Toothbar on small 180 bucket

BillCroasmun · Jun 12, 2005

This post is sort of a continuation from DML's 180 Trencher thread. Since the topic was changing a bit I thought it best to start a new one.

DML's comments brought to mind a good question... If I were to buy a tooth bar for my light material bucket I'd definitely go for an after market toothbar like Markhams that bolt to the sides but since I'm now thinking about getting the smaller bucket for digging I'd probably leave the teeth on all the time on that bucket. With that said would there be an advantage going with PT's own teeth?

Not sure if teeth ever need replaced but since PT's are individually bolted on fixing or replacing a single tooth should be easier/cheaper correct? Maybe this isn't anything to worry about though... What kind of cost difference is there between PTs and Markhams? I know this would vary by bucket size but I'm looking at the small PT-180 bucket (45" wide I think) Other than the ease of installation and removal any other reason to go with another toothbar since I'd be leaving it on?

Thanks!
Bill

MossRoad · Jun 18, 2005

Did anyone get back to you on this yet or have any thoughts?

BillCroasmun · Jun 19, 2005

Not yet... I know the subject of toothbars has come up before but I think most liked the ease of removal aspects of the aftermarket ones like Markhams. Since the 180's small bucket is very small I don't think I would use it for anything that didn't require the teeth. Markham's do not list any prices for their toothbars online and I haven't gotten around to requesting a quote so I'm not sure of what cost comparison to expect. If the theirs is cheaper then it's a no brainer but I am sort of doubting that it will be.

I also saw at TSC the other day one of those ATV buckets... Looking at it closely showed that the teeth on it were mounted to a bar and the bucket looked about the same width as the 180's (~45") although the teeth might be smaller and less agressive. Makes me wonder though if I could contact them (Swisher I think) about a "replacement" bar, not sure how many they sell but if they are massed produced maybe the cost might be better.

ernemats · Jun 21, 2005

About a month ago I got a price from Markham for a tooth bar for my 422 bucket it was $158. plus shipping.

davesisk · Jun 22, 2005

Just curious...how much digging do you intend to do? I think that, even with teeth, digging in hard ground with a 45" bucket is pretty painstaking, especially if you have a lot of roots and rocks. With softer ground, it'll work great. Before I built the front-hoe attachment for the PT I used to own, I bought an 8" bucket and rigged a way to attach it to the front (just like the 48" bucket). It would dig way better just because it was so much smaller....same force applied over a smaller surface area. (I then re-used this same 8" bucket when I built the front-hoe.)

Just a thought...

Dave

BillCroasmun · Jun 23, 2005

Not too much... I have a few leveling chores to do. Preparing a spot for a small shed, leveling my daughters play area, most jobs just going down 4" to 6" with pretty soft top soil.

I have been thinking of getting a trencher bucket (called Keith at PT this week to price theirs, I think it was $240) and mounting it face down about 2' in front of a quick attach plate to give me a poor mans hoe. Using the plate tilt to "curl" it and the arm to simply change the height. I am thinking this would be good enough for me to use clearing out a drainage ditch I have that fills with sand and soot all the time. Might even be able to use it for trenching and digging holes for planting shrubs and such.

All I know is that this tractor was suppose to save me work and instead I keep creating new things to do/make/try/etc. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DML · Jun 23, 2005

Markham called me two days ago. They are making my toothbar now. I believe the price was about what was quoted above.

BillCroasmun · Jun 23, 2005

Thanks for the update! Now I just have to decide where the limited funds go... toothbar or custom trencher bucket??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I have about 3 weeks before I get a yearly bonus so I'll try to decide by then. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BillCroasmun · Jun 25, 2005

Swisher does sell the toothbar separately, ~ $56. Now the "teeth" on that are not anything like the teeth by PT or Markhams but even small teeth should help concentrate all that force into more of a dig then the flat lip would I'm guessing.

I just wonder though, if they were made for the force that an ATV can exert they might not handle the load from a PT huh? Anyone want to take a guess at the circumfrance of one of their bucket teeth at the leading edge of the lip? What about the length from the lip to the tip of a tooth? Also how many teeth spread across a 45" span? Thanks!