FEL teeth - yes or no?

[4570Man]

The toothed bucket on the CTL is a lot better for a smooth backdrag than my tractor with a tooth bar was. The CTL bucket still has a smooth bottom where the tractor tooth bar stuck down.

 

[Bird]

I, too, think the bolt on toothbar is the way to go so you can remove it if you wish. However, when I put one on my front end loader, I never took it off.

 

[RalphVa]

What are the pros and cons of teeth on an FEL? I'm guessing there are situations/tasks where teeth are an advantage and times where they are not? What should I consider?

Guess you're talking about a toothbar. My first tractor was ordered with a tooth bar. I really only ever used the tooth bar once, to loosen up some soil where I put in a new rain garden. Most of the time, I used the FEL with the tooth bar off, because of the extra length out front to account for. That was on the JD 4010, which would be like a 2019E today. Now have a 2025R, it digs essentially as well as the 4010 did with the tooth bar. Best FEL I've had, certainly MILES better than the snooty one on the 1025R.

Ralph

 

[newbury]

After reading all these replies I'm changing my mind.
Because it's such a bother to unbolt two bolts to remove my Pirahna, and even with QA it takes a minute or so to switch buckets I'm going to tell the wife I need to buy another tractor without a toothbar. That should save me 5 or 10 minutes a year.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

After reading all these replies I'm changing my mind.
Because it's such a bother to unbolt two bolts to remove my Pirahna, and even with QA it takes a minute or so to switch buckets I'm going to tell the wife I need to buy another tractor without a toothbar. That should save me 5 or 10 minutes a year.

Why didnt I think of that...

 

[airbiscuit]

After reading all these replies I'm changing my mind.
Because it's such a bother to unbolt two bolts to remove my Pirahna, and even with QA it takes a minute or so to switch buckets I'm going to tell the wife I need to buy another tractor without a toothbar. That should save me 5 or 10 minutes a year.

Brilliant :drink:

 

[Atchuuu]

Okay. So now I'm convinced I need a toothbar. So which one?

 

[bdog]

After reading all these replies I'm changing my mind.
Because it's such a bother to unbolt two bolts to remove my Pirahna, and even with QA it takes a minute or so to switch buckets I'm going to tell the wife I need to buy another tractor without a toothbar. That should save me 5 or 10 minutes a year.

I like your way of thinking but it really boils down to how you use your machine. Like I said mine has a hydraulic QA. I can change attachments very quickly. There have been days I have switched back and forth between the tooth and non tooth bucket a half dozen times. That much bolting and unbolting would get old. Also with a 7' wide bucket the toothbar isn't as easy to throw around as it is for the guys with the smaller buckets. Another pain I had with my piranha is mud/dirt gets caked on to the bucket lip and you have to chip it off to get the tooth bar to fit if that happens.

If you are a very infrequent user sure bolting and unbolting is no big deal. For me personally I would have to do it twenty times some weeks. No thanks.

 

[bdog]

Okay. So now I'm convinced I need a toothbar. So which one?

I have owned a piranha and now have a regular weld on tooth bucket. The piranha works pretty darn good. We don't have the problem here but I bet one would work great for cutting through vines and underbrush. The teeth on it are wide and sharp. The piranha definitely helps with digging but is not quite as good as regular teeth I don't think but the piranha offers a lot of advantages for other purposes over regular teeth. Depends on what you intend to do the most of.

 

[airbiscuit]

If you have a ssqa loader, then you might look for a reasonably priced tooth bucket (good luck with that).

I don't have a preferred recommendation for a bolt on tooth bar, but here are a few options (others can suggest additional ones)

• Piranha
• Titan Attachments
• Everything Attachments
  
• ATI Corporation
• WR Long
• Spartan Equipment

 

[newbury]

Okay. So now I'm convinced I need a toothbar. So which one?

View attachment 546097View attachment 546098View attachment 546099

Looking at your land it would seem any would do.

Generally a "standard" tooth bar, such as Tractor Bucket Bolt on Tooth Bar will be great for rocky soil and grubbing out stuff.

