Piranha tooth bar!!!

[Tollster]

Harry, Thank you for the Piranha bar for my BX. Very prompt service and delivery. I installed it today and wasted no time exercising the new implement. I have been very skeptical and have watched this since it came out 1-2 years ago.
I must say it made quite and improvement in the ability of my BX to cut into a shale pile, scratch back rocky surfacing, remove small saplings and laurel, and enhance the ability of getting a full bucket of dirt and shale.
One note worth mentioning as Maestro said, it does require removal to use with the Bro-tek brush forks as the bracket assembly interferes with the brush forks seating in the bottom of the bucket.
Thanks again Harry, it's a very well thought out design and it shows.
~Tol

 

[nessmuk53]

Just ordered one. Can anyone tell me what size hole needs to be drilled for the attachment bolts?

 

[Carl Bert]

Deezler. Your point is well taken that the ability to penetrate the ground is (somewhat, not the only factor) relative to the contact area. The large teeth on the Piranha serve the major function of penetrating and disturbing the earth. You probably don't realize that the teeth are slightly narrower than the traditional teeth, making the actual contact area of the 8 teeth on the Piranha roughly the same area as 6 conventional teeth. BTW, That was not an accident.

The teeth on a conventional bar are spaced pretty far apart. Any dirt not broken in the area between the teeth, now hits the straight edge of the bucket. The small, sharp teeth on the Piranha penetrate this dirt and fracture it as well. Of particular note, any area with roots, etc. is much more easily cut. One of the many test prototypes actually had the small teeth omitted. Another had longer teeth. Longer teeth significantly reduce breakout force (important when clearing brush) as well as made it more difficult to cut level grade. We used the combinations that gave us the best overall results in building an effective and versatile attachment. The Piranha does much more than just dig.

It was immediately obvious, is that any tooth bar drastically improves the loader's digging performance. Also obvious, the ground being manipulated and the operator's technique made far more difference in digging than did the type of tooth bar.

Cheers!
Harry

You have definitely sold me, you make a lot of sense. I will be ordering one this week for my B26 if the shipping cost isn't too much. Ttys, thanks

 

[Don87]

Just ordered one. Can anyone tell me what size hole needs to be drilled for the attachment bolts?

I think it's 3/4. Just buy a 'step' drill bit. I borrowed my neighbors and had the holes drilled in 1 minute.

 

[nessmuk53]

Thanks, I will get one today.

 

[Maestro71]

Yep 3/4" it was easier to drill than I expected. A step drill is your best bet.

 

[Finnster]

I couldn't find a step drill bit @ Home Depot, so I just got a 3/4" bit.

It was harder to prevent it from walking than a step bit, but still worked well. The bucket steel is not super hard.

 

[Finnster]

....
/edit -
And to anyone - How well do you think the Pirahna would work for digging up bamboo "stumps"?

My present bamboo clearing method is to trim them down to 2" high then back over them with a 5' rototiller. I can't drive over them for fear of puncturing tires.

I would think it would be not too difficult. I would attack right at ground level (as low as possible) and go right at it. Too high up and things will push over rather than shear off.
I think keeping traction will be the biggest impediment, depending on your tractor.

 

[csr0831]

What deezler said! Sorry Harry, no offence intended, but I was rather disappointed with my Piranha tooth bar. Make no mistake it is well made, but the tooth bar on my Johnny bucket cut better then the piranha does (although I had it on a GR and it didn't have enough power to make use of it). Right now I am trying to move a few tons of 1 to 3" river rock and it;s having a real hard time with that. That said, I am still perfecting my methods. It does seem, to work well for cutting underbrush close to the ground. I have considered cutting out the smaller teeth as well. However, it is infinitely better then no tooth bar at all : )

 

[swick1]

What deezler said! Sorry Harry, no offence intended, but I was rather disappointed with my Piranha tooth bar. Make no mistake it is well made, but the tooth bar on my Johnny bucket cut better then the piranha does (although I had it on a GR and it didn't have enough power to make use of it). Right now I am trying to move a few tons of 1 to 3" river rock and it;s having a real hard time with that. That said, I am still perfecting my methods. It does seem, to work well for cutting underbrush close to the ground. I have considered cutting out the smaller teeth as well. However, it is infinitely better then no tooth bar at all : )

My gravel guy told me that 9x12s would stop his huge front end loader in its tracks. Nothing does well with loading big rocks from a pile. Thats what grapples are for. I think the piranha is a great compromise just as our tractors are.