cutting edge or tooth bar?

[johnnylight]

I have a 14LA FEL bucket 68" Q/A
Am looking to strenghten the bucket so I was leaning to the cutting edge for $250. Don't know how much the tooth bar goes for any ideas?
currently using the loader for clearing --would this be a concern for the tooth bar --taking large trees out with stumps by force of FEL -would the teeth break?

Which one would you reccomend?

Thanks

 

[MadReferee]

I have a 14LA FEL bucket 68" Q/A
Am looking to strenghten the bucket so I was leaning to the cutting edge for $250. Don't know how much the tooth bar goes for any ideas?
currently using the loader for clearing --would this be a concern for the tooth bar --taking large trees out with stumps by force of FEL -would the teeth break?

A toothbar would be the hands down favorite. It is just so much more versitle when it comes to digging and clearing types of operations. They cost anywhere from $250 to $350. Your FEL and or bucket will bend/break long before any tooth on a toothbar would if you are attempting to take out stumps with a smallish 14A FEL.

There have been literally zillions of posts here debating the goodness of toothbars with plenty of good points and almost no bad points. You might want to do some searching and reading.

 

[Timber]

Yea what Mad said, Best thing for digging with the fel

 

[3RRL]

I agree 100% with Mad and Timber.
I just got through popping out some massive boulders with the toothbar that would probably have bent the cutting edge. Not only that, I wouldn't be able to dig down to get a grip on the boulders in the first place.

 

[jbrumberg]

johnnylight:

Welcome to TBN ! I have a NH TC29DA tractor and have installed the bolt on cutting bar on my standard 60" 14LA bucket. NH does have heavy duty toothbars designed for buckets with installed bolt on cutting edges. You can obtain the part number from Messick Farm Equipment and Outdoor Power - Parts, Sales & Service. I am "working" the "COMPTROLLER" for mine . Jay

 

[N80]

I've been eyeing a tooth bar for some time now. Definitely would have benefited from one last year. My only reservation...other than coming up with the money, is back dragging. It seems like I use my bucket a lot for precise smoothing by back dragging. However, it seems like i've heard that with some of these tooth bars you can loosen a couple of nuts and flip the bar up. Is this correct?

 

[schmism]

most of the tooth bars use tooth roots that have a thumb like projection on the bottom that catch the lip of the bucket. (thus preventing you from just fliping the bar up)

but most are just held on with 2 bolts so they are relitivly easy to take of ... (or so i hear)

 

[johnnylight]

I've been eyeing a tooth bar for some time now. Definitely would have benefited from one last year. My only reservation...other than coming up with the money, is back dragging. It seems like I use my bucket a lot for precise smoothing by back dragging. However, it seems like i've heard that with some of these tooth bars you can loosen a couple of nuts and flip the bar up. Is this correct?

I also do a lot of back dragging and being I have the 757c back hoe am leaning toards the cutting edge my bucket can use the extra strength all year round - it's a lot easier to take a tree out with the FEL gravity pulls the stump right out of the ground.
saving me from working the back hoe for stumps (lots of fun there)

am I making a mistake going with the cutting edge?
I did check out all the treads lots of good info there thanks

 

[Timber]

The toothbar is the greatest thing you can do for your loader. I do all my back draging with the back of the bucket. I just curl it and set it down and back drag. It works even better with a load of dirt in it

 

[3RRL]

I understand some of the newer toothbars from Markham now come with a slotted bolt hole.
This allows you to loosen the bolt (that holds it on) and slide if forward...then flip it up for back dragging with the lip. Personally, I do like Timber and use the back of my bucket to back drag. The toothbar will give you the added strength you are looking for and a ginormous advantage in digging and popping out trees and shrubs. If you want to back drag some dirt you dug up, you need to dig it first. That's where the toothbar shines.

 

[wilkesland]

Welcome to the forum. I also vote for a toothbar - I wouldn't even think about trying to clear again without a toothbar. It still astounds me how much difference it made. For the limited amount of back dragging I've done, I curled the bucket and was happy. If I wanted to do a lot, I might take the bar off - only two bolts hold in on.

