Front-End Loader Bxpanded piranha tooth bar

RAM4171 · Dec 2, 2016

Howdy y'all, I just got my PTB delivered this week. With dark coming so early it's been sitting for several days. I have been very excited to get it installed. I got off a little early this afternoon so I had time to swap the forks and bucket to at least put it in place. I was a little disappointed with the fit and finish. The ends fit perfect but the middle has about an 1/8" gap between the bucket and bar. The bucket edge it perfectly straight, only about 13 hrs on the bucket. Is this normal? I put an eyeball down the edge of the bar and the "cleats" on top of the bar are obviously not in line. Am I being over critical? Is it going to wear in? I've got a lot of work for the bar lined up and don't want to wait a couple more weekends to send it back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

check · Dec 2, 2016

RAM4171 said:
Howdy y'all, I just got my PTB delivered this week. With dark coming so early it's been sitting for several days. I have been very excited to get it installed. I got off a little early this afternoon so I had time to swap the forks and bucket to at least put it in place. I was a little disappointed with the fit and finish. The ends fit perfect but the middle has about an 1/8" gap between the bucket and bar. The bucket edge it perfectly straight, only about 13 hrs on the bucket. Is this normal? I put an eyeball down the edge of the bar and the "cleats" on top of the bar are obviously not in line. Am I being over critical? Is it going to wear in? I've got a lot of work for the bar lined up and don't want to wait a couple more weekends to send it back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=490156"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=490157"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=490158"/>

Try using a piece of 2 x 4 or 4 x 4 and slam the PTB on a little more, so that the Gap disappears.

Poopdeck Pappy · Dec 2, 2016

The instructions for the PTB say to use a couple c-clamps to hold the tooth bar flush up against the bucket while marking and drilling the holes on the side of the bucket. If you clamp it per the instructions, do the clamps draw it up flush with the bottom edge of the bucket? If so, then do that and mark the holes and drill them.

If so, then there could be a bit of a weld where the cleat is welded to the tooth bar that is keeping the bar from sitting flush. Pull it off the bucket and check that. If that's the problem, a quick swipe with an angle grinder should fix it up.

Plas62 · Dec 3, 2016

I had a similar issue when I got my PTB. My bucket edge would not seat fully into all of the cleats. I put dykem on the inside of the cleats then put the PTB on as far as it would go using a hammer and block of wood. This allowed me to identify which cleats were causing the fit interference. You can do the same thing using a black magic marker, if you don't have dykem available.

I then used a die grinder and a carbide burr to relieve the inside of the cleats that were causing the fit interference.

I did this a few times until I got the fit I wanted and then clamped the PTB to the bucket and drilled the mounting holes.

It took me about an hour to do this and I thought it was a lot simpler than going through the hassle of returning it.

dragoneggs · Dec 3, 2016

My one time experience was the the PTB was straight and true. No doubt that your results may vary but don't be too quick to say the PTB is off. Did you true and square your bucket? Regardless, you are expecting a glove fit... but we all know a little persuasion is key. Good luck.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Yeah I beat it pretty good with a 2lb dead blow. the issue is the cleats go higher and forward toward the middle of the bar. thanks for the input.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

When I clamp the bar in the middle it pulls it up flush, there's no slag holding it off of the bucket. The cleats are mis-aligned with each other. When I release the clamp it reopens the gap in the middle pic.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Plas62 said:
I had a similar issue when I got my PTB. My bucket edge would not seat fully into all of the cleats. I put dykem on the inside of the cleats then put the PTB on as far as it would go using a hammer and block of wood. This allowed me to identify which cleats were causing the fit interference. You can do the same thing using a black magic marker, if you don't have dykem available.

I then used a die grinder and a carbide burr to relieve the inside of the cleats that were causing the fit interference.

I did this a few times until I got the fit I wanted and then clamped the PTB to the bucket and drilled the mounting holes.

It took me about an hour to do this and I thought it was a lot simpler than going through the hassle of returning it.

Good idea, maybe i should grind a little on the teeth on the ends to allow the ones in the middle to sit flush. Thanks.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Poopdeck Pappy said:
The instructions for the PTB say to use a couple c-clamps to hold the tooth bar flush up against the bucket while marking and drilling the holes on the side of the bucket. If you clamp it per the instructions, do the clamps draw it up flush with the bottom edge of the bucket? If so, then do that and mark the holes and drill them.

