Weld on bucket teeth

[hogi]

I have to decide which bucket to install weld-on bucket teeth that I got from Berlon, the light material bucket or the 4 in 1? I decided to go with weld on teeth over the tooth bar because with weld-ons you can still keep a flat bottom profile and can therefore still scoop sand, rocks ect. w/out removing the bar. I am leaning towards the 4 in 1 which I was told was the most common choice and has the sturdier build but I wanted input from the guys here who have worked with the PT buckets before.

 

[KentT]

If it were me, I'd put them on the 4-in-1 since it is more a "digging/excavating" tool to begin with, while leaving the LM bucket for what it's best as -- a huge wheelbarrow that loads itself...

As far as I can tell, all the PT buckets are built from the same guage materials. It's just that the size and their design (short sides, shorter width) can effect their tendency to get warped or otherwise misshapen... For example, it would be easier to warp or bow the bottom of a LM bucket because it is 3" wider, in addition to much deeper than the others. The center of the front cutting edge is much farther away from the back of the bucket and the sides of the bucket, whose corners provide the strength...

Personally I wouldn't put teeth on an LM, unless it is a full tooth-bar which would reinforce the strength of that cutting edge. Bolt-on or weld-on teeth on the LM would likely end up with a bowed cutting edge...

 

[hogi]

Ken, Can you tell me about your welding setup?

 

[BobRip]

If it were me, I'd put them on the 4-in-1 since it is more a "digging/excavating" tool to begin with, while leaving the LM bucket for what it's best as -- a huge wheelbarrow that loads itself...

As far as I can tell, all the PT buckets are built from the same guage materials. It's just that the size and their design (short sides, shorter width) can effect their tendency to get warped or otherwise misshapen... For example, it would be easier to warp or bow the bottom of a LM bucket because it is 3" wider, in addition to much deeper than the others. The center of the front cutting edge is much farther away from the back of the bucket and the sides of the bucket, whose corners provide the strength...

Personally I wouldn't put teeth on an LM, unless it is a full tooth-bar which would reinforce the strength of that cutting edge. Bolt-on or weld-on teeth on the LM would likely end up with a bowed cutting edge...

I agree with KentT. The 4 in 1 is the digging bucket and with the teeth I have been able to pull up 6 inch stumps. The teeth can breakup roots around the stump and then you grab the stump, lift, and wiggle (left, right, back and forth) while continuing to lift.

 

[KentT]

Ken, Can you tell me about your welding setup?

I don't have one. I have a friend weld for me using his big Miller MIG/TIG setup...

 

[KentT]

Bumping this back to the top...

Now that I have the higher-torque wheel motors that'll spin all four wheels, I'm considering putting a Markham-type aftermarket tooth bar on my 48" LM bucket...

I think there's at least one PT owner here who's done that -- how do you like it, now that you've used it a while? Any problems with the LM bucket standing up to the stress of digging with it?

 

[BobRip]

Kent, I have one on my 4 in 1 bucket. I think the tooth bar itself is so strong that it will reinforce the LM bucket. It is a good attachment for the 4 in 1 and will break up ground and small roots.

 

[KentT]

Thanks for the feedback, Bob...

Anyone by chance know the exact inside dimensions of the 48" LM bucket so I can order one? My bucket is 900 miles away...

 

[BobRip]

Thanks for the feedback, Bob...

Anyone by chance know the exact inside dimensions of the 48" LM bucket so I can order one? My bucket is 900 miles away...

I measured 47 and 7/8 inches. Disclaimer: I used my tape measure on my bucket, yours may vary. They will under cut the tooth bar by some amount so there is some allowable error. Also there are stiffeners (square pieces of plate steel about 2 X 2 inches) that should be welded to the bucket to keep the holes from wallowing out.

 

[Bob999]

Thanks for the feedback, Bob...

Anyone by chance know the exact inside dimensions of the 48" LM bucket so I can order one? My bucket is 900 miles away...

I wouldn't assume that every bucket made by PT has the same dimensions. There is the posibility of design changes over time that will vary the dimensions. Additionally, every manufacturing process has some variation due to tolerances in the design.

 

[KentT]

I measured 47 and 7/8 inches. Disclaimer: I used my tape measure on my bucket, yours may vary. They will under cut the tooth bar by some amount so there is some allowable error. Also there are stiffeners (square pieces of plate steel about 2 X 2 inches) that should be welded to the bucket to keep the holes from wallowing out.

Thanks, Bob, for taking the time to do this. If I can't talk my friend into going measure mine, I'll go with your measurement...

I agree that they seem to build them on the short side, anyway, requiring washers to shim them out... the last one I ordered, for my old Kubota, was at least 1/4" shorter than the measurement I gave them.

 

[BobRip]

Thanks, Bob, for taking the time to do this. If I can't talk my friend into going measure mine, I'll go with your measurement...

I agree that they seem to build them on the short side, anyway, requiring washers to shim them out... the last one I ordered, for my old Kubota, was at least 1/4" shorter than the measurement I gave them.

The outside dimension is very close to 48 inches, so I think you would be OK. It's your nickel thought. Let me know if you need any other help. I am very appreciative of your engineering work on the high torque motors. It is one of the options that I am considering.

 

[duane]

Kent,

My LMB measured 47 13/16" inside.

Duane

 

[KentT]

Thanks Duane (and Bob, again) -- I finally "bit the bullet" and ordered one today, saying that it needed to be 47-7/8" long. It's not a Markham -- it uses the smaller, slightly lighter teeth. I had this guy make me one for the old Kubota that I had, shown below, and I liked the "tradeoff" of lighter weight vs strength and cutting ability. These teeth are SHARP...