Tooth Bar or Cutting Bar

[Kyle602]

Hi All,
Recently purchased an MX5200 4wd with loader, 3rd function, grapple and HD round back bucket.
Have only been using the grapple so far but will be doing some work with the bucket soon, just wondering if I should purchase a cutting bar or tooth bar before using it much?
How does the edge of the bucket hold up without anything added is it pretty durable? Would hate to damage it and make it more difficult to add a bar later. I'll mostly be moving dirt and maybe digging up stumps etc..., maybe moving some gravel but not too much of that.
Also those that have added the Kubota bars to the 2296 buckets have you been happy with them?
Thanks in advance! Kyle

 

[murphy1244]

I would go with a cutting bar. Mine came with a tooth bar that now sleeps in the corner of the barn. The cutting bar will protect your bucket and can be flipped over to use the other side when needed.

 

[nybirdman]

For digging a tooth-bar will make it easier.

 

[3gunr]

check out the pirrahna toothbar they are great.

 

[/pine]

There is some compromise involved if you use the FEL for back-dragging...and have tooth bar installed...!

 

[diesel85]

^ Yes, very true. Especially if you decide to weld it on.

 

[jeff9366]

I opted for 5' L2296 H-D, R-B bucket on my new L3560 delivered in January 2013. It is indestructible working Florida dirt. Photos are recent. You can see the bucket is unscathed after 1,300 engine hours. I moved some 12 cubic yards of soil in the H-D, R-B bucket yesterday, to fill in low spots in a cut-de-sac common area where I live.

The FEL will destruct long before the L2296 bucket.

If you plan to dig old, rotted stumps I recommend a Piranha Tooth Bar. The Piranha grips, when a bare bucket will slip trying to lever stumps. Forget green stumps over 3-1/2" diameter.

The L2296 provides a rigid mount for a Bucket Spade, another useful attachment. Nothing is better than the Bucket Spade for removing Palmettos.


BUCKET SPADE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/328798-bucket-spade-today-fel-bucket.html?highlight=

 

[JK22]

Love my piranha tooth bar. I’m still able to back drag nicely. Little adaptation with the angle I would normally use, but not much. It’s very easy to remove if necessary. I would not weld it on and see no need to. I believe that’s only necessary if you tore up the factory edge on your bucket.

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Love my piranha tooth bar. I’m still able to back drag nicely. Little adaptation with the angle I would normally use, but not much. It’s very easy to remove if necessary. I would not weld it on and see no need to. I believe that’s only necessary if you tore up the factory edge on your bucket.

Was just about to post something like this. I'm still learning and only on the BX, but w/the right angle I think the bottom edge of the P bar actually helps when back-dragging. At least it seems to help when dressing up the driveway.

Z.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I bought a tooth bar on a early tractor to protect edge and soon removed it and sold it. I've supported the RatchetRake for years as the greatest and it is for landscaping and it is off and on in one to two minutes but for digging I have finally bought a Piriniha for my L3901 and it is great, doesn't smooth to finish seeding for grass as well as the RR but close enough and it is a super digger and will protect bucket edge if that is in your mind. Mine stays on all the time and haven't found a reason to remove it. Lots of SSQA attachments for specific jobs so bucket is easy off and on.

 

[PILOON]

There is some compromise involved if you use the FEL for back-dragging...and have tooth bar installed...!

What I did is weld a HD angle on the back of my bucket and I back drag using my bucket heel.
I did so as to not wear out the heal even though I had a 'square' heel but noticed wearing was going to take a toil.
On round bottom buckets a good angle will do a great job and as well re inforce the bucket.

 

[Smokeydog]

Love my Piranha toothbar. Sell you my regular toothbar.

 

[Kyle602]

Thanks for all the responses!
Sounds like a tooth bar with welded angle on the heel of the bucket might be the way to go.

 

[oosik]

I added a tooth bar to my round back heavy duty bucket. Nine teeth spread across 72". The bucket & tooth bar now sit out in the orchard on a couple 4x4's. Replaced five years ago with a fantastically heavy duty Land Pride grapple. I really doubt that I will EVER put the bucket back on.

The teeth were a great help when scraping up dirt. Just enough penetration to disrupt the surface and allow the bucket to really scoop up well.

Now I rotate the grapple down, completely horizontal, jaws wide open, drop down on the ground, close the jaws and pull up a humungous wad of earth - move it wherever I need it. The upper jaw is a good back drag when I'm finished.

 

[RomeK2]

What I did is weld a HD angle on the back of my bucket and I back drag using my bucket heel.
I did so as to not wear out the heal even though I had a 'square' heel but noticed wearing was going to take a toil.
On round bottom buckets a good angle will do a great job and as well re inforce the bucket.

Got any pics with the angle welded on? I just bought a piranha toothier (just shipped a couple of days ago), can't wait to try it out.

 

[PILOON]

Got any pics with the angle welded on? I just bought a piranha toothier (just shipped a couple of days ago), can't wait to try it out.

Sorry, I remove my bucket and replace it with snow blade 4 winter and its somewhere under 4 ft of snow.
So much this year that it'll be June b4 I find it.

 

[big bubba]

basically agree w/above replies re:tooth bar. would recommend heavy duty as possible. have a bolted on Woods. could not have excavated boulders from the pasture, or excavated top soil without it. personally, welding a angle edge on the bucket heel is overkill unless you're doing commercial work

as far as the bolt on front mounted spade as one member suggested, it wouldn't last 10 minutes on a larger tractor maybe on a sub compact. best of luck, can't go wrong, just go heavy duty. recommend bolt on over welded.

 

[TheMadOne]

as far as the bolt on front mounted spade as one member suggested, it wouldn't last 10 minutes on a larger tractor maybe on a sub compact. best of luck, can't go wrong, just go heavy duty. recommend bolt on over welded.

Jeff has a L3560, not exactly the smallest thing around. Sure, not as big as your M, but hardly a BX, and a lot closer in size to the OP's MX.

 

[check]

Jeff has a L3560, not exactly the smallest thing around. Sure, not as big as your M, but hardly a BX, and a lot closer in size to the OP's MX.

I just can’t see that bucket spade NOT bending the FEL bucket.

 

[check]

Thanks for all the responses!
Sounds like a tooth bar with welded angle on the heel of the bucket might be the way to go.

I have BOTH the Piranha tooth bar in the FEL and a QA Ripper tooth for the BH. Great combination for digging up stumps!