Opinions wanted - tractor bucket?

[Daver]

I recently bought a tractor that already has a nice bucket on it. However, the bucket has a smooth edge, no teeth. I know from using Bobcats in the past, that the tooth buckets are far superior to the smooth buckets when you are digging in the dirt, but the smooth buckets have their role too.

My question is this...as opposed to buying a second bucket, with teeth, I found a source for "add-on" teeth. The add-on's are bolted onto the smooth bucket, so they could be removed too if you want to go back to a smooth bucket.

What experiences/opinions do tractor users/owners have related to smooth v. tooth buckets and how they use their buckets? Do I even need a tooth bucket? (I think I do, but I am basing that off of Bobcat work I have done, maybe on a tractor it is a non-factor.)

Has anyone used the teeth add-on's? And if so, did they work well, etc? TIA.

 

[flugge]

We use the teeth add ons here at work... the positive is, if you wreck some, you can replace them easier than fixing a bucket... They are only as good as the bolts you use too..Im not much more help than that

 

[HorseDoctor]

I think it probably depends on what you are going to do with the bucket. As far as grubbing brush, I have been looking at the "Ratchet Rake" system as a possible ad-on for my bucket. It has pretty good reviews but the double teeth setup might not work so well for just digging dirt.

 

[Mr. Deeds]

I've used them on a couple skidloaders removing tree stumps from the ground, removing a basement foundation from a control burn on a house, and digging out and moving large rocks. Never broke one, or had any problems.

 

[Daver]

We use the teeth add ons here at work... the positive is, if you wreck some, you can replace them easier than fixing a bucket... They are only as good as the bolts you use too..Im not much more help than that

The mechanism that I was looking at is a whole row of teeth that lays along the front of the smooth bucket and is then bolted through the sidewalls of the bucket. It's one piece essentially. It sounds like what you are describing is individual teeth mounted to the bucket.

Grubbing brush is one of the things that I have used tooth buckets for...but on a skid loader. I really don't know if I will be able to be as nimble back and forth with a tractor as I am with a skid loader. But I would like to be able to knock brush out of my CRP with the bucket on my tractor if that is feasible.

 

[Mr. Deeds]

I'm not sure if I would like that. Fear of bending the bracket or any other structural damage. The ones that I am personally familiar with each have their own hole drilled in the bucket and mount with a bolt like whats stated above by flugge. They seem pretty durable.

 

[goatman]

Sounds like a good idea. My fear with me running it I would have the bucket tore up. How heavy built is your bucket? Keep us posted.

 

[flugge]

One big piece of teeth sounds like problems waiting to happen to me. The ones I use are in 6 inch sections on our Case Backhoe. I use it in limestone, grading rock, digging in ditches. Its used as a construction backhoe, and obviously limestone has been the hardest on it. I have used it to grub trees, and LOVED having the teeth as long as you can get some bite. The pieces have been a lot simpler for me to work with and repair, as opposed to one big piece... keep us posted what you do!