CK20 Loader

IslandTractor · Dec 3, 2005

( 
Island, I believe that's the outside measurement and should be considered a 50" bucket if measured inside behind the cutting edge lip, even though it will be slightly wider than that.
John )

Nope, it is a true 54 inches interior. Measured it for a toothbar.

Ed

Steve_Miller · Dec 4, 2005

Ditto

Steve

KiotiJohn · Dec 6, 2005

( Nope, it is a true 54 inches interior. Measured it for a toothbar. )
Well, that's the most important thing, that you got the proper measurement for your toothbar, and that you bought one!! Sure is a great add-on isn't it?
John

IslandTractor · Dec 7, 2005

The toothbar is great and wins hands down in the "bang for the buck" category of modifications to the FEL. After initial attempts at clearing brush with the stock FEL, chain hooks and chain, I really wanted a grapple. However after using the toothbar I realize that it may be difficult to justify the cost of adding a grapple for what I am doing. For the several acres I am clearing, I would probably spend as much time installing the grapple/hydraulics as I would gain in further efficiency at clearing debris. I am moving brush to burn/chip piles and need to travel only 50 yards or so with a loaded bucket. The balancing act necessary with the toothbar is no problem for this even though a grapple would clearly be the tool of choice. I just drive backwards if I have the bucket overloaded (with light brush) and if I am dealing with briars I find it useful to create a small pile then lower the bucket and push the whole mess towards the pile. Again, no doubt a grapple would be twice as efficient but you can do the job with the toothbar/FEL whereas the plain FEL bucket alone was hopeless for this task. I use the chains only for logs now.

Couple of photos follow showing the ability to move debris/brush with just the FEL/toothbar and not needing to get off the tractor (horrors!) to fiddle with a chain.

Ed

IslandTractor · Dec 7, 2005

Toothbar allows me to push over and rip out up to 3-4 inch saplings and cart them off with associated debris without using the backhoe or bothering with chains. Less mess than with the backhoe and by ripping out the roots/stump it does a cleaner job than the bush hog.

KiotiJohn · Dec 8, 2005

One of the things I like the best about the toothbar is when I'm trying to load a big pile that is full of all types of materials, like vines, branches etc. The plain cutting edge bucket would nearly always just push it forward and out rather than getting in the bucket. With the TB, it graps hold and I can get it all in the bucket, usually in one try.
Of course, all the extra digging power is great too. Right after I got the toothbar, I cleared about 2 acres of small wax myrtle trees in just 4 days. I never would have done that without the TB!
John