A Question for Those Who Made their own Toothbar

[AltaLawnCare]

My bucket is about 51", with a sharp edge welded across the front.

I want my tooth bar (If I decide to make it myself)
to go across the front with two bolts on each side to hold it. Does it have to have a lip to fit against the bottom of the bucket...or will just the two bolts be enough to hold it??
Thanks....

 

[jdrotert]

The tooth shanks have a "hook" which keep the toothbar flat against the bucket bottom. See the attachment which shows the exploded mockup of a toothbar I put together.

 

[chim]

There are a number of ways to make a toothbar, and some work better than others. Mine is 2 pieces of flat stock welded to a "V" shape that fits over the bucket's cutting edge. One 3/8" bolt on each side works fine. See attached pic. There are a couple of threads around with a fair amount of info...............chim

 

[Fishmonger]

Chim what size flat stock did you use? Also, how much breakout force do you think your tooth bar can withstand.

Fishmonger

 

[Ozarker]

That is a good looking tooth bar but let me make sure I understand what you said. I can't tell from looking at the picture.

You used two pieces of flat stock and made a cap that completely covers the original cutting edge of the bucket? And then welded the teeth to that cap?

 

[chim]

Yes, it fully covers the cutting edge. The ends are held by short pieces of angle, welded to toothbar.

The flat stock is 3/8" x 3". It's hard to see in the picture, but the top bar sticks out farther than the bottom one. I welded them together in that position after clamping them in place on the bucket. The weld is from the front edge of the bottom bar to the bottom of the top bar. I ground a bevel on the bottom of the top bar. Words don't cut it, so see attached sketch.

Not being a REAL welder (electrichicken by trade) I didn't have a plan to deal with the shrinkage that occured on the top bar. It ended up with a slight negative camber - has a teensy smile when viewed from the right angle.

I have picked the back of the tractor off the ground with a single tooth, used the toothbar picking at rocks, some of which have won the battle (I think the other end of one rock is under your flower bed). To loosen up some hard soil, I put the bucket tooth down and rocked the tractor using curl & dump. Like I said, the sandwich over the cutting edge seems to work well. One 3/8" bolt on each side holds up fine..........chim

 

[Ozarker]

Sounds like a good set up and should take more abuse that one flat bar across the top like most I've seen.

 

[AltaLawnCare]

Thanks, this is just what I'm looking for. Are those teeth bought or homemade too?

Has anyone made their own teeth?

 

[chim]

Teeth and the weld-on bases were bought at a local tractor/implement/hardware store. They were around $13 each (per tooth, base and roll pin combined). Some bases are drilled at the factory, some not. If they are not drilled when you buy them, take the advice of another poster here and drill them prior to welding. I even mounted the teeth and drove the roll pins in before welding them on...........chim

 

[WALT]

Chim, I came accross this post while searching for a source for the toothbar "teeth".
I have not yet found the "teeth" availible locally, as I too plan to make a toothbar for my BX 2200.
Any help with a brand/vendor etc. as perhaps I could mail-order them. Nice job on your tooth bar.

Thanks: Walt