Ebay tootbar

npaden · Apr 4, 2006

Okay, I'm about to pull the trigger on one of these tooth bars from Ebay. Seller has 100% feedback and the price is decent $264 + $75 shipping = $339 and looks like it is pretty good quality.

Ebay Toothbar

Has anyone here bought one of these? Any pros or cons to their design that anyone can think of?

Thanks, Nathan

Spiffy · Apr 4, 2006

Did they quote you a leadtime?

JimR · Apr 4, 2006

I would ask what thickness the flat stock is that runs across the bucket. If it is not 1/2 or better I would pass. I made of out of 1/4 steel and destroyed it in no time popping boulders.

Oleozz · Apr 4, 2006

I looked at the one you have pictured, ended up ordering one from Markham Welding. I was concerned about the thickness of the shank, I belive the yellow one and Markham both have 1.5 inch thickness shanks. I was told a three week waiting time after ordering from Markham.

3RRL · Apr 4, 2006

npaden,
I looked at that eBay toothbar and almost bought it until I read about the Markham bar here on TBN. The eBay one looks to be just as sturdy as the Markham. The ONLY reason I bought the Markham was I got feedback from TBN that was positive, and no one had experience with the eBay one. I was able to contact them, ask questions and got recommendations so to ease my mind about fit and function.

BTW, the Markham fit my bucket PERFECTLY and has worked great, so I'm certainly not disappointed! Sorry to be of no real help on the eBay model. Maybe you can call them?

5030tinkerer · Apr 4, 2006

I went to the local steel yard, purchased a 24' section of 5/8 "grader flat" bar that was beveled on one side and was 1055 steel ($130), and then went to the local equipment supplier, purchased the seven shanks necessary for my 6' bucket and the six shanks necessary for my 5' foot skid steer bucket (@ $26 each), and used my Hobart MIG 175 welder to weld it all up. The steel yard chopped my 24' bar into the lengths I needed for $5. Five foot toothbar investment:

5/8" Grader flat bar - $27.08 (pro-rated)
Cutting charge: $2.50
Six shanks with pin-on teeth ($26/ea) - $156
1/2"x3"x1' flat bar, cut 6" long on each side (side bolts) - $7
Grade 8 5/8" 2" long bolts with lockwashers and nuts - $4
1/2"x2"x2" coupons (2 required) for side strengthening - $2
Rust Oleum heavy rusted metal Primer - $2
Rust Oleum High Gloss Black top coat paint - $3
Welding materials - perhaps $3
Total: $206.58
Time spent: 4 hours
Fun rating: High

Six foot toothbar investment:
5/8" Grader flat bar - $32.50 (pro-rated)
Cutting charge: $2.50
Seven shanks with pin-on teeth ($26/ea) - $182
1/2"x3"x1' flat bar, cut 6" long on each side (side bolts) - $7
Grade 8 5/8" 2" long bolts with lockwashers and nuts - $4
1/2"x2"x2" coupons (2 required) for side strengthening - $2
Rust Oleum heavy rusted metal Primer - $2
Rust Oleum High Gloss Black top coat paint - $3
Welding materials - perhaps $3
Total: $238
Time spent: 2 hours (I got better)
Fun rating: High

Worth it?

Not sure, really. I spent quite awhile in total, but firmed up my bucket quite a bit more than I would have with a lesser grader flat bar. Note that I do have "other costs" here as well - like the cost of my extra grader flat bar that is just now sitting and collecting dust (might use that for another project in the future - no telling) and the mileage getting all this stuff. I do have the eBay seller's referenced 1" shanks, but don't see a problem with them - I seriously doubt I'll be breaking those any time soon. One benefit of doing it yourself is certain knowledge that it will fit properly and the ability to avoid the bolts of a bolted on cutting edge. This, of course, all assumes that you have a welder. I did go ahead and do some beveling to ensure adequate weld penetration.

Good luck!

Ed

npaden · Apr 4, 2006

I emailed them and they replied that they use 1/2" X 4" stock for all of their toothbars. They also make bolt on pallet forks and said they would give me a $30 shipping discount if I bought a toothbar and the pallet forks. They have really good feedback on ebay.

Here's the pallet forks:

Ebay Pallet Forks

Looks like it would be about the price my local dealer quoted me for a toothbar ($595) to get the toothbar and the pallet forks off ebay including shipping.

Thanks, Nathan

davkir · Apr 4, 2006

I purchased a 53" toothbar from ATI that I'm very happy with.
$331 including freight. Mounts with two 5/8 bolts and seems pretty rugged.

chanceu · Apr 4, 2006

Not sure if this is the same one that I just bought from eBay, but I just got one from the same guys too. I shopped around on eBay, several other sites, and local dealers and their price/quality seemed to be comparable.

The reason I finally decided on them was they had what they called a "landscape" toothbar. It took a while to figure out what the difference between it and their regular toothbars were besides the $50 higher price. Finally, I noticed that it was the number of teeth...one every 4" for the landscape version versus one every 9"-10" for the regular version.

I had been looking at the debris forks from Paynes, but couldn't justify $645 and didn't think my TC24DA/12LA could really handle an added 24" of pickup area.