If so, then there could be a bit of a weld where the cleat is welded to the tooth bar that is keeping the bar from sitting flush. Pull it off the bucket and check that. If that's the problem, a quick swipe with an angle grinder should fix it up.

Yeah I beat it pretty good with a 2lb dead blow. the issue is the cleats go higher and forward toward the middle of the bar. thanks for the input.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Poopdeck Pappy said:
The instructions for the PTB say to use a couple c-clamps to hold the tooth bar flush up against the bucket while marking and drilling the holes on the side of the bucket. If you clamp it per the instructions, do the clamps draw it up flush with the bottom edge of the bucket? If so, then do that and mark the holes and drill them.

If so, then there could be a bit of a weld where the cleat is welded to the tooth bar that is keeping the bar from sitting flush. Pull it off the bucket and check that. If that's the problem, a quick swipe with an angle grinder should fix it up.

When I clamp the bar in the middle it pulls it up flush, there's no slag holding it off of the bucket. The cleats are mis-aligned with each other. When I release the clamp it reopens the gap in the middle pic.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Poopdeck Pappy said:
The instructions for the PTB say to use a couple c-clamps to hold the tooth bar flush up against the bucket while marking and drilling the holes on the side of the bucket. If you clamp it per the instructions, do the clamps draw it up flush with the bottom edge of the bucket? If so, then do that and mark the holes and drill them.

If so, then there could be a bit of a weld where the cleat is welded to the tooth bar that is keeping the bar from sitting flush. Pull it off the bucket and check that. If that's the problem, a quick swipe with an angle grinder should fix it up.

Yeah I beat it pretty good with a 2lb dead blow. the issue is the cleats go higher and forward toward the middle of the bar. thanks for the input.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

dragoneggs said:
My one time experience was the the PTB was straight and true. No doubt that your results may vary but don't be too quick to say the PTB is off. Did you true and square your bucket? Regardless, you are expecting a glove fit... but we all know a little persuasion is key. Good luck.

I did not not true and square the bucket, but it brand new. A visual eyeball down the edge of the bar reveals the cleats are not in line with each other. Thanks.

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Thanks for all of the input. I will grind a little on the outer cleats to allow the middle cleats to seat flush before drilling my new bucket in the morning. This should allow the bar to sit flush all the way across. I was expecting a glove fit, but I'm learning that trucks and tractors are definitely not the same when it comes to fit and finish, LOL. Thanks for all of the input I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

check · Dec 3, 2016

RAM4171 said:
Thanks for all of the input. I will grind a little on the outer cleats to allow the middle cleats to seat flush before drilling my new bucket in the morning. This should allow the bar to sit flush all the way across. I was expecting a glove fit, but I'm learning that trucks and tractors are definitely not the same when it comes to fit and finish, LOL. Thanks for all of the input I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

Good luck to you. Mine fits perfectly, so it does seem did your welds are just a bit off.

drizler · Dec 3, 2016

dragoneggs said:
My one time experience was the the PTB was straight and true. No doubt that your results may vary but don't be too quick to say the PTB is off. Did you true and square your bucket? Regardless, you are expecting a glove fit... but we all know a little persuasion is key. Good luck.

Mine was a perfect fit across the bucket too. I did bend the side ears like they said and belted in place with a 3 lb hammer and some scrap 2x4 to seat it well .

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Well it's raining all day here and I don't have a shop to work in, so looks like I won't get anything done until tomorrow. I'll pull a string across the tooth bar to show what I mean about the cleats being out of alignment.

fried1765 · Dec 3, 2016

I have been trying to decide between the Piranha Bar and the Ratchet Rake.
Your Piranha fit looks quite poor to me, so I am now leaning to the Ratchet Rake.
I know that the two tools do not provide equal function, but they can be used for some similar tasks.
I like stuff that fits!

atsah · Dec 3, 2016

I have one of these and I would say that yours was manufactured incorrectly, if it were mine, I would send it back..

RAM4171 · Dec 3, 2016

Well I got out this afternoon in the rain and all to take a closer look. It appears as though the mounting brackets are set back just a little bit further than the rest of the cleats. I think about 10 minutes with a grinder and cut off wheel will solve the issue, and maybe one or two of the cleats. I will post some before and after pics. If I can make adjustments to get a proper fit in less than an hour it will be worth not sending it back. The hassel of re-boxing and taking it into town to send it back would be a real pain.