Bucket Tooth Bar for 1000 series 120 FEL

Tooth bar - YES!

To me, a tooth bar is the #1 necessary add-on to a FEL. For the money, it's an amazing force multiplier. Aside from radically improved digging ability, it increases effective bucket capacity with both lumpy (boulders, logs) and loose (dirt, chips) loads. Also provides a handy place to hang stuff out front of the bucket, e.g. if you want to avoid crashing into the radiator. Provides an extended point for popping out roots, etc. Indispensable, IMO.

I have the 49" bucket due to space constraints, and also because it does apply more force per inch. Bought a TB from Iowa Farm Equipment that turned out to be made by W.R. Long. It's the best-made TB I've owned, and possibly the best I've seen. Will post pix at some point.

I recommend measuring your own bucket inside width, in case they vary. Take into account that metal thickness changes in different areas of the loader blade, and that the TB mounting tabs go pretty far back inside. Better to go narrow, since the tabs (at least mine) easily bend outward 1/8~1/4". From experience, I recommend covering any extra bolt thread with more nuts, to make sure the threads aren't damaged in use.

I was able to position the bolts over an area of metal that is 1/8" thick, without any weld beads or other issues. That meant I could use an ordinary 3/8" drill to make pilot holes, then a 3/4" Greenlee punch to make the full-size mounting holes. There might be an easier way, but I had the punch around from another project. I did have to use a bench grinder to get the outside flat washers installed, as a weld bead runs close by.

-kq

I think the best deal now is a WR Long TB, you can only buy through a dealer (They will not sell direct) or online at http://iowafarmequipment.com/bucket_tooth_bar.html

Main advantages are improved cutting/digging, easier to pop root/rocks out of the ground, and a strengthened lower edge while doing serious work.

I will definitely be adding a toothbar in the spring. IMHO it is a must with a FEL. I just got Deere's Compact Tractor Attachments and Accessories catalog in the mail today with a coupon for $20 off a $100 purchase (How generous seeing how I just spent how much?:lol::lol and I see Deere is only offering a toothbar for the 61" bucket and larger. No idea on price. Please keep us posted on what you do.:thumbup1gif:

OK, I'll be contrary and play Devil's advocate here. If you use your bucket to back-drag dirt to smooth it out, the toothbar can be a pain. If you need to scoop rock from the landscaping company that was dumped out of the street, the toothbar will prevent the bucket's cutting edge from getting onto the pavement.

However; as others have said, they work wonders for digging and other things requiring point load force be applied. I have one, and I'm glad I do; but I don't use it much right now.

ColonyPark said:

I will definitely be adding a toothbar in the spring. IMHO it is a must with a FEL. I just got Deere's Compact Tractor Attachments and Accessories catalog in the mail today with a coupon for $20 off a $100 purchase (How generous seeing how I just spent how much?:lol::lol and I see Deere is only offering a toothbar for the 61" bucket and larger. No idea on price. Please keep us posted on what you do.:thumbup1gif:

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The ones JD sells are marketed towards their skid-steer loaders, thats why the 61" is the smallest one. They are to heavy and pricey anyway.

I have two of the small clip on mini tool belts, that I clip onto the top of the loader mast. Among other things, I keep two large crescent wrenches. I have found having tools at your fingertips really helps with reconfiguring the tractor. If I had to go back to the carriage house to add or remove the toothbar, I would probably make due.

Here are the other tools I keep on the loader mast. Two chainsaw wedges, a claw hammer, a pen, ear plugs, linesman pliers, gardening pruners, a folding saw and a couple of other things that I am forgetting. My ballast box has two 40mm ammo cans, one is more extensive toolbox and the other is my chain box with two 20 foot 3/8" chains, a brush grubber and other miscellaneous chain accessories. No matter what I encounter in the woods, I have a tool to deal with it right there with me.

BethesdaEC said:

I have two of the small clip on mini tool belts, that I clip onto the top of the loader mast. Among other things, I keep two large crescent wrenches. I have found having tools at your fingertips really helps with reconfiguring the tractor. If I had to go back to the carriage house to add or remove the toothbar, I would probably make due.

Here are the other tools I keep on the loader mast. Two chainsaw wedges, a claw hammer, a pen, ear plugs, linesman pliers, gardening pruners, a folding saw and a couple of other things that I am forgetting. My ballast box has two 40mm ammo cans, one is more extensive toolbox and the other is my chain box with two 20 foot 3/8" chains, a brush grubber and other miscellaneous chain accessories. No matter what I encounter in the woods, I have a tool to deal with it right there with me.

