Front-End Loader Toothbar on FEL bucket

[rkhpapa]

I use the bucket on my FEL quite a bit to "regrade" potholes on a gravel road.
Unless I do it right after a rain, that gravel is pretty well packed and hard to scrape. Would a toothbar help with this?
Also, if I keep the toothbar on the bucket all of the time, will it affect my ability to backdrag?
Recommendations for the right toothbar are welcome...my machine is an L4400 with a 6 foot bucket.
Thanks,
Rich

 

[flusher]

I use the bucket on my FEL quite a bit to "regrade" potholes on a gravel road.
Unless I do it right after a rain, that gravel is pretty well packed and hard to scrape. Would a toothbar help with this?
Also, if I keep the toothbar on the bucket all of the time, will it affect my ability to backdrag?
Recommendations for the right toothbar are welcome...my machine is an L4400 with a 6 foot bucket.
Thanks,
Rich

The Kubota B7510HST I had a few years ago had a Markham toothbar on the bucket. A big help in digging.



To backdrag, I just curled the bucket up to get the teeth pointing at 30-45 degrees above horizontal and use the bottom of the bucket. No problem.

 

[teg]

I think it's recommended to backdrag with the heal (back part) of the bucket only. If you use the front (like I do most of the time) you run the risk of bending your piston rods. Anyone, please correct me if this is wrong advice... but it's what I remember reading in some older threads.

Markham toothbar is recomended highly - http://www.markhamwelding.com/content/view/16/32/

And yes, this will help breakup hard packed gravel so you can smooth it out. Puts lots of pressure on a small area.

PS. I have NEVER seen a used tooth bar for sale!!! I think that means "something", but not sure

 

[NSBound]

............that gravel is pretty well packed and hard to scrape. Would a toothbar help with this?
Also, if I keep the toothbar on the bucket all of the time, will it affect my ability to backdrag? Rich

I've heard the same thing about backdragging, I did some with my FEL this summer using the heel, and it worked fine, gave me nice smooth results. The toothbar is more for forward-motion earth-engagement or digging a bit. What might be worth more investigation for levelling your driveway would be a box blade. Some like it, some don't, but I found mine very, very, very useful (that's 3 verys!). I'd say why not get both - for $1000 you'll have the best 2 tools there are (after the FEL) - the toothbar and a box blade.

 

[dirt clod]

I put one on my L3300. I just bought a M5700, the toothbar is one of the 1st things I'm going to buy for it. Had tooth bar on l3300 for a couple years, have never had a need or desire to remove. As for as back dragging I think the best way is to use the bucket level full of dirt in float, works fine with tooth bar. markham is great guy to deal with.

 

[bpattie]

My opinion that of the options a box blade with ripper teeth/scarifiers would be the most effective tool for the job. That is what they are designed for. and like some of you I improvise and use the less efficient implement to do a non frequent task. I have read many of the warning about using front bucket for back dragging, but expect it is like most things, it depends on how aggressive you are doing it. if you are set an inch or two off the ground and the soil is loose I don't think it does any harm. At least I have been doing that for years without a problem.

 

[Ken45101]

I think the most effective way to back drag is with the bucket bottom flat, that gives a flatter surface without the heel digging in. It also put less stress on the loader. The most gentle approach is with the loader in "float mode". If you want more down pressure in float mode, get a scoop full of dirt or gravel in the bucket for more downpressure.

I only have a toothbar on the skidsteer and yes, it does leave grooves from the teeth. If I really want a smooth job, I remove the toothbar.

And yes, a toothbar makes a world of difference in digging into hard surfaces, a difference of night and day.

I think you can get toothbars which do not hang below the bucket. That would give a smoother backdrag, but probably isn't as strong.

Ken

 

[rkhpapa]

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I should have said up front that I have a york rake with a scarifier and a grader blade to smooth things out afterward...hence the box blade doesn't make a lot of sense for me right now.
What I really need is something that will take a small area down 6-8" to regrade over the potholes and it looks like the toothbar will do that.
Thanks again to all who took the time to respond.
Rich