Just my opinon though - your mileage may vary.

Barry

 

[MrJimi]

I have a cutting edge and I want to make a tooth bar if I can find some nice teeth like on 3RRL's tooth bar, I have a welder, chopsaw and the time.
So if you know where I can get some of those nice teeth? Send me a PM here
Jim

 

[jinman]

am I making a mistake going with the cutting edge?
I did check out all the treads lots of good info there thanks

I have both a toothbar and a cutting edge. My toothbar won't fit over the cutting edge, so guess which one is on my bucket. Yep...the toothbar. I have a 5 ft bucket that I'll put the toothbar onto and cut it down to fit. My 6 ft bucket will keep the toothbar.

Just think about this. A toothbar is like having 7 or 8 fingers on the front lip of your bucket. If you had no fingers on your hand, would it be just as useful? Try picking up a culvert with a bucket with only a cutting edge and you will define the term "frustration." With a toothbar, you just push it slightly against something and lift it up like having fingers wrapped around it. It's not nearly as secure as a grapple, but it's tons better than just a cutting edge.

I admit that I like my bucket with just the edge for backdragging, but I wouldn't trade it for my toothbar. NOSIREE!

 

[MikeB44]

Johnnylight

I very recently installed a Markham Toothbar and have been very happy digging with it. It did come with slots, but I didn't drill the holes with the idea of loosening the bolts and flipping the bar up. I just figured it was to give me better chance to hit my target.

For back dragging, I have used the back of the bucket, instead of the front edge. One thing I have found is that if I put the teeth pointing straight down over uneven dirt (like after digging out a stump), it seems to help break up large clumps and even out the dirt across the dragged area. I then run another pass with the back of the bucket to level it.

I figure if I need to do work without the toothbar, I'll just take out the 2 bolts and remove it.

Mike

 

[johnnylight]

Good advice with that said I'll have to decide on which toothbar to buy

are all buckets different as far as standard 68" bucket for NH -I have the 14LA 68" bucket -why do we have to measure?

NH tooth bar $375 for a 68" bucket inside is 68 1/2"
big question where am I going to get the best tooth bar at the best price?

Thanks

 

[Glowplug]

On my upcoming tractor I had looked at dedicated tooth buckets for the FEL. I definitely want a toothbar for the extreme advantage in the digging capabilities. But then what if I wanted to use it as a volume material bucket and not for clearing or digging? Worse yet, what if I wanted to use it for clearing snow from the driveway? What I am planning is to get a bucket with a cutting edge and then order a toothbar from Markhamwelding. I have already exchanged numerous e-mails with them. Their toothbars are very high quality, reasonably priced, and delivered cheaply. Best of all, I can take the toothbar off when I don't need/want it. It's like having two buckets in one!! Probably the only time I'll take it off would be to move snow though. I can see easily that using a bucket loader without a toothbar to dig and clear would be like trying to dig a hole with a stick as opposed to a shovel.

Now if I were using my bucket just for grain hauling, material handling, or manure then I would save the money and leave the toothbar in North Carolina at Markham. But since I am going to use it mostly for digging and clearing I believe the toothbar would be as valuable as the FEL itself.

 

[dknarnd]

Glow....have you found that the cutting edge will need to be removed to install the toothbar?

 

[johnnylight]

Markham Toothbar

I'll give them a call in the morning..

 

[Glowplug]

Glow....have you found that the cutting edge will need to be removed to install the toothbar?

I'm almost sure it won't. But like I said, this is an "upcoming tractor". Sad to say, I don't quite have possession of it. If the cutting edge wasn't incorporated into the bucket it would probably, most assuredly, have to be removed to fit the toothbar. Truthfully, it's not really a true cutting edge. It's just a slightly tapered sheet of steel welded to the lower lip of the bucket. My fault for the confusion.

 

[Glowplug]

Markham Toothbar

I'll give them a call in the morning..

They'll respond very quickly. You could send them and e-mail and the response will also be rapid. That's what I did. But then you wouldn't get to talk to the sweet southern girl at Markham that many on this board fantasize about. Hmmm, maybe I need to give Markham a call. BTW, I'm from North Carolina.