To Toothbar or Not

[paparammer]

I have a toothbar for my BX1800 and have yet to actually dig something with it. That said, I do a lot of carrying things around (branches, stones, firewood,...) and the added 8 inches or so of the teeth past the lip of the bucket adds immensely to the ease and capacity of carrying. IMO, even if you never dig with it, it's still a #1 choice.

 

[guyrj33]

Sounds like your stumps may be best removed with an excavator. Rent or hire one for a day or two or three.

 

[RayH]

A tooth bar is definately money well spent.
How big are these trees. If they are say less than 5"-6" dia. You should be able to push them over with the 3130 then use the teeth on the toothbar to get under the exposed part of the rootball and pry up. I did several this way with my 3130. It would make quick work of a forest, as long as the trees werent too big. If yuove got bigger trees, get a bulldozer in there and finish it off in a few hours then spend a few days on the 3130 cleaning it up.

 

[btolle]

I love my Markham toothbar. It is great for digging and a big help when moving limbs and logs.

It is good for use as a rake when backing up.

It is lousy for leveling since I like to use the bucket lip to level with. I can remove or install it in less than 2 minutes with an impact wrench. I have had it off and on several times in the last week cleaning up after Hurricane Rita.

No one has mentioned it but it also adds a lot of strength to the bucket lip. I used to bend the lip on my old B7100 pretty regularly pushing small trees over.

I use one of the teeth to cut small roots. Hook the roots of a small tree with it. Aids immensely when digging up small trees.

"Handy as a pocket on a shirt."

Bill Tolle

 

[Marlowe]

So they make these things store bought?

I've got about four hundred cubic yards of clay stacked across the front of my lot that has been there over a year; hard as a rock now. When I ran the bucket into the mound the lip barely penetrated it. I pondered the situation a while and came up with some teeth for the leading edge of the bucket. I took a piece of three inch flat bar and welded one inch square stock on the bar at seven inch intervals, then angle iron on the ends to bolt the whole mess in the bucket with. I've now got five inches of tooth and three inches of flat bar protruding from the lip of the bucket. Works like a champ for busting up that hard clay and it makes it much easier to tote a few logs too. I guess I ought to hold off on the patent though.

 

[gmsssi]

I have a Markham and thinks it's a must for the FEL....

Got some pictures of it here on page 1...................

Kioti Pics

 

[strokerduster]

or pict on a b3030. i highly recommend also.........

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Kintyre,
I have a 3130 with toothbar. I am in the western part of the state(red clay soil). The toothbar helps in getting under roots to pop them out. It also makes moving the brush around a little easier since the teeth aid some in picking up limbs and brush.

It takes me about 5 min to remove, and well worth the money, $300.

Go to your dealer and see what his price is. Someone mentioned Markham welding, check with them but I believe there toothbars are on backorder.

 

[Kintyre]

Thanks all for the advice! Most of the trees I'm clearing are smaller 6-10" with some up to 15". BTolle, I never did think about adding lip strength to the bucket - I could use that with all the tree pushing. Also, I'm a typical guy - don't stop to ask for directions, and would never hire someone to clear my land /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif So, guess I'm getting a toothbar... I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh yeah, I did just take out a big narley maple stump this evening with just the FEL. Came out piece by piece, root by root, but it came out. No more stump, but now I gotta figure out what I'm gonna do with that big old hole.

 

[LBrown59]

<font color="blue"> 1*I've got about four hundred cubic yards of clay stacked across the front of my lot
2*When I ran the bucket into the mound the lip barely penetrated it. </font>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1* And I thought my 31 cubic yards was quite a bit of dirt.
You're welcome to donate me a hundred or so cubic yards of it.
2*I break it up with the BH and or tiller when it's like that.