Piranha tooth bar!!!

[Tollster]

Harry, Thank you for the Piranha bar for my BX. Very prompt service and delivery. I installed it today and wasted no time exercising the new implement. I have been very skeptical and have watched this since it came out 1-2 years ago.
I must say it made quite and improvement in the ability of my BX to cut into a shale pile, scratch back rocky surfacing, remove small saplings and laurel, and enhance the ability of getting a full bucket of dirt and shale.
One note worth mentioning as Maestro said, it does require removal to use with the Bro-tek brush forks as the bracket assembly interferes with the brush forks seating in the bottom of the bucket.
Thanks again Harry, it's a very well thought out design and it shows.
~Tol

 

[nessmuk53]

Just ordered one. Can anyone tell me what size hole needs to be drilled for the attachment bolts?

 

[Carl Bert]

Deezler. Your point is well taken that the ability to penetrate the ground is (somewhat, not the only factor) relative to the contact area. The large teeth on the Piranha serve the major function of penetrating and disturbing the earth. You probably don't realize that the teeth are slightly narrower than the traditional teeth, making the actual contact area of the 8 teeth on the Piranha roughly the same area as 6 conventional teeth. BTW, That was not an accident.

The teeth on a conventional bar are spaced pretty far apart. Any dirt not broken in the area between the teeth, now hits the straight edge of the bucket. The small, sharp teeth on the Piranha penetrate this dirt and fracture it as well. Of particular note, any area with roots, etc. is much more easily cut. One of the many test prototypes actually had the small teeth omitted. Another had longer teeth. Longer teeth significantly reduce breakout force (important when clearing brush) as well as made it more difficult to cut level grade. We used the combinations that gave us the best overall results in building an effective and versatile attachment. The Piranha does much more than just dig.

It was immediately obvious, is that any tooth bar drastically improves the loader's digging performance. Also obvious, the ground being manipulated and the operator's technique made far more difference in digging than did the type of tooth bar.

Cheers!
Harry

You have definitely sold me, you make a lot of sense. I will be ordering one this week for my B26 if the shipping cost isn't too much. Ttys, thanks

 

[Don87]

Just ordered one. Can anyone tell me what size hole needs to be drilled for the attachment bolts?

I think it's 3/4. Just buy a 'step' drill bit. I borrowed my neighbors and had the holes drilled in 1 minute.

 

[nessmuk53]

Thanks, I will get one today.

 

[Maestro71]

Yep 3/4" it was easier to drill than I expected. A step drill is your best bet.

 

[Finnster]

I couldn't find a step drill bit @ Home Depot, so I just got a 3/4" bit.

It was harder to prevent it from walking than a step bit, but still worked well. The bucket steel is not super hard.

 

[Finnster]

....
/edit -
And to anyone - How well do you think the Pirahna would work for digging up bamboo "stumps"?

My present bamboo clearing method is to trim them down to 2" high then back over them with a 5' rototiller. I can't drive over them for fear of puncturing tires.

I would think it would be not too difficult. I would attack right at ground level (as low as possible) and go right at it. Too high up and things will push over rather than shear off.
I think keeping traction will be the biggest impediment, depending on your tractor.

 

[csr0831]

What deezler said! Sorry Harry, no offence intended, but I was rather disappointed with my Piranha tooth bar. Make no mistake it is well made, but the tooth bar on my Johnny bucket cut better then the piranha does (although I had it on a GR and it didn't have enough power to make use of it). Right now I am trying to move a few tons of 1 to 3" river rock and it;s having a real hard time with that. That said, I am still perfecting my methods. It does seem, to work well for cutting underbrush close to the ground. I have considered cutting out the smaller teeth as well. However, it is infinitely better then no tooth bar at all : )

 

[swick1]

What deezler said! Sorry Harry, no offence intended, but I was rather disappointed with my Piranha tooth bar. Make no mistake it is well made, but the tooth bar on my Johnny bucket cut better then the piranha does (although I had it on a GR and it didn't have enough power to make use of it). Right now I am trying to move a few tons of 1 to 3" river rock and it;s having a real hard time with that. That said, I am still perfecting my methods. It does seem, to work well for cutting underbrush close to the ground. I have considered cutting out the smaller teeth as well. However, it is infinitely better then no tooth bar at all : )

My gravel guy told me that 9x12s would stop his huge front end loader in its tracks. Nothing does well with loading big rocks from a pile. Thats what grapples are for. I think the piranha is a great compromise just as our tractors are.

