Snow Blade Will a Bolt On Tooth Bar Help or Hinder Snow Removal?

[chim]

I wouldn't be without an add-on wear edge. The first year of plowing with the B7500 wore the bucket edge quite noticeably. Added a wear edge and no further damage for the following 9 years.

It's one of the first things I did to the L3200. The bar is heavy stainless with 1/2" stainless studs plug welded into it. The bottom is ground smooth and nuts inside the loader keep it in place.

 

[gmikem206]

Thanks for the replies and input. Looks like I should get a straight edge wear blade of some sort. Most likely will look at the BXPanded product Harry posted about. He definitely makes quality products. I think the WR Long wear edge/bar is similar but not sure if the bolt holes would line up with my Piranha holes. Thanks again!!

 

[MESSMAKER]

I always had problems using skid shoes on my gravel lane- the weight of the blade alone would cause the shoes to cut grooves in the gravel. Best to float the loader bucket basically level but ever so slightly tilted up, so it won't dig in, sliding along on the bottom of the cutting edge. Should last for a long, long time, not destroy anything, and clear the snow well.

As long as this is snow only. it will work well

 

[Ford850]

I would not use the Piranha on the asphalt. One of my employees inadvertently demonstrated in my parking lot, that it will indeed eat the pavement . We can build you a straight edge that directly replaces the Piranha.
Cheers,
Harry
BXpanded

Wow, that's impressive, and good to know the edge on those is that aggressive. I never would have thought it could cut cold/frozen asphalt even if you tried (by angling into it). It's also good to know about the straight edge availability. I think that would be a good option for some, and maybe even offered as a package 2 for 1 deal so the holes match.

 

[2458n]

The more stuff you use your bucket for the more holes you are going to make in the bucket. Think not as though they are holes but as attachment points for your new ideas. Worked around natural gas pipelines in town alot and even our best backhoe operators had a flat piece of bar stock welded across their buckets back teeth. No reason you should not do so as well. Get off the tractor and keep the front lip up off the ground alittle and you will learn.

 

[wawajake]

I use my BX2660 with normal bucket for snow removal (besides my rear Snowblower) BUT I keep my toothbarclose by all winter because of two reasons.
1) when you are moving snow banks (so many full buckets of snow from point A to point B ) the five minutes it takes to add the tooth bar, allows the bucket to hold that extra 8 inches of snow and so somewhat bigger volume of snow.
2) When the drive way or unpaved sections get too much ice buildup the toohbar when dragged backwards at an angle will score the ice and maybe even break it up, just be carefull how much down force you use not to bend bucket cylinder arms.

just my two cents from the north

 

[gmikem206]

So I see BXPanded has a bucket expander offered with a replaceable wear blade. Probably about twice the $$ of a bolt on wear bar, but would also increase the carry capacity for snow (& light summer loads) by about 70% (per site). And oh yeah, doesn't need any holes to attach! Site says it attaches in about a minute, so I guess easily detached as well. Has excellent reviews. Does anyone out there use this or one similar?
Bucket Expander

 

[wawajake]

I made my own bucket expander that uses the toothbar bolt holes with our without toothbar on.

But you are going in right direction to expand the bucket capability

 

[davehowell]

Hi folks, just another experience that may be useful,

We have a B7800 and bucket with a Piranha tooth bar, an asphalt lane and have not had problems using the bucket in snow and ice. Just be careful of the angle of the bucket and place the tooth bar parallel to the pavement. It cuts through the packed snow easily. We back drag the tooth bar, using the bucket float to scrape through any ice (and freezing rain before the snow is common here) , and the sun on the bare pavement sets up the melting we need. It doesn't seem to tear up the asphalt coating.

 

[Cord]

You could always just weld some hard face onto the bucket edge. Frankly, I'm a believer in do this or going with a bolt on edge.