Markham bar a little short.

[MDM]

I just got my Markham tooth bar. Very nice. The problem is it is 1/4" shorter than it is supposed to be. I realize it is supposed to be 1/4" shorter than the inside dimension, but mine is an additional 1/4" short of that, meaning it is actually 1/2" short. Inside dimension of my bucket is 58 3/8", the bar is 57 7/8". I don't want to bother them for .25".

Would it hurt anything to make up the difference be shimming it out with washers?

 

[RoyJackson]

I just got my Markham tooth bar. Very nice. The problem is it is 1/4" shorter than it is supposed to be. I realize it is supposed to be 1/4" shorter than the inside dimension, but mine is an additional 1/4" short of that, meaning it is actually 1/2" short. Inside dimension of my bucket is 58 3/8", the bar is 57 7/8". I don't want to bother them for .25".

Would it hurt anything to make up the difference be shimming it out with washers?

Not at all...I shim mine all the time. I have about ¼" clearance on both sides.
Just find a couple of nice flat washers about 1/8th to 3/16th's thick. Buy a few spares while you're there.

 

[IslandTractor]

You don't even need to bother with shims. Just tighten the bolt until it draws the attachment tongue to the bucket wall. You can easily bend the thing into submission just with your socket wrench.

 

[RoyJackson]

You don't even need to bother with shims. Just tighten the bolt until it draws the attachment tongue to the bucket wall. You can easily bend the thing into submission just with your socket wrench.

Very true, and I've done it. It did make mine a bit harder to install, so I hammered the attaching arm straight again. However, that won't necessarily be the case with MDM's tooth bar.
BTW, my tooth bar is on and off frequently. I just want to keep it an easy on-off situation...

 

[johnk]

Mine was a little short also. In this case it is better a little short than long. I welded a couple of 2x2 1/4 inch steel to both sides of the groove. It would be ok without the spacers but I feel better with them.

 

[IslandTractor]

I see from JohnK's photo that Markham has started using a slot rather than a round hole on the attachment tab/tongue. That is nice as it will make measurement for drilling the hole in the side of the bucket less critical.

 

[RoyJackson]

I see from JohnK's photo that Markham has started using a slot rather than a round hole on the attachment tab/tongue. That is nice as it will make measurement for drilling the hole in the side of the bucket less critical.

And will allow for pivoting the tooothbar up for back dragging.

 

[johnk]

I never really tried to flip it up while it was on there. I'd say the slots are about2" long so it probably will. When I get to it I'll let yous' know. It is better a little short { At least it will fit} then to long. I ordered one a couple years ago for my other tractor and it was a very snug fit. Almost had to beat it on with a hammer. They probably got complaints and if it was 1/16 too wide it was a lot of trouble to get it to fit. Won't hurt anything being short, I just wanted to fire up the welder and tack the 2 little plates on. Good release when you get home from work...

 

[Glowplug]

I guess I got kinda lucky, mine just slid right in. I guess there probably are a few millimeters clearance on each side. But, as stated above, much better to have it slightly too short than too long.

There was some discussion a while back on the slotted hole. Someone actually had called Markham and asked about it. The reasoning is that it's for a margin of error. Melissa had told someone here that it's because us guys get so excited when we get our toothbars we are so quick to try to install them that sometimes our drilled hole may be off by a millimeter or so. So the slot allows us guys to be guys. . .like children on Christmas morning with a new toy!!

 

[wushaw]

I did as johnk did by welding shims to the bar so it would fit better without bending the tabs.

 

[rosey]

When I installed mine I simply slid the tooth bar onto the bucket...took my sledge and tapped the mounting tabs until they were flush (with the sides of the bucket) then drilled and tightly bolted....worked for me. My toothbar stays permanently mounted.