 

[newbury]

I would think it would be not too difficult. I would attack right at ground level (as low as possible) and go right at it. Too high up and things will push over rather than shear off.
I think keeping traction will be the biggest impediment, depending on your tractor.

Well I don't load my tires but I can hook up my chipper for another 800lbs easily for more traction.

 

[PhysAssist]

Trying not to hijack the thread but get more info I think many of us would like -

Harry - Many of us have clamp on tooth bars. I've seem to remember at least one poster (don't know where the post is) who successfully installed a set of clamp-on's over a Pirahna.

How difficult would it be for someone with tools like a 4 1/2" handheld grinder to cut off a couple of the small teeth of their choosing for a custom spacing of the clamp-ons?

Basically how hard is the metal?

/edit -
And to anyone - How well do you think the Pirahna would work for digging up bamboo "stumps"?

My present bamboo clearing method is to trim them down to 2" high then back over them with a 5' rototiller. I can't drive over them for fear of puncturing tires.

Hi Mr. Newbury,

I am the member who uses my forks over the PTB.

We have forks from the Yankee Warehouse, and while they fit well in the flat gap where the teeth were left off, but we also frequently run into narrow pallets and so one day on a whim, I put the forks onto one (well 2 actually) of the small teeth and they fit pretty well.

To be honest, we did have to modify the fork mounts when the tooth bar arrived, but all that entailed was to cut a groove (using a narrow cutting wheel on my cheap HF angle grinder) into the holders for the 2x4's intended to prevent roll back, and then trimming a corner off the bottom of the 2-by's.

I think you will find that the PTB works well for the bamboo stumps, but it may be even easier to use it to uproot them BEFORE/instead of cutting them off, because then the upper part of the plant will keep the roots under tension as you cut under.

Have you ever tried to cut string, always much easier when you hold the ends and keep it under tension.....

YMMV, but I think you'll find the PTB an excellent addition to your property maintenance arsenal.

Thomas

PS: I also highly recommend the Yankee Warehouse forks, (oh, and mine are chain-on, not clamp on.)

 

[Finnster]

Well I don't load my tires but I can hook up my chipper for another 800lbs easily for more traction.
View attachment 328620

That's a big tractor

Actually makes me wonder if there is an ideal size for using a PTB... It seems most of the PTBs are used on the smaller tractors that may have limited options or power.

I wonder if you get beyond a certain size that the uses us guys on the compacts are talking about don't apply as well to the big machines..

 

[ultrarunner]

I added a Markham toothbar to my BX23 plus foamed-filled the rear tires and bumped the Hydraulic Pressure to the high limit of spec.

Really made a difference and ability and capability.

Most recent project has been transforming a crawl space to usable space and the BX just makes the grade.

No problem fitting my clamp-on forks over the toothbar.

 

[BXpanded]

Well I don't load my tires but I can hook up my chipper for another 800lbs easily for more traction.
View attachment 328620

For some reason, I get the feeling you're not going to have traction problems digging out bamboo roots!

 

[xzcVAbc5]

Re: Piranha tooth bar using with forks?

When Harry first came out with the Piranha and announced it on TBN there was some discussion about using his forks with it installed. The two "missing teeth" areas are indeed intended as spots for his forks. Harry has clarified that you can order the notches in different locations, or not have any notches at all.

I just ordered a bar before I read your post and noticed the "missing teeth" as you described. Sent a message to them with my order number to ask to have my TB with all of it's teeth installed. Thanks for pointing that out.

Edit: Received notice from BXpanded they will make mine without the quick-on fork cutouts. Pretty quick response!

 

[jerrybob]

Re: Piranha tooth bar using with forks?

I just ordered a bar before I read your post and noticed the "missing teeth" as you described. Sent a message to them with my order number to ask to have my TB with all of it's teeth installed. Thanks for pointing that out.

I have had my Pirannah tooth bar for several years.....never take it off....use it for clearing and light digging. My forks fit right over the teeth.....no problem. This is a very good...well made product.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I have no complaints with the one on my BX 24 , I am going to order one for my New holland 1925

 

[lostcreekranch]

Ordered at PTB from Harry late last week for our LS XR4046HC with 72" bucket, and it should arrive at Ranch tomorrow. I'm anxious to get it installed and start using it this weekend.

 

[check]

Has anyone mounted to bxpanded tooth bar on the bxpanded bucket expander?