A Pirahna is great for using when you have a lot of vegetation and few rocks. I had to clear about a 1/4 acre of grown over mess, a mixture of small saplings thorn bushes, brambles etc. using my M4700. When I got the Piranha bar put on it made it much easier. I could set the bucket so it cut just below the surface of the soil and push forward cutting stuff.

Then there are advocates of a ratchet rake.

But remember you have a FRONT END LOADER, not a front end dozer. If you have compacted soil or lots of rocks or heavy clay it's best to break it up with another implement before you try and move it. Many people have posted about bending their cylinders because they rammed into something they wanted to move.

/edit - If you go for a BXpanded Piranha I can attest they are a pleasure to work with.

 

[airbiscuit]

...But remember you have a FRONT END LOADER, not a front end dozer..... Many people have posted about bending their cylinders because they rammed into something they wanted to move.

Speed Kills :alert:

 

[PhysAssist]

What are the pros and cons of teeth on an FEL? I'm guessing there are situations/tasks where teeth are an advantage and times where they are not? What should I consider?

It might be better to get a bucket to mount them on though...

Seriously, it all depends what you want to accomplish.

They make digging and uprooting a lot easier, but can get in the way when smoothing/spreading gravel.

 

[Wagtail]

But remember you have a FRONT END LOADER, not a front end dozer. If you have compacted soil or lots of rocks or heavy clay it's best to break it up with another implement before you try and move it. Many people have posted about bending their cylinders because they rammed into something they wanted to move.

Thank you! I've been following this thread and waiting for someone to point this out.

A tractor with a FEL (an attachment) is not the same as a TLB. (even though we do tend to 'abuse' the heck out of our FEL from time to time)

 

[mikester]

Okay. So now I'm convinced I need a toothbar. So which one?

I'd be willing to sell mine it fits an 84" bucket. Like new, its been sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

 

[mopardude318]

Construction Attachments Toothbar available through Everything Attachments is what I have on my M7060. I am very happy with a dedicated bolt on tooth bar.

Bolt-On Tooth Bar - Parts and Accessories - Parts and Accessories - Construction Attachments Inc

 

[Atchuuu]

Looking at your land it would seem any would do.

Generally a "standard" tooth bar, such as Tractor Bucket Bolt on Tooth Bar will be great for rocky soil and grubbing out stuff.

A Pirahna is great for using when you have a lot of vegetation and few rocks. I had to clear about a 1/4 acre of grown over mess, a mixture of small saplings thorn bushes, brambles etc. using my M4700. When I got the Piranha bar put on it made it much easier. I could set the bucket so it cut just below the surface of the soil and push forward cutting stuff.

Then there are advocates of a ratchet rake.

But remember you have a FRONT END LOADER, not a front end dozer. If you have compacted soil or lots of rocks or heavy clay it's best to break it up with another implement before you try and move it. Many people have posted about bending their cylinders because they rammed into something they wanted to move.

/edit - If you go for a BXpanded Piranha I can attest they are a pleasure to work with.

Great explanation. Thank you

I'd be willing to sell mine it fits an 84" bucket. Like new, its been sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

I would be a buyer but have a much smaller bucket. Bucket is the L2240 which I believe is the 60"

 

[newbury]

Thank you! I've been following this thread and waiting for someone to point this out.

A tractor with a FEL (an attachment) is not the same as a TLB. (even though we do tend to 'abuse' the heck out of our FEL from time to time)

And even with a TLB you should not be using the FEL as something to ram into a hard pile of whatever. Turn around and use the backhoe.

 

[airbiscuit]

NO RAMMING!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I had to put a tooth bar on my Yanmar 4220 or it wouldn't dig into anything. My Kubota B26 TLB as well as my LS P7010 digs without a tooth bar, so I suppose it depends on your tractor and your needs as to using a tooth bar. I liked the way I could use the TB to drag and pile branches without getting dirt in the mix but that was about the only advantage to having a TB that I have found. I didn't like the grooves it left when back dragging.