Questions for the JD CUT experts

[RMF]

Thanks guys for the help......just purchased a 3320 with 300cx loader. Dealer is ordering a 61 HD bucket (with toothbar) and it is on backorder, but they are loaning me an old 71 HD bucket that has no predrilled holes for a toothbar. My question is can I take a magnetic drill and simply make the holes myself to retrofit a toothbar? They offered to give me the bigger bucket at the same price and offered to have it sandblasted and painted (it has been sitting on the yard for two years and has a little rust). If I can make it work I may want the bigger bucket. Any thoughts on this? My concern is that I am going to get spoiled with the bigger bucket while I have it.

Thanks

 

[foggy1111]

What are you going to do with the bucket? I assume being you want a tooth bar that you plan to dig with it and do general clean-up?? If so.....I wouldn't be in a rush to get the wider bucket....as your going to have a tough(er) time with ground penetration. As long as your as wide as the tractor I think you should have an adequate bucket size. my .02 cents

 

[RMF]

With the bucket I will be

-moving compacted piles of compost/dirt/mulch from various areas of the property to a 1.5 acre garden

-moving dumped gravel around on a 1500' driveway

-transporting 5' (or 6') cut sections of downed trees to the firepit

 

[jenkinsph]

With the bucket I will be

-moving compacted piles of compost/dirt/mulch from various areas of the property to a 1.5 acre garden

-moving dumped gravel around on a 1500' driveway

-transporting 5' (or 6') cut sections of downed trees to the firepit

I think either bucket will work for you without a toothbar for the indicated tasks. A full load of gravel might be too much for your fel but fixing a 1500' driveway with 3/4 full bucket loads is doable and should wind up that work rather quickly. Moving compost for a 1 1/2 acre garden would definately be better with the larger bucket and the larger task by far. You can move the logs in either bucket but would be much easier with forks.

I don't have a toothbar on my 110tlb and haven't seen the need for it yet but I have used them on other backhoes and larger loaders. Sounds like you have the opportunity to try the 71" bucket without it first.

I would love to have a magnetic Bux drill and drilling the bucket lip with it would be the easiest way to do that. Make sure the bucket is reinforced if you go that route.

 

[RoyJackson]

I think either bucket will work for you without a toothbar for the indicated tasks.

I dunno...that cutting edge of a loader bucket doesn't do too good when the material is dried out and clumpy. Ballast on the 3ph will help a lot but the tooth br would break into that material a lot easier.

 

[deputy11]

I did get the wider bucket for my 3520. The 300cx will handle it full of gravel but travel low, slow and ballast the rear. It does work out better for high volume compost and the long tree branches. What is said about digging is very true, wider is not better but plan to use scarifiers on box blade to chew things up first for the few times I need to dig down.

 

[Nuru]

Yep Roy, wider bucket and a tooth bar will do the trick.