Toothbar. Good idea?

[Slippy]

I would like to get a little better bite in my trail building work and have seen many pictures of these teeth that are attached to FEL bucket. Am I correct that there are two ways to go;1) weld the teeth to the bucket itself and then they have essentially cover teeth that go over them that are replacable or, 2) a tooth bar, which is removable with two bolts. I like the idea of the tooth bar, that way, with removal of two bolts at side of loader bucket, it can be removed. So... are these things a good idea, and in what application are they most effective? And where is the best place to get these things? I checked a local dealer and there $350 +. Is this a good price?

 

[Hoeman00]

In rocky or hard digging the tooth bar allows the bucket to dig easier.
They help out ripping roots too.
Bobcat in Mt. Vernon also carries bolt on teeth ( 2 bolts go thru each holder and uses same replacable teeth).
These teeth and tooth bar both hook around cutting edge to give support.
I've got a tooth bar on one of my buckets and when digging basement under my house I could fill the bucket every pass but w/o it took multiple passes.

 

[rancar]

See attachment for pic of my bolt on toothbar that's on my JD 4710. Your $350 price sounds about right. You can order one of these from KC-Canary, Fultonville, NY. Call Mark Brucker at 518-853-3405. Let him know your inside dimensions of the bucket and he can order and have it shipped to you or your dealer for install.

IMO, the bolt on toothbar is better than weld on ones. Take notice of mine. I can remove at will to replace the bolt on cutting edge if I ever have to. Your weld on ones are permanent. What would you do if you had to replace the cutting edge?

As JMIII used to say, with one of these babies you'd think your bucket was on steroids. It'll turn your little compact tractor and FEL into a bona fide tyrannosaurus . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

....Bob

 

[EdKing]

<font color="blue"> So... are these things a good idea, and in what application are they most effective? </font>

Tooth bars are a very good idea, the make the FEL much more effective when digging. The bolt on bars are the best option as they are easy to remove and install. The only time I don't use the tooth bar is when I am moving or smoothing loose material (mulch, sand, gravel, loose dirt).

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Slippy,

I agree with rancar, especially if your property was like ours when we lived outside of Ironton Ohio. A bolt on tooth bar in your enviroment will be one of the best options you'll ever have. Secondly, he is right about KC Canary also.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Slippy,

I have racked my brain and can't remember anyone not liking their tooth bar after buying/building/installing one on thier bucket.

Some take them off for certain reasons [mine came off for snow removal, thought it might be better that way] but they never seem to complain about the removal task [two bolts on mine], I assume because they love theirs like I do mine /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

My guess is if you put one on your bucket, you will wonder how you got along without it!

 

[JohnMiller3]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So... are these things a good idea... )</font>

Can you imagine being dirt in the ground… and have this thing coming at ya… /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

It would certainly make me Jump In The Bucket quicker… /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ELMO67]

I've almost talked the CFO into me getting a toothbar, my only question about them has been about the attachment. How many times when removing the toothbar is it a major PIA to get the nuts off, I would imagine that if the threads on the end of the bolt weren't destroyed, the bolt would either be bent somewhat or the hex would be chewed up so that a wrench would hold without slipping?

 

[Bird]

Never was a problem for me, Elmo. I always put the bolts in from the outside of the bucket and nuts inside the the bucket and you don't need more than a half inch of threads exposed after the nut's on there; i.e., don't use bolts that are too long.

 

[Hoeman00]

I use ny-loc nuts and cut the bolt off just above top of nut.
The ny-loc keeps crap out of threads.
Plenty of never-seize and it will come off anytime u want.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

My toothbar is held in place by 1 inch bolts that are not too long.

Like bird I put the nuts on the outside. I also put some anti seize on them...used the toothbar a lot last summer and the nuts came off without any problem at all. Probably took two minutes after I had the wrenches in my hand...

 

[MossRoad]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Like bird I put the nuts on the outside. )</font>

I think Brid put his on the inside.

Or was it?... Oh nuts! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Bird]

Yep, I put the bolts in from the outside and while it probably wasn't really necessary, I used a large flat washer on the bolt on the outside, then another large flat washer and a lock washer on the inside before putting the nuts on.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Man if I wasn't confused, I am now! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I think I put the nuts on the outside...now I'm not sure anymore. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Darn! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Another decision to make when I put the toothbar back on...hopefully next month! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Who says you can take too many pictures of your tractor?

Now I don't have to make that decision after all... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I bought a toothbar for my 61" John Deere bucket a while back and it was like getting a whole new tractor as far as increasing the utility of the FEL. It went from being strictly a loader to something I could use for digging. I would highly recommend one.

Further, I would recommend the bolt on so that you can remove it for things like moving snow in the winter or getting down to floor level on concrete or pavement. I paid right about $300 for mine delivered to my door. It was made by FFC Attachments in Illinois and purchased through a TBN supporting advertiser, KC Canary Equipment.

I dealt with Mark Bruckner there and he was most helpful. He set it up as an 'internet sale' which precluded paying them sales tax, too. You can reach Mark with KC Canary @ 1-800-920-7097.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I put my bolts in from the outside for two reasons. One was that that was the way the nuts and bolts were on the toothbar when it arrived. The other was simply because I didn't like the idea of catching an ankle on exposed bolt threads walking past it some day.

I used some washers as spacers to snug up the little bit of slack I had between the toothbar and the bucket side then one more on the inside of the toothbar, then a lock washer and the nut. In my case, I still had enough thread left over to allow me to put on a second nut on each side so that's exactly what I did. My thinking was that doing so would keep my threads covered, damage free and clean so removing the toothbar would be easier and it was. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tdenny]

Gary you never cease to amaze me. Pretty darn smart for a tall guy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Slippy]

Well, sounds like it is a hands down winner. Will further investigate and get it done. Thanks.

 

[MossRoad]

Ah! The power of the Internet. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif