Back Dragging with a Toothbar

[Corm]

This question is for you folks that have a toothbar installed -

I can see and understand how a toothbar would be a significant advantage when digging tough soil, picking up field stones like Rowski plans, digging up roots, trying to get a bucket full of crushed rock, etc.

It seems that I spend as much time back dragging areas I've been digging in as I do digging them up. It seems to me that with a toothbar on the bucket, the result of back dragging would not be nearly as 'nice' with a toothbar as it is without one. In other words, when I backdrag an area with my 'toothless' bucket, the end result is a nice smooth area left behind. I use this technique often for driveway maintenance as an example. If I had a 'toothed' bucket, it would seem that the end result wouldn't be nearly as nice. It also seems like it must be a pain to install and remove the toothbar very often, so I'm guessing it doesn't get done very often by you folks. Is that correct?

I'm trying to justify a purchase of a toothbar, but I'm having troubles doing this if I have to take it off every time I want to do a nice job back dragging my driveway. I've not seen this issue addressed before, so I'd appreciate the benefit of some input from you toothbar users if you would be willing. Thanks in advance.

Corm

 

[mikim]

When back dragging with a toothbar - roll the bucket to lift the toothbar up and use the "heel" of the bucket to backdrag smooth - works like a charm.
mike

 

[TerryinMD]

The toothbar is one of the best buys to enhance the use of your FEL and the use of the tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Backdragging is one the better uses of the toothbar. I probably spend more time backdragging than going forward when using the toothbar. It is amazing at the amount of stuff that you can move. Once you get all of the junk out of the way, you can then drop your bucket and float it to smooth out the area.

Terry

 

[EdKing]

I agree with the others on this one. When I am cleaning up I tilt the bucket foward using the teeth like a rake, works great to get larger debris out of the way. Then I Tilt the bucket back and use the heel with the bucket floating for a nice smooth finish.

 

[fishman]

Good question Corm. I too have been hesitating on a toothbar for that very reason, but just haven't put the question into words. Looks to me that the consensus is that it isn't an issue. I think I'll get one.

 

[TerryinMD]

You will not regret your decision. I too had the same questions. But the $300 or so dollars will probably saved me thousands in not having to depend on getting in a backhoe operator.

Terry

 

[gordon]

Ditto, to what the others have already replied. Just use the heel of the bucket. You will find that you have much better control of your material when floating it out with the heel.

If you want some added compaction at the same time do it with a full bucket while back-dragging with the heel of the bucket. I use this option often and it works well.

Of course everything is not perfect. The downside to using the heel of the bucket over a LONG period of time it will wear your bucket steel thin. On my last tractor I added plate steel to the heel because it had worn to the point of being paper thin at the heel joint. This was a standard duty bucket and it took years to do that so average use you would never have to even think about it.

Gordon

 

[Rowski]

Corm

I will most likely order my toothbar on Monday or when they (Carver's) return my e-mail. So when I get it and install it you should come up and we'll see how it works. Depending on which model I get it couls be as early as 2 weeks and as late as 3 to 4 weeks. I had not given it much thought about back dragging with the tooth bar installed. But as Gordon mention I use the heel of the bucket most of the time. The heel seems to work better especially for compaction. So we'll see when I get it. Let me know.

 

[MikeBurr]

Here's a little bit of a different type of tooth bar. Called a Rezolok edge. Back scraping, no problem. Works great for raking dirt to get rocks out. Since it bolts to the bottom of the edge, it adds a lot of strength to the digging part of the bucket. And since it sticks out quite a bit, it really helps in moving things with the bucket.

 

[EdKing]

Looks pretty good, but I'd hate to have to take it off with all those bolts holding it on.

 

[Carl_NH]

Ed,

A lot of the HD buckets have a replacement cutting edge, so you gotta deal with the bolts. Been thinking how to adapt a tooth bar to my unit to make it changeable. I like the revlock - not quite as aggressive as the prevoius pics. Other benefit I see is snow removal with the revlok version - will scrape clean when pushing.

 

[EdKing]

I hadn't thought of the snow removal Aspect. I have been using my back blade for snow, and just use the FEL to push the piles over. Other than the weight, my toothbar is pretty easy to remove, with just 2 bolts on either side. I have a welded on cutting edge.

 

[cowboydoc]

Corm,
Yes there are times when you need the edge of the loader bucket to get things smooth. Other times you can backdrag with the toothbar on if you have enough depth in the material you are backdragging.

I haven't found it to be an issue though taking the toothbar on and off. It takes literally about a minute a side. Mine just had one bolt on each side. So taking it on and off is really a non-issue.

 

[frank_f15]

i willadd my vote and agree with the rest of the guys, toothbar is very hady, and putting it on and off is really not a big thing, 2 bolts and off it comes.

 

[Corm]

You folks certainly answered my question and then some. Thanks! Part of the concern I had was that I seldom use the heal of the bucket for backdragging. I always use the leading edge of the bucket when backdragging, and use the bucket tilt to control how aggressive I want/need to be (depends a lot on the material being moved). I'll have to start using the method you folks use to see if I can get simliar results. I sure would like a toothbar... Rowski, thanks for your offer. I can feel a Harley ride to the Jay Peak area coming up...

Thanks again everyone for your info. Much appreciated!

Corm

 

[JohnMiller3]

Another picture...
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/35-58734-JD722Noturfsforme2.JPG>Using the heel of the bucket with toothbar mounted for smoothing…</A>

 

[billfires]

John, is that a new way for screeding concrete? It looks like you were in some real mud.

Bill C

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...some real mud...</font color=blue>

Last week, with a neighbor's "leaky pond"... now that was real mud... the mud and muck was above the front axle in some spots... you just didn't dare to stop... I actually had my camera and thought of a few shots... especially with the overloaded bucket with water pouring from it... just got too wrapped up in finishing the job... (glad my GPS is waterproof... that was covered... I couldn't see anything /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif)

Maybe next time I'll get some action shots.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Wal]

YUK!!! /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[EdKing]

I was working in a simular situation, got in a little to far and the tractor sunk in to the frame. Luckily I had the backhoe on and was able to extricate my self. Took me a couple of hours to clean all the mud of the bottom.