Bolt on cutting edge needed for strength?

[Roto]

I was just wondering if anyone has a 6 foot bucket for NH without a bolt on edge and if its holding up alright. I have a bolt on edge on my TC33D but dont like it really. Cant back drag as good in gravel. The other side of the edge catches rocks and doesnt do as good a job. I chose not to have a bolt on edge on my TC55D but am a little concerned if it will hold up. Im not worried about wear as much as bending. Any thoughts would be helpful.

thanks
Mike

 

[Egon]

When backdragging tilt the bucket down so only the leading edge of the cutting edge is making contact.

The steel in the bucket will wear easily and as stated the cutting edge does lend stability.

 

[jbrumberg]

I agree with Egon. Jay

 

[thcri]

Mine is not bolt on. I have a lot of concrete that I snow plow for. It is holding up fine now for 4 years. I think I will get another 4 years out of it. When I do back drag I do tip it like Egon said to do to protect it.


murph

 

[daTeacha]

I would think you'd only bend it if you are putting a lifting load only in the center, like hooking a chain the the center of the cutting edge. They will wear, however, even when used only as intended.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have a six foot bucket on a TN with out any bolt on edge. I lift from the center of that bucket all the time and have never hurt it. The heaviest item I lifted with the loader bucket was a large DI box that weighed around one ton. It was more then the Bobcat 331 mini excavator could handle so the TN moved it into place. After 6 or 7 years now the bucket is still straight and is not wearing much and it gets used a lot.I do not remember ordering any special bucket when I bought my TN so I think it is just the standard 72" bucket available for the TN. I would think it is the same or similar bucket the TC 55 has.

 

[Steve in ATL]

I have a 35D with a 16LA loader, and have done just about everything you could imagine with a bucket, and after 5 years, it is still in great condition.

 

[Roto]

That TN bucket is bigger and heavier then the TC55. I know about tilting the bucket on backdragging. I have spread and backdragged 100 loads of gravel here on my property to lazer level specs on our horse riding arena. The less you tilt the better it levels and with that cutting edge on there you have to tilt quite a bit. By tilting just a little it used that back of the bucket to pre-knock down and humps and piles before the edge flatens them but as you tilt it more it just uses the blade and will not do as good a job. My other tractor has no bolt on edge and it does way better job then with one. hard to explain but there is an amount of tilt that works the best and i just cant get that with the bolt on edge. im glad to here some have held up pretty good. i plan on trying it without as i can always add one onto it later.

Mike

 

[Roto]

EGON, do you have a bigger picture of that hay pile picture you use under your name? I love that picture and would like a big version of it if you have one.

Mike

 

[Egon]

Yes I do Roto. Send me a reminder in about a weeks time as I'm away from home and in western Canada right now.

Probably best sent as an email??

 

[DieselMonk]

I don't have a bolt on cutting edge on my TC55DA. There are pre drilled buckets for bolt on cutting edges available, but my dealer said those a lighter duty buckets. Like I said, I don't have those pre drilled holes in my bucked and the dealer told me that it was a heavier duty bucket. So far I spread over 230 tonnes of gravel over the past 2 1/2 years with it and never done anything to the bucket besides painting it.

 

[Egon]

Cutting edges can be bolted or welded on.

They are independant from the rating of the bucket itself. You can install different sizes of cutting edge.

 

[Roto]

The buckets they make now have predrilled holes through the cutting edge but not through the bucket. you have to finish drilling them through if you want a bolt on edge. Just the way they do it i guess. these new buckets are new design and not sure how good they are.

mike

Egon, i will try to remind you in a couple weeks

 

[daTeacha]

Interesting commentary about the HD or not, pre-drilled or not.

I have a 114 loader on my DX29. It has the QA bucket, which some here have said is a heavy duty bucket. It also has a welded on but drilled cutting edge which allowed me to bolt on my homemade toothbar and/or would allow me to put on a bolt on cutting edge.

The bucket is reinforced along all edges and has a couple of bands of thicker steel in the bucket proper. HD or not? All I know is that it works, it has a different profile than the non-QA bucket, and holds a fractional cubic foot more stuff.

 

[jinman]

I think if you cut roots and pry up stumps or you do a lot of digging in rocks, there is an added chance you will bend the lower lip of your bucket near the middle. Also, I've seen people push against trees with the center of their bucket to try and push them over. If you get too rambunctious, you could bent the lip upward/inward. I like my cutting edge because it sticks out from the bucket lip on the edges to give me a corner prying/cutting point. Mine shows significant wear on the end edges after just abut three years of use.

If you are not digging in challenging conditions of roots and rocks, then I think you will be just fine with the standard bucket edge. Once you have a toothbar though, you will never be satisfied with a plain cutting edge again unless you are just working all the time with loose materials.

 

[thcri]

I think if you cut roots and pry up stumps or you do a lot of digging in rocks, there is an added chance you will bend the lower lip of your bucket near the middle. Also, I've seen people push against trees with the center of their bucket to try and push them over. If you get too rambunctious, you could bent the lip upward/inward.

Jim,

That reminds me of a scene I personnally saw about two years ago at a resort. On the beach was a rock about a 1/4 of the size of a New Holland TC33D. And yes the tractor being used was a rented TC33D. The 1/4 that I am talking about was the amount of rock sticking out of the sand. Who knows what was under the sand. Well the TC didn't have a chance at moving this rock but the guy driving was determined to move this rock. After many attempts he backed up and hit that rock dead on. The driver flew over the steering wheel. The rock didn't move. The driver backed up again only a bit further back. This time not only did he go over the steering wheel but he pretty much landed between the tractor and the bucket. The rock still there. Low and behold not only did he bend the cutting edge, he bent the bucket, the side arms and both rams. That is all I could see for damage but bet there is more.


murph

ps: another reason for not buying rented tractors.

 

[kozak]

thrci,That's hilarious. You must have been howling at the sheer craziness of it all. Roto,Have not had any issues with my loader but then just as jinman says I have mainly worked with loose materials.

 

[Steve in ATL]

Once you have a toothbar though, you will never be satisfied with a plain cutting edge again unless you are just working all the time with loose materials.

Amen!

I have 2 buckets - one with a toothbar and one without. And a quick-attach. Makes the loader much more handy...

 

[BarnStangz]

ps: another reason for not buying rented tractors.

I'll second that... Lots of morons out there...

 

[SOS]

I like the protection it provides. I had and bucket on another tractor that did not have one on and after I bent it up, I could not add one due to the damage.