Inexpensive toothbar (do they exist)????

[kwolfe]

I have a bx1500 and would love to have one, however funds have been tight lately and cannot justify spending $300. The need has risen lately because I am digging a fairly large whole to put in an inground kiddie pool (approx 9' across). I got have dug up about 8" with the loader, but onnce I hit the harder clay and rocks, the FEL was useless. I have begun using a railroad pick and shovel, however it will take a long time that way.

I have been looking for a used bar, but cannot find one. I could by all the shanks and teeth, but I don't weld. I wish I could find a local TBN buddy that would work for beer I looked at some of the other posts that use sickle bar rock guards, however thesae are made of cast iron and am not sure how they would hold to to prying up rocks.

Any suggestions? If I can get my hands on one soon, you will be seeing a "Building Inground Kiddie Pool" thread coming up soon.

 

[jbrumberg]

kwolfe:

I see from your profile that you have a box blade. I suggest that you drop your BB's scarifiers down and use it in combinaton with your FEL. It will save your back. Jay

 

[texasjohn]

Yep, FEL isn't REALLY ment to dig a hole in the ground.... at least not real easy.

I suggest you use the scarifiers, all or just a few, depending on how the tractor responds, to tear up the ground... go back and forth in a "cross hatch" pattern to tear up chunks, them pick chunks up with FEL. That should beat pick and shovel.

 

[shaley]

So what size bucket do you have? 48"

 

[SOS]

I've been using subsoiler to tear up the ground and then going back with the FEL. The subsoiler cost me about $120. I don't dig very deep with it -- about 5 to 10 inches at a time over a wide area. I do not own a tooth bar so I'm not sure how well this would help.... Good luck on your decision.

 

[wushaw]

The BoxBlade is you best digging tool of what you have on hand.

 

[kwolfe]

shaley,
Yes, the bucket is 48". Do you happen to have a spare?

jbrumberg,
I have used the rippers to loosen up some of the material, however I am at the point where I do not have the room to manuver the box around enough. Plus, by the time I get the rippers down, I am almost out of the hole.

My goal is not to tear up a 20' by 20' area to dig a hole that is 9' in diameter. That is why I thought a tooth bar would help me break up and scoop up the dirt in the hole/pit.

Not to mention, I would like to have a tooth bar.

 

[jbrumberg]

kwolfe:

I can relate - Jay

 

[hazmat]

I think this is about the cheapest you are going to find

markham welding should be $250 +/-. Solidly built, replaceable teeth, UPS shipping to your door. I have one on my TC18 - very hapy. It makes a huge, huge difference.

 

[shaley]

I'll be glad to weld one up for you if you pay for the parts. I takes about and hour.
Guys on Ebay have the Heavy duty cast series 23 cast teeth for $5.40 ea
eBay: Bucket Teeth John Deere backhoe Caterpillar Shank Qty 6 (item 220108562631 end time May-09-07 06:15:00 PDT)
And the shanks are $55 for 6ea + $15 shipping but most dealers have the shanks for about 12ea and you could buy just as many as you needed. I recommend 5ea.
eBay: Bucket Teeth John Deere backhoe Caterpillar Shank Qty 6 (item 220108562631 end time May-09-07 06:15:00 PDT)
I'm going to the scrap yard this week and I can find the flat bar or buy it at the trailer repair shop.
Here is a pic of my 6ft bar

 

[kwolfe]

Shaley,
That is a really nice offer. I am going to PM you to talk about it.

 

[shaley]

I just got a quote from Construction_parts on Ebay.
Hello
Each shank $8.83 teeth $4.89ea if you need pins $2.25ea Shipping in the USA only $15.00, if this works for you send me your E-mail and shipping info to send you a invoice that you can pay online.
5 Teeth with shipping = $94.80

 

[Tom_H]

48" Markham cost me $150, then $100 for shipping to CA.

I do some ground engagement work with my BX2200 and toothbar. It puts a real stress on the tractor. I have very hard adobe with morraine cemented into it. Even when I rototill first, it is a challenge digging with FEL and TB. I just don't know if a BX1500 would be very successful. In my own soil, I doubt it. You have less hp, less mass, smaller wheels. Perhaps in sandy loam that's already been plowed, you might fare better. I don't mean to rain on your parade, I'd just hate to see you spend the money and then be disappointed.

 

[kwolfe]

Tom,
I don't believe that my clay is as bad as that. If it get a little hard, I can hit it with the hose for a while and let it dry up a bit. As fo the BX1500, if you check out the specs, it is within 70lbs of the 2200. It has to beat using a railroad pick. Not to mention, I could use the toothbar for some other briar removal I would like to do.

 

[kwolfe]

I would like to extend my thanks to shaley for his very generous offer. It is rare these days to have a person offer to go out of his or her way to help a total stranger (not to mention one that is not local). I told my wife about his offer and she was shocked. This is a testimate to the type of person Steve is. I only hope that I am able to help Steve and others in the future.

Again Steve, thank you.

 

[shaley]

Thanks guys, glad I could help. That's what makes TBN so great.
A couple of other TBN members PM'ed and would like a tooth bar, so if there is any further interest I would like to build them all at one time. I thinkng next week would be good and I can ship at the end of the week. Price looks like $16.00 per tooth + some shipping and flat bar cost. PM if interested.