Bucket teeth pro's and con's

[DIRTCUTTER]

What are the pro's and con's of having teeth on your FEL. My property is full of small rocks(golf ball) and dirt with alot of medium size rocks(baseball) mixed in with large rocks(basketball) . Not to mention large boulders (VW). Am thinking the teeth on the bucket would help load faster and better, what do you think.

 

[tommu56]

I was trying to dig on my property with fel and not getting anywere. I had to rip up slate with hoe and use loades to move it. Now I can work tooth bar in and brake it up its alot more productive

tom

 

[IslandTractor]

Yes, a toothbar would certainly help you dig and load faster. Most people on TBN who have them like toothbars. Not sure if that is only because they are useful or whether there is a certain amount of keeping up with the Jones involved. (I have one too ). There are not too many negatives to bucket teeth: 1) it makes it difficult to drag the bucket to smooth the ground, 2) adds 75lbs or so to the edge of your bucket which is probably about 100-125 lbs off the total mid bucket lift capacity, 3) ??? cannot remember other disadvantages right now, maybe someone else can help.

 

[texasjohn]

There are far more pros than cons to a toohbar.
It makes places to attach a chain to to pull stuff up.
It makes it possible to pick up large items, like big logs, with the help of chains that woudln't hardly be possible with only a FEL.
ALL CONs are removed when you detach the toothbar, which takes me about 4 minutes to unbolt.

Get a toothbar, you won't regret it.

 

[Greg - Kioti CK20 TLB]

I had asked my dealer if they stocked toothbars and was told they didn't recommend them because the caused the bucket edge to bend out in the center.

Have any toothbar users noticed "smiles" in the center of your bucket? Or does the toothbar help strengthen the bucket edge?

 

[tommu56]

I put a tweek in my bucket before I got my teeth bar. i think the bar renforced bucket some.. you might put bend in bucket and bar if you are only working one tooth. i just use it and havent seen any damage yet the only suggestion i have is dealer told me to drill mounting holes in back (away from edge) of oval on bar bracket as soon as i get a chnce I will weld them up and drill in front so it will flip in to bucket to get smothe edge for gradeing .

tom

 

[williekioti]

Definitely more Pros than Cons. I've dug with my FEL before and after installation, the toothbar makes all the difference in the world for digging, grubbing and popping small stumps. It genuinely makes your bucket much more efficient in compacted, rocky and vegitated soils. The only con IMO is if you need really smooth finish when leveling with the bucket, personally I don't need that smooth a surface with the bucket. That's what they make rakes and RBs for. If I did I would simply remove the bar, couldn't take more than five minutes on my setup. I don't notice any deforming in the bucket edge, if anything it re-enforces it, and I've hooked some sizable rocks/roots with one tooth on mine enough to stop the tractor, loss of traction and made the loader hit relief. With some practice I've been able to root out decent sized rocks(and I've got no lack those things round here) and pop out small stumps. No way I'd have done either w/o a toothbar. Plus it just makes the front of your tractor look tough , not quite as mean as Island's grapple but still tough none the less. Also as a side benefit it protects the factory cutting edge on the bucket, no need to spend $100 on a replaceable after market edge.

I've also been able to dig out and transplant some six foot blue spruce trees and save trees that would have been trashed in my recent project. Obviously not as effective on these tasks as a backhoe, but a nice compromise in between. If you're thinking about installing one, do it and don't look back, you will not be sorry. If teeth on a bucket weren't a major digging productivity increaser than why do all industrial hoes and excavators have them? I say go for it.

 

[HomeBrew2]

In just shy of 800 hrs in the Sierra foothills, clay and rocks of all size, I haven't found a need for one. I rip with rippers, dig with the hoe, and load with the loader. Also, I don't seem to have any prob loading from old stockpiles of dirt ... no need to breakup with teeth. I may find a use someday but not as yet ... they do look cool though.

 

[darkviper]

I had asked my dealer if they stocked toothbars and was told they didn't recommend them because the caused the bucket edge to bend out in the center.

Have any toothbar users noticed "smiles" in the center of your bucket? Or does the toothbar help strengthen the bucket edge?

This i ill depend on the toothbar you purhchase i guess. Mine there is a flat 1/4" piece of metal all the way across so it make it stronger. I have moved some heavy rocks and grubed out some serious rocks and stumps. Just pay attention to the details when you purchase it

 

[3RRL]

I live right around the corner from Homebrew and my dirt stockpiles have solidified. After my road was built, there were several huge piles but at that time I did not have a tractor so they sat around for over a year. I got the toothbar and digging is 10 times easier than without. I find it also reinforces the bucket lip too.

I also use it to pop out shrub and small trees. It works hand in hand with the grapple for picking up piles of branches and debris since the teeth extend beyond the bucket lip a little. I'm planning to make some road/trails into parts of the property that have rocks and it will handle the digging and rock removal better than with no toothbar. I don't do much back dragging or smoothing with the fel so right now there's no need to take it off. But it is removable. I think it was a worthwhile investment.

You do have to watch out for the extra projection when turning near builting or tents in my case. I've snagged the stay lines a couple times thinking I was clear.