Spencer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2002
- Messages
- 1,270
- Location
- Western Michigan
- Tractor
- NH TC33D w/R4 Tires, Rear Remote, Hydraulic Toplink, 2 Auxiliary Work Lights, 7308 Loader w/Kasco Uni-Hitch (Quick Tach)
Spencer\'s New Toothbar
I have wanted to join the toothbar club here at TBN for some time now. I checked with my dealer but they didn't stock any toothbars. They could order one for me but I would be paying full list price plus freight and tax. I knew a lot of TBN'ers had ordered them over the internet/phone but I didn't ever get around to that for whatever reason.
I had to go on a business trip down to a southern state a few weeks ago. The people who owned the restaurant I was installing equipment into also owned a tractor dealership. I knew the chances were slim that they stocked any toothbars let alone one that would fit or could be modified to fit my particular bucket. I asked one of the owners anyway, he didn't know but he said the other owner would be the one to ask. When the other owner showed up he first said "no, we don't have any". A minute or two later he remembered that they did buy some from a dealership that had gone out of business. So I went down to the store and we went out back and sure enough there were three identical toothbars. I asked him how much I could steal one of them for and we went inside so he could look it up on the computer. He said "they list for $360, if I ordered one right now I would have to pay $230, how does $200 sound". I snatched up the deal even knowing that the toothbar was 2" too long for my bucket. I figured I could rework it or have it reworked and still be ahead of the game.
The main plate that the teeth are attached to is 3/4" thick. I would have had to make two cuts through that to remove a 2" section and then re-weld the bar back together. The cuts would have to be bevel cuts so that the bar could be welded all the way through. That would have been the easiest way to do it but then the teeth would not have been symmetrically spaced. It would not make the toothbar any less effective but having the teeth spaced unevenly would have driven me nuts (ya, I'm one of those people). I knew the best way to do the job was to cut two inches off of the center. Then cut the center tooth off of that. Re-weld the bar back together and weld the center tooth over top of the weld in the center of the bar. That way the teeth would be symmetrical and the weld holding the center tooth on would also reinforce the weld in the center of the bar.
I knew what I wanted done but I really didn't have the time and it would have definitely been pushing the limits of my metal working tools. So I took the toothbar over to a local welding shop to get an estimate. If I left the teeth in place and cut two inches out myself they would weld it back together for $20. If they cut it and welded it back together it would have been $40. Then I asked him how much to cut two inches off the center, cut the tooth off that piece, weld the bar back together, and weld the tooth back on top. He said that would be $60. So I left the toothbar with him and gave him a week to get it done. I knew the holiday weekend was coming up and I had a business trip after the weekend.
So a week went by and I stopped by to pick it up. The owner wasn't there but two of his employees were. I told them I was there to pick up a toothbar and they showed me where it was. I asked if they had a tape measurer so I could double check to see if it was the right size. The one kid said "59 3/4", right?. I did this one myself." I measured it and sure enough it was exactly 59 3/4" just like I requested (the inside of my bucket is 60"). As we loaded it up I noticed that the center tooth seemed to be in at least 1/4" from the rest of the teeth. I figured I would keep my mouth shut and just bring it home and check how it fit the bucket. Sure enough the center tooth was the only one that made contact with the cutting edge of the bucket, the other six teeth were at least 1/4" away. So I took it back and pulled up to the main door. The owner came out and said "59 3/4", right?" I told him that that measurement was perfect but the tooth was welded too far back. He took one look at it and saw exactly what I was talking about. You didn't need to get out a straight edge to notice it. So even though they were closing in two hours he promised me he would have it done by the end of the day, which he did (it was last Friday and I really wanted to use it over the weekend). Now almost all the teeth make contact with the cutting edge of the bucket. I didn't even have to modify the holes on the side of my bucket for the bolts. They were the perfect size and in the perfect location.
Here is a picture of the precious cargo. It's a good thing that was my last job for the trip or this would have gotten in the way.
I have wanted to join the toothbar club here at TBN for some time now. I checked with my dealer but they didn't stock any toothbars. They could order one for me but I would be paying full list price plus freight and tax. I knew a lot of TBN'ers had ordered them over the internet/phone but I didn't ever get around to that for whatever reason.
I had to go on a business trip down to a southern state a few weeks ago. The people who owned the restaurant I was installing equipment into also owned a tractor dealership. I knew the chances were slim that they stocked any toothbars let alone one that would fit or could be modified to fit my particular bucket. I asked one of the owners anyway, he didn't know but he said the other owner would be the one to ask. When the other owner showed up he first said "no, we don't have any". A minute or two later he remembered that they did buy some from a dealership that had gone out of business. So I went down to the store and we went out back and sure enough there were three identical toothbars. I asked him how much I could steal one of them for and we went inside so he could look it up on the computer. He said "they list for $360, if I ordered one right now I would have to pay $230, how does $200 sound". I snatched up the deal even knowing that the toothbar was 2" too long for my bucket. I figured I could rework it or have it reworked and still be ahead of the game.
The main plate that the teeth are attached to is 3/4" thick. I would have had to make two cuts through that to remove a 2" section and then re-weld the bar back together. The cuts would have to be bevel cuts so that the bar could be welded all the way through. That would have been the easiest way to do it but then the teeth would not have been symmetrically spaced. It would not make the toothbar any less effective but having the teeth spaced unevenly would have driven me nuts (ya, I'm one of those people). I knew the best way to do the job was to cut two inches off of the center. Then cut the center tooth off of that. Re-weld the bar back together and weld the center tooth over top of the weld in the center of the bar. That way the teeth would be symmetrical and the weld holding the center tooth on would also reinforce the weld in the center of the bar.
I knew what I wanted done but I really didn't have the time and it would have definitely been pushing the limits of my metal working tools. So I took the toothbar over to a local welding shop to get an estimate. If I left the teeth in place and cut two inches out myself they would weld it back together for $20. If they cut it and welded it back together it would have been $40. Then I asked him how much to cut two inches off the center, cut the tooth off that piece, weld the bar back together, and weld the tooth back on top. He said that would be $60. So I left the toothbar with him and gave him a week to get it done. I knew the holiday weekend was coming up and I had a business trip after the weekend.
So a week went by and I stopped by to pick it up. The owner wasn't there but two of his employees were. I told them I was there to pick up a toothbar and they showed me where it was. I asked if they had a tape measurer so I could double check to see if it was the right size. The one kid said "59 3/4", right?. I did this one myself." I measured it and sure enough it was exactly 59 3/4" just like I requested (the inside of my bucket is 60"). As we loaded it up I noticed that the center tooth seemed to be in at least 1/4" from the rest of the teeth. I figured I would keep my mouth shut and just bring it home and check how it fit the bucket. Sure enough the center tooth was the only one that made contact with the cutting edge of the bucket, the other six teeth were at least 1/4" away. So I took it back and pulled up to the main door. The owner came out and said "59 3/4", right?" I told him that that measurement was perfect but the tooth was welded too far back. He took one look at it and saw exactly what I was talking about. You didn't need to get out a straight edge to notice it. So even though they were closing in two hours he promised me he would have it done by the end of the day, which he did (it was last Friday and I really wanted to use it over the weekend). Now almost all the teeth make contact with the cutting edge of the bucket. I didn't even have to modify the holes on the side of my bucket for the bolts. They were the perfect size and in the perfect location.
Here is a picture of the precious cargo. It's a good thing that was my last job for the trip or this would have gotten in the way.