Toothbar purchase

[jimmer2880]

I'm posting this thread for a friend of mine who is looking into getting a toothbar. My first thought was Markham. However, I'm re-thinking them. Without getting into a pro/con of Gator Attachments (Seriously - I know people have had both good and bad with their stuff), what other brand would you recommend? Funny thing is - Gator Attachments doesn't even list a toothbar on their web page anymore.

I/he liked how the Markham toothbar had their mount bolt holes slotted, allowing for the bar to be slid forward and rotated back for temporary use of the bucket without the teeth engaged.

What other companies produce a tooth bar like that, whom you've have had positive results dealing with?

 

[FastPauly]

I don't know anything about Iowa Farm Equipment...but they sure do have about any size bolt-on toothbar one would want. Just type in "toothbar" in E-bay search field.....pricing looks decent and free shipping to boot.

 

[MichiganIron]

We offer standard toothbars and also offer custom toothbar designs tailored to a customer's particular application needs, (rock picker / manure fork / etc.). Our standard toothbars are on our website under MIE attachments, Bucket Modifications. Custom bars are quoted to order.

Thanks for looking.

 

[jimmer2880]

We offer standard toothbars and also offer custom toothbar designs tailored to a customer's particular application needs, (rock picker / manure fork / etc.). Our standard toothbars are on our website under MIE attachments, Bucket Modifications. Custom bars are quoted to order.

Thanks for looking.

Thank you for your post. Can I give you a little free advice (Realize Free advice is worth as much as you pay for it). When I clicked on products, I found a pic of it. However, nothing was hyper-linked, so I had to keep looking. Then, I found it under bucket modification. However, the pics weren't very big (which is fine, but the pics should really be thumbnails of much larger photos). When I found the hyper-link for the toothbar, the link is dead.

What I'm looking for (and, I assume I'm not the only toothbar shopper looking for the same thing), are good-sized pictures of how it's mounted.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for posting.

Edit: I do like that you have pricing on the main page. I never understand why soo many companies don't post prices. Having prices posted keeps potential customers engaged.

 

[picker77]

Maybe these will help. No big secret to mounting, just be sure you order one that's slightly (maybe 3/8-1/2") shorter than the distance between the inside sides of your bucket. Some like to mount with the bolts in the forward end of the slot, the theory being if you want to do something and don't want to use the tooth bar you can loosen the bolts, slide the bar forward until the hooks underneath clear the blade edge, and flip it up and back. IMO that's not worth doing, I feel it's more important to mount with the bolts at the extreme back end of the slots (see photo) when the bar is tight against the bucket cutting edge so it can NEVER move. Using big grade 8 hardware (3/4" bolts), fill whatever slight gap exists on each end with flat washers and crank the bolts down TIGHT. Be sure you pick bolt lengths that will leave the bolt ends just flush with the nut after tightening. That will prevent the threads from getting bunged up from using the bucket and will make later removal much easier if ever needed.

Ebay ID "tractorparts247", if I remember correctly, is Iowa Farm Equipment, which is where I bought this one. They have a good website, too. Heavy duty, free shipping and I had it in 3 days. Very well made with pinned teeth. Mine is 7-teeth, how many depends on the bucket size, I suppose. Mine is a 61" bucket. I've never heard somebody say they actually broke a tooth bar from any manufacturer--they are very strong and heavy--but it is possible to bust a tooth off, so I recommend getting one that has replaceable (pinned) teeth, not welded-on or crimped teeth.

 

[FastPauly]

Dang it all picker77......I have a toothbar on my list of wants. After looking at your picks, I think the list just got a FEL thumb added to it.....that looks awesome.:thumbsup:

 

[nickel plate]

Maybe these will help. No big secret to mounting, just be sure you order one that's slightly (maybe 3/8-1/2") shorter than the distance between the inside sides of your bucket. Some like to mount with the bolts in the forward end of the slot, the theory being if you want to do something and don't want to use the tooth bar you can loosen the bolts, slide the bar forward until the hooks underneath clear the blade edge, and flip it up and back. IMO that's not worth doing, I feel it's more important to mount with the bolts at the extreme back end of the slots (see photo) when the bar is tight against the bucket cutting edge so it can NEVER move. Using big grade 8 hardware (3/4" bolts), fill whatever slight gap exists on each end with flat washers and crank the bolts down TIGHT. Be sure you pick bolt lengths that will leave the bolt ends just flush with the nut after tightening. That will prevent the threads from getting bunged up from using the bucket and will make later removal much easier if ever needed.

Ebay ID "tractorparts247", if I remember correctly, is Iowa Farm Equipment, which is where I bought this one. They have a good website, too. Heavy duty, free shipping and I had it in 3 days. Very well made with pinned teeth. Mine is 7-teeth, how many depends on the bucket size, I suppose. Mine is a 61" bucket. I've never heard somebody say they actually broke a tooth bar from any manufacturer--they are very strong and heavy--but it is possible to bust a tooth off, so I recommend getting one that has replaceable (pinned) teeth, not welded-on or crimped teeth.

picker77,
Who made your FEL bucket thumb as I am looking into building exactly what you have accomplished. Same manufacturer as to not have a closed spline issue between the bucket teeth and the thumb? Good job!

 

[MichiganIron]

Nickel, we provide both the tooth bar and the bucket grapple designed to work together. The teeth are spaced properly to avoid the interference problem you mentioned. Both are shown on our site.

Thanks again for looking.

 

[picker77]

picker77,
Who made your FEL bucket thumb as I am looking into building exactly what you have accomplished. Same manufacturer as to not have a closed spline issue between the bucket teeth and the thumb? Good job!

Thankew, Gentlemen.. it works well so far, even almost looks like it belongs on there. Here's the thread I posted when I finished installing the thumb--it has more detailed photos and should give all the pertinent info: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/187711-bucket-thumb-install-finished.html

If I can answer any questions that might help I'd be glad to, but I'm no expert, this is the only one of these I've ever installed. I just experimented with the mount height and fore/aft position on top using clamps and wooden shims so the tips of the jaws would just barely contact the bucket edge when the 6" cylinder is fully extended. In the end a chunk of heavy wall 3x4 rectangular tubing for a base made everything fit just right--and I didn't have to do a bunch of welding on my bucket, which was important to me.

I did order an extra mounting base with the thumb, so as a winter project I'll be trying to cipher an easy and removable way to hang the spare thumb mount on my fork rails. That way I'll have the option to use the thumb on my Chris Perry lightweight forks. I figure a fork thumb might come in just as handy as a bucket thumb. Don't know yet how that is going to work out, right now the extra base for the thumb is just a $105 experiment. I'll file a report if it works, and if it doesn't I won't admit it. :laughing:

 

[gatorgirl]

I'm posting this thread for a friend of mine who is looking into getting a toothbar. My first thought was Markham. However, I'm re-thinking them. Without getting into a pro/con of Gator Attachments (Seriously - I know people have had both good and bad with their stuff), what other brand would you recommend? Funny thing is - Gator Attachments doesn't even list a toothbar on their web page anymore.

I/he liked how the Markham toothbar had their mount bolt holes slotted, allowing for the bar to be slid forward and rotated back for temporary use of the bucket without the teeth engaged.

What other companies produce a tooth bar like that, whom you've have had positive results dealing with?

Hi here is our link, Tooth Bar | Gator Attachments we do have a toothbar on our site, not sure why you could not find it but just wanted to get you the info. Thanks

Julie Gator