The one thing I didn't think about is the lead time. I'd already paid for it by the time I thought about that so I'll wait and see. Hopefully, it'll get here soon to compliment the grapple that should be finished by this weekend.

PILOON · Apr 5, 2006

5030tinkerer;

Like you, I rated 'fun time' high on my agenda.
Purchased my shanks and teeth from FABCO and 1/2" X 3" flat locally. My bucket is 48".

6 shanks pn 16st-8-23 @ $6.90 ea=$41.40
6 teeth pn 8023 @2.09 ea= $12.54
1/2 x 3" flat $10.00
1/2 x 2" x 5" 'ears' scrap bin $1.50
add UPS for Fabco order
2 ea 1/2" X 1 1/2" 'ear bolts' $1.00

Total project incl misc in the $75-$100 range.
(I ordered spares at the same time)

Did not bother to paint as I knew the life would be about 30 mins.
Have pried stumps and rocks resistant enough to actually lift my rear end off the ground without any signs of twisting or letting go.

Used a stick welder with good penetration and 3 passes to assure strong welds.

Project time was one lazy AM.

Only regrets are that I should have beveled bucket side of the flat bar as it tends to retain a small amount of loaded material, but really not a major problem all told.

One challenge faced was installation as my cutting edge was somewhat worn and bucket had a few 'minor work curves'.
A sledge and clamps soon persuaded the bar to fit.
To this day I am unsure which gave way, the tooth bar or the bucket cutting edge.
Were I to do it over I'd probably use 3/8" flat bar for easier installation fit with the appropriate shanks.

Fabco has a web site : www.fabco-inc.com
or 800-628-2715

npaden · Apr 5, 2006

Well I put in a "Best Offer" for one last night for $300 including shipping. We'll see if they take it. I think I will stick with the manufactured toothbar and might try to make my own pallet forks down the road.

Thanks for the input.

MA1920 · Apr 5, 2006

Nathan, did you check out that seller's store? They have Twin Tiger Tooth Bars and Landscape Bars. On the Landscape Bar the teeth are closer together, instead of every 9-10" apart, they are approx. 4" apart. The teeth are on the Tiger Bar are basically vee-shaped at the tip. Might be worth taking a look.

Bob

IslandTractor · Apr 5, 2006

I have not bought anything from the guy who sells toothbars and clamp on forks via ebay but I have communicated with him. He is responsive and gives good answers so I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him. Besides, he's from New England. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

5030tinkerer · Apr 5, 2006

PILOON -

Sounds like I got taken on my 2A teeth. I should have asked the folks here where to go before I pulled the trigger. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Oh well, the project is over. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

npaden · Apr 5, 2006

Okay, they didn't accept my offer but told me thier lowest price and it looks like it will end up being $305 including shipping for the regular toothbar with 9" spacing.

The landscape bar looks like it will be about $50 more, how much better will it be than the standard one? I really just want it for digging in some caliche mainly. Will I regret not springing the extra $50 for the landscape one over the regular one? I don't know what the twin tiger points will really do for me either.

Thanks, Nathan

PILOON · Apr 6, 2006

The fewer the teeth, the easier the penetration will be
One example would be imbedded rocks.
Were a tooth to line up with a tooth, penetration will be restricted so the less teeth the more likely to fit between rocks and therefore easier to loosen/dig full loads.

Many teeth would work in a 'landscaping' situation whereby you are essentially foreward rakeing roots and that sort of debris.

For basic excavation/loading operations I think you are better off with, say, 8"-10" spacing.

My 48" bucket has 6 teeth and I find it awsome digging in a clay type hardpan.
Topsoil with some rocks is a breeze and nearly always gets full bucket loads.

A FEL with teeth VS one without is just like comparing nite and day!

Only setback is you loose all backgrading capabilities. (that is why they invented back blades)

Naturally foreward motion combined with the proper curling action gives best results.

MA1920 · Apr 6, 2006

PILOON, what do you think about their Tiger teeth? Are the pointed teeth an advantage over the "normal" teeth? How about the double Tiger teeth?

Thanks for any further info.

Bob

PILOON · Apr 6, 2006

If I understand the nomenclanture 'tiger teeth' I would make them to be forged steel vs normal which are beveled flat stock made from hardened 'T1' material and welded to a steel socket that fits the shanks.

The 'tiger' cost more and probably better if you are in rocky subsoils like hardpan.
Double tiger is what some guys here like when digging in ice and frozen ground.
Tiger types, I believe are best meant for excavator applications and my guess for FEL's the other type is plenty good.
I used the regular flat toothed type and am very pleased with the results. My thoughts were that I wanted to lift and load hence the flat teeth would 'hold' more than pointy ones.
Besides the points wont stay pointy very long but the flats will always be flat, just shorten gradually.
Narurally the FEL corner ones will take the most abuse so that's why I ordered spares so that I could rotate them around.

npaden · Apr 9, 2006

Well, I just ordered one. My bucket isn't as big as I thought it was, the inside dimensions are 58 1/2" and the bucket is 1/2" thick including the cutting edge.

I'll take pictures and update this thread when it gets here.