Front-End Loader New Bucket or Tooth Bar

[SDiver40]

I also have and use the Piranha bar. Never take mine off and wouldnt consider doing so. I like the little grooves it leaves when I back drag. But then I dont need anything to be smooth when I'm done.

 

[atsah]

So if money is no object would you buy the Piranha setup again or have a second bucket with teeth?

Second bucket with teeth..

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I'm a two bucket guy. Smooth lip bucket is larger with greater capacity. Use it when moving light material of backdragging such as applying gravel to a drive. Use the tooth bucket for heavy work.

Ditto, although I only have one bucket and it's smooth with the option of bolt on teeth, if I had to go back and forth I would buy a second bucket if the price diff was less than a few hundred. It takes 2 seconds to change buckets but would be a pain to bolt on and unbolt teeth on one all the time I feel.

If I bought a tooth bar which I have been thinking about also, I would leave it on all the time. Right now I don't have much of a need for a bucket, it just sits in the barn, all my projects can be completed with a rear blade and pallet forks right now.

I'm all about the right tool for the job, not a big fan of universal set ups, I like to have things designed for one task it does well.

 

[ovrszd]

My smooth bucket is the one that came with the tractor. It doesn't have the paint worn off the inside. I use it the least. But as I said earlier, when you want/need a smooth bucket it beats having to modify a tooth bucket to get the result.

 

[RNeumann]

Thx for the advice! Idaho Implement is a few miles from my house and the price is right for a CA Attachments bucket- no shipping! It has a nicer back edge so I can do some smoothing with that. It is a bit more money than a tooth bar. But I'm assuming a bucket will last several lifetimes so a little extra now seems like a good option.

 

[newbury]

So if money is no object would you buy the Piranha setup again or have a second bucket with teeth?

If money was no object I'd have another tractor with another bucket, and another barn to store it in.
I've two tractors, two Piranha's, 2 sets of clamp on forks (from Titan). Most of the time I leave the Piranha's on.
Just today I slipped the clamp on pallet forks on OVER the Piranha on the M4700.

in order to move a tote.

I've been meaning to grind a couple of teeth of the Piranhas, just never get around to it, but have yet to have a problem with the forks clamping over the bar.

One minute on, one minute off, including dragging/carrying around.

/edit - sorry for the big pic

 

[PILOON]

Well I owned my tractor for some 4-5 years B4 deciding to fabricate a bolt on tooth bar.
(was a nice and satisfying project).
I can tell you that 'bolt on' never comes off as it is just so handy.
Back dragging with teeth is great for clearing roots and trash, just like a big rake.
Digging in rocky soil is a breeze.
About the only downside is, eg; loading sand dumped on a paved surface.
AS to back grading I welded a HD flat bar on the bucket 'heel' and that does the job just fine.

 

[RNeumann]

Hopefully my "money is no object" comment didn't come across like I'm some arrogant prick. Buckets last for generations so if having two is worth it I'll do it. Seems like those that don't do road maintenance tend to leave the tooth bucket on all the time and those that do road maintenance tend to use the straight edge when on the road or asphalt.

It also sounds like the rounded heel edge can be overcome with a little welding project.

 

[ovrszd]

Hopefully my "money is no object" comment didn't come across like I'm some arrogant prick. Buckets last for generations so if having two is worth it I'll do it. Seems like those that don't do road maintenance tend to leave the tooth bucket on all the time and those that do road maintenance tend to use the straight edge when on the road or asphalt.

It also sounds like the rounded heel edge can be overcome with a little welding project.

I didn't take it that way at all. I took it as you being fortunate enough to have enough money dedicated to this that you could go either way.

Go for two buckets. As you said, they'll last thru your lifetime.

 

[TheMan419]

I would think it would come down to how hard the change would be. Also storage space. You will always have one bucket laying around in storage. They take up more room than a bolt on bar would when it is not on the bucket.

I would think with SSQA changing buckets is not a time consuming/hard process. So that is a negligible consideration. If it were not some kind of QA bucket I would think that would pretty much end the argument and a tooth bar would be the way to go.

Knowing me, even if I had the $$ I would go with the tooth bar being cheaper. I would use the $$ saved for some other tractor accessory.