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BEC, Are you hiding photos of this stuff in another thread?:unknown:

RandyM said:

BEC, Are you hiding photos of this stuff in another thread?:unknown:

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I will take some pictures this weekend and put together a 2520 Mod thread. I have some very nice mods, some simple, some more complicated.

BethesdaEC said:

I will take some pictures this weekend and put together a 2520 Mod thread. I have some very nice mods, some simple, some more complicated.

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Yeah ok, sure.
Randy made me do it!

mjncad said:

OK, I'll be contrary and play Devil's advocate here. If you use your bucket to back-drag dirt to smooth it out, the toothbar can be a pain. If you need to scoop rock from the landscaping company that was dumped out of the street, the toothbar will prevent the bucket's cutting edge from getting onto the pavement.

However; as others have said, they work wonders for digging and other things requiring point load force be applied. I have one, and I'm glad I do; but I don't use it much right now.

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I could not decide on the toothbar or the BH. The wife made me buy the BH, again.:lol:

BethesdaEC said:

I will take some pictures this weekend and put together a 2520 Mod thread. I have some very nice mods, some simple, some more complicated.

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Please post a link here to the new thread when you start it so we can easily find it. Thanks!

Gizmo2 said:

I could not decide on the toothbar or the BH. The wife made me buy the BH, again.:lol:

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Smart woman making sure you got a serious digging tool.

I was hoping to see some pictures

I'm going to price a Long tooth bar from my dealer. At least it has good feedback here on the forum.

Thanks for the advice and pro vs. cons.

Another option is to add 5 or 6 bolt on teeth:

http://www.augerteethonline.com/bucket4.htm
Bobcat Bolt-On Tooth
Part#: PS1868B
$7.59

PROS:
- a heck of lot cheaper to buy/ship
- individually replaceable

CONS:
- more holes to drill (2 vs 10/12).
- more nuts and bolts to tighten/remove.
- does not strengthen bucket edge as a toothbar might.
- wont flip up and back like a correctly installed toothbar might when bolts are loosened.

dmay said:

Another option is to add 5 or 6 bolt on teeth:

http://www.augerteethonline.com/bucket4.htm
Bobcat Bolt-On Tooth
Part#: PS1868B
$7.59

PROS:
- a heck of lot cheaper to buy/ship
- individually replaceable

CONS:
- more holes to drill (2 vs 10/12).
- more nuts and bolts to tighten/remove.
- does not strengthen bucket edge as a toothbar might.
- wont flip up and back like a correctly installed toothbar might when bolts are loosened.

Click to expand...

That's a very good point. I appreciate your input.

My dealer quoted me a good price on a WRLong tooth bar today. Still haven't decided what to do yet.

I'll keep the forum posted with a review (with pictures of course ) of whatever I get.

mjncad said:

Please post a link here to the new thread when you start it so we can easily find it. Thanks!

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As promised here are my mods.

http://www.greentractortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?2740-As-Promised-2520-Mods&p=21353#post21353

dieselshadow said:

That's a very good point. I appreciate your input.

My dealer quoted me a good price on a WRLong tooth bar today. Still haven't decided what to do yet.

I'll keep the forum posted with a review (with pictures of course ) of whatever I get.

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Oh yeah, pictures there is a novel idea. Actually, I have a WRLong bar and love it, well I like it a lot. :mocking:
What is really nice is that only a couple of bolts need to be removed to unmount it. Here are some shots of my bar.

Thanks for the pictures Randy

WR Long tooth bar pictures

Here are a few that might be helpful to someone.

Note that on the 1026R 49" FEL bucket, putting the mounting bolts in a position where the bar could be loosened and flipped up would require drilling through two different thicknesses of metal in the same circle, not so easy with ordinary home tools. I placed the two bolts entirely in 1/8" metal, which made it easy with a Greenlee punch. This still required grinding the flat washers to clear a weld bead.

You can also see that the two tabs are made to bend outward, so a slight undersizing will ensure possible fit. With the JD's thin metal, however, the bucket did most of the bending. I'd order less undersize, perhaps 1/8" or so instead of 3/8" - Long/Iowa Farm Equipment delivered an exact measurement, no safety clearance needed.

Really well-made tooth bar - I'm quite pleased with it.

Kimqi thanks for the pictures!

Is this the flat bottom toothbar that WRLong advertises? It doesn't appear that way in the pictures.