Toothbar spacing

[JRF]

I recently purchased a new FEL with a 60" bucket. I want to build a toothbar for it. What distance between the teeth would be the best? It seems that at some point, the teeth would become less effective. It seems that most toothbars are in the 8"-10" range. Would 6" between the teeth be o.k?
I want to install a 2" receiver on the top of the bucket in the center for various attachments and would like to keep the exact center (directly under the receiver) open for bracing a boom pole and want to space my teeth accordingly.
Your opinions and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
JRF

 

[ampsucker]

i'm interested in this, too. anybody with practical experience on what works best?

i'm thinking of using hardened sickle bar mower tooth guides available at my hardware/farm supply store for about 5 bucks a piece welded to a piece of angle. i think they might do a good job on my little bx bucket.

amp

 

[EaTmYtAiLpIpEs]

I picked up a tooth bar off ebay for $70 it was a 5ft one i think. I cut it down to 48" and I love it. tractor is up at my camp I can get measurements for you this weekend. Here are 2 pics of it.

 

[3RRL]

Depends how you want to use the toothbar.
From what I've seen (we have 2 toothbars), the less teeth allows better digging (penetration) into hard surfaces easier than more teeth. And more teeth serve better to help pick up branches, debris and even rocks when trying to get that stuff into the bucket, even using a grapple. Mine are about 10" apart on one and 8" on the other.

 

[jjmarotz]

Be careful there ampsucker, those guide teeth are NOT made for impact and extreme use, only guiding foliage into a certain place. They are cast and therefor brittle for digging and strain. If used for branches and such they will be fine, for digging they will snap like crazy, thus wasting your time and money.

 

[ampsucker]

thanks for the tip. they do look a little smaller than what others are using, but the ones i am looking at seem to be hardened steel. if they are cast, i will definitely look elsewhere. i won't want anything too major since the digging and lifting force on the bucket doesn't justify it and i don't want to loose the ability to get in close to things when i have the teeth mounted.

thanks,

amp

 

[chickenman]

look into ripper points as used on box blades

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[arrow]

Much will have to do with your tractors traction. I have a 54" bucket on my 20 hp JD. My toothbar has 7 teeth with 7" between teeth and this combo has had little trouble with digging. My ag tires are loaded and chained. Markum Welding has a standard 5 teeth for this width bucket but it is not just simply the width of the bucket that establishes proper teeth spacing as explained above