FEL teeth - yes or no?

countrybumpkin · Apr 17, 2018

I went with 2 buckets, one with a smooth wear edge and one with teeth. If I was going to only have one bucket it would have a removable tooth bar.

mikester · Apr 17, 2018

I've used teeth that are welded directly onto the bucket and a bolt on bar. I wish I had welded on teeth and I hate using the bolt on tooth bar and wouldn't buy one again. The teeth hang way too low, it gets clogged easily, and it feels like I lose lift/curl capacity with it. I'd rather use my root rake bucket over the bolt on tooth bar.

Grading and back blading is easier and smoother without teeth. Better for finishing work without teeth.

oosik · Apr 17, 2018

I have a tooth bar on my bucket. Helps loosen and then scoop up material(dirt, sand, gravel, etc) and helps when I use the bucket to back drag and smooth/flatten an area.

RoyJackson · Apr 17, 2018

TomIre said:
What are the pros and cons of teeth on an FEL? I'm guessing there are situations/tasks where teeth are an advantage and times where they are not? What should I consider?

A tooth bar is definitely a better way to go...since it can be removed pretty easily.

The tooth bar comes in handy when breaking up clumped material or a pile of material that has "solidified". There are times you may want to back drag...that's when the tooth bar isn't a help...

3gunr · Apr 17, 2018

hi I'm new to all this, so indulge me. I own four tractors three have tooth bars. Two regular bolt on types and a pirrana bolt on on my new Mahindra 2538 after my first tractors purchase I bought a toothbar and was amazed how much better I could dig .I have 360 acres in northeast mo for hunting, I have several creek crossings ,and lots of washouts to maintain as well as constant tree removal the tooth bars are great for all these things. The pirrana will shear small trees right off and sometimes you can pull trees right out with it .So get a bolt on bar, you wont regret it

beowulf · Apr 17, 2018

I would not want permanent teeth on a FEL, but there are times - a lot of times - when having those teeth is extremely useful and can make certain tasks so very much easier and doable. I have a removable tooth bar (easy to put on/take off) on most of the time - and I would not be without one. I find I do need a smooth - tooth-free bucket at times - but I use the bucket with the toothbar on at least 90 % of the time. You might ding your shins - usually only once.

BrokenTrack · Apr 17, 2018

There is no right and wrong answer, it depends on what you do with your bucket.

Me; I have a farm so I often scrape down my barn of manure and need a straight cutting edge to get the floor clean. When I am working in my gravel pit, teeth are really nice.

Bolt on teeth just do not last on my bucket as I am really hard on it, so I do the next best thing; have a heavy ripper attachment for the 3 point hitch so I loosen my soil with that first, then dig it out with the front end loader with a smooth cutting edge. It is the same concept as a bulldozer and ripper on the back.

It is just a different way to accomplish the same thing.

mykleh · Apr 17, 2018

I have a tooth bar and when I want to smooth out I just roll the bucket back instead of forward and use the back of the bucket to get the smooth contour...

BIKER BOB · Apr 17, 2018

I put a bolt on tooth bar on my fel thinking I could remove it when wanted, I haven't taken it off once since I first installed it. I think teeth on the loader works great for everything but making a smooth backdrag. One of the best add ons I have put on my tractor, plus the bolt on one that I got stiffend up the front edge of my bucket and took the "smile" out of the edge.