

Dougster

[john_bud]

Originally Posted by Dougster

Now if you are telling me that I can have my bolt-on cutting edge and additional bolt-on teeth as well... Without the need for a toothbar???

Google time!!!

Dougster

go to the fabco web page and download the catalog. It has more teeth and adaptors than you can shake a stick at.

Also
http://www.terracutsupply.com/pdf/terracut-2007.pdf

They have adaptors and teeth (can drop ship) and the specials catalog link has a sale on serated cutting edges. No need for additonal teeth. Pretty cool.

jb

[Dougster]

Originally Posted by john_bud

go to the fabco web page and download the catalog. It has more teeth and adaptors than you can shake a stick at. Also
http://www.terracutsupply.com/pdf/terracut-2007.pdf They have adaptors and teeth (can drop ship) and the specials catalog link has a sale on serated cutting edges. No need for additonal teeth. Pretty cool.
jb

Thanks JB! Serated cutting edges appealed to me at one point... even though at the time the only ones I could find were segmented and VERY costly... but lately (basically, since I got my rake) I'm questioning their value vs. cost on a compact tractor FEL bucket. Seems a bit like the landscape toothbar idea: Interesting concept... and a bit expensive... but is there really a good, common "real world" application.

Anyone out there got one and care to comment?

Dougster