cutting edge or tooth bar?

johnnylight · Oct 17, 2006

I have a 14LA FEL bucket 68" Q/A
Am looking to strenghten the bucket so I was leaning to the cutting edge for $250. Don't know how much the tooth bar goes for any ideas?
currently using the loader for clearing --would this be a concern for the tooth bar --taking large trees out with stumps by force of FEL -would the teeth break?

Which one would you reccomend?

Thanks

MadReferee · Oct 17, 2006

johnnylight said:
I have a 14LA FEL bucket 68" Q/A
Am looking to strenghten the bucket so I was leaning to the cutting edge for $250. Don't know how much the tooth bar goes for any ideas?
currently using the loader for clearing --would this be a concern for the tooth bar --taking large trees out with stumps by force of FEL -would the teeth break?

A toothbar would be the hands down favorite. It is just so much more versitle when it comes to digging and clearing types of operations. They cost anywhere from $250 to $350. Your FEL and or bucket will bend/break long before any tooth on a toothbar would if you are attempting to take out stumps with a smallish 14A FEL.

There have been literally zillions of posts here debating the goodness of toothbars with plenty of good points and almost no bad points. You might want to do some searching and reading.

Timber · Oct 17, 2006

Yea what Mad said, Best thing for digging with the fel

3RRL · Oct 17, 2006

I agree 100% with Mad and Timber.
I just got through popping out some massive boulders with the toothbar that would probably have bent the cutting edge. Not only that, I wouldn't be able to dig down to get a grip on the boulders in the first place.

jbrumberg · Oct 17, 2006

johnnylight:

Welcome to TBN

! I have a NH TC29DA tractor and have installed the bolt on cutting bar on my standard 60" 14LA bucket. NH does have heavy duty toothbars designed for buckets with installed bolt on cutting edges. You can obtain the part number from Messick Farm Equipment and Outdoor Power - Parts, Sales & Service. I am "working" the "COMPTROLLER" for mine

. Jay

N80 · Oct 18, 2006

I've been eyeing a tooth bar for some time now. Definitely would have benefited from one last year. My only reservation...other than coming up with the money, is back dragging. It seems like I use my bucket a lot for precise smoothing by back dragging. However, it seems like i've heard that with some of these tooth bars you can loosen a couple of nuts and flip the bar up. Is this correct?

schmism · Oct 18, 2006

most of the tooth bars use tooth roots that have a thumb like projection on the bottom that catch the lip of the bucket. (thus preventing you from just fliping the bar up)

but most are just held on with 2 bolts so they are relitivly easy to take of ... (or so i hear)

johnnylight · Oct 18, 2006

N80 said:
I've been eyeing a tooth bar for some time now. Definitely would have benefited from one last year. My only reservation...other than coming up with the money, is back dragging. It seems like I use my bucket a lot for precise smoothing by back dragging. However, it seems like i've heard that with some of these tooth bars you can loosen a couple of nuts and flip the bar up. Is this correct?

I also do a lot of back dragging and being I have the 757c back hoe am leaning toards the cutting edge my bucket can use the extra strength all year round - it's a lot easier to take a tree out with the FEL gravity pulls the stump right out of the ground.
saving me from working the back hoe for stumps (lots of fun there)

am I making a mistake going with the cutting edge?
I did check out all the treads lots of good info there thanks

Timber · Oct 18, 2006

The toothbar is the greatest thing you can do for your loader. I do all my back draging with the back of the bucket. I just curl it and set it down and back drag. It works even better with a load of dirt in it

3RRL · Oct 18, 2006

I understand some of the newer toothbars from Markham now come with a slotted bolt hole.
This allows you to loosen the bolt (that holds it on) and slide if forward...then flip it up for back dragging with the lip. Personally, I do like Timber and use the back of my bucket to back drag. The toothbar will give you the added strength you are looking for and a ginormous advantage in digging and popping out trees and shrubs. If you want to back drag some dirt you dug up, you need to dig it first. That's where the toothbar shines.