Toothbar on L/M bucket?

tracdoc · Oct 5, 2005

Awesome, indeed. Those teeth look like they really mean ground engaging business, for sure /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I will call Allen or Melissa at Markham in the AM. If they don't have a tooth shortage, I should have a toothbar in hand by early next week. They have the best prices, too, ~$175, compared to Berlon at $300, and ATI at $350 (shipping NOT included).

How closely did you measure the internal width? With the weld bead along the bottom of the bucket, it measures some 5/16 to 3/8 inch less width than when I measure higher up. I understand that Markham jigs the bar to be 1/8 inch less than the measurement you provide. Is it reasonable to expect that when you bolt it in the bolt will suck the mounting tab out to the inside wall of the bucket or will you need washers inside as you mentioned??

Thanks again lots for the pics. They got me off the fence, so to speak.

strokerduster · Oct 5, 2005

doc, this is my markham bar that came in monday (10/3). as you can tell, i've already tried it out. my bucket was 54" and measured exactly 52 1/2" inside and that was the measurement i provided markham. no shims required as you can see in photo. shipping weight was 65lbs but i think that was on the light side. about 20 minutes install time. you will need a 1/2" drill and i used a 9/16" bit. your price is what i paid and 40.00 frt. good quality and fit. highly recommended............. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Barryh · Oct 5, 2005

My bucket measured 42 inches. I took into account the weld bead, and gave them a 41 7/8 measurement to be on the safe side. They also made the bar 1/8 shorter. I now have room for about two washers on the inside.

It is made of pretty heavy stock so I am not sure if the tabs would suck it in or not. I figured measure a little short, for me better safe than sorry. I think like Stockerduster you can get away with an exact measurement. I just didn't have anything to gage it by. Didn't want to go to all of the trouble of having to send it back. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

KentT · Oct 5, 2005

Couple of tips as you start learning to use these aggressive toothbars:

1. Get a sense of what the bucket position looks like when just the teeth are sitting flat on a hard surface. When the toothbar is installed on the bucket, the bottom of the teeth are actually over an inch lower than the bottom of the bucket. You need to be able to visualize what the bucket looks like when the bottom of the bucket is parallel to the ground -- because if you just put the front and back of the bucket on the ground now, it'll actually be angled up over 1" in front, and won't stay in the ground as you try to dig.

2. The opposite holds true -- don't "get greedy" and try to take too deep of bites of dirt, if you're digging. Instead, slice off 3" or 4" at a time, running with the bottom of the bucket parallel to the ground....

3. Don't be frustrated if it takes a little while to get the hang of it -- like everything else, it gets much easier with practice....

On a side note -- has anyone figured out an easy way to put a level bucket indicator on a PT?

tracdoc · Oct 5, 2005

Strokerduster & Barry, thanks for the feeback and measurement tips. Kent, thanks for the tips on keeping these toothbars to mind their manners /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hopefully, that will help to improve the slope of the learning curve.

Barryh · Oct 6, 2005

Sounds logical, I will keep that in mind while using the bucket this weekend thanks. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif Tracdoc hope you get yours soon. I think if you order now you may get it sooner rather than later. When the time comes we will have to compare notes.

NJBill · Oct 12, 2005

Kent ,
When Paul started using his PT he asked the same question , I also had the question in mind. Paul ha sdone so uch work since that time I don't think he needs a leveler any more , he can probably put even a 1/4 inch lift or drop if needs be .
Anyway I don't have as many projets as Paul so I made the enclosed attachment out of a piece of plastic I had laying around. From the drivers seat I have to make the shaped plastic conform to the bucket shape, and that gives me a fairly level bucket.
I had to mess around with a cardboard prototype befor I found the right place to drill the pivot hole. Lots of luck.
Bill

tracdoc · Oct 12, 2005

Ah, hah! I found a Markham toothbar up against my garage door when I got home this evening. Great service from Leslie and Melissa. They sent me an email yesterday along with UPS tracking info. Less than 24 hr later, I have the toothbar.

What a piece of fabrication it is /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The welds all look clean and neat, and it is beefier than I ever imagined. Tim the tool man would certainly be growling approval on this one. Now if it would stop raining here so I could install it and USE it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Barryh · Oct 12, 2005

I know what you mean ... mine has been installed for a week now, still waiting for a nice day to give her a try. Glad to see you got yours. A must have attachment for me. They are beefy that's for sure. How close did it fit in the bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

tracdoc · Oct 12, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How close did it fit in the bucket? )</font>

It's killin' me, Barry. I don't know yet! When I got home, it was pouring rain here. My bucket is in a storage shed at the back of my place, but the PT and the toothbar are in the garage. Hopefullly tomorrow, I'll get everything together to see how it fits. Like you, I was conservative on the measurement. I'd rather use a washer than a sledge hammer or something even more drastic.