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Bucket Help Please

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Reuben Frazier

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Mar 25, 2019
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145
Location
NE Texas
I’m needing some advice if anyone has a little to spare. I have a CAT 299 D3 and I’m trying to decide which bucket to install teeth on. I have a standard CAT bucket and a new 80” CAT MP bucket with cutting edge to choose from and I’m torn as to which bucket to install a set of teeth on. I rarely use a bucket but since I had 2 of them I figured I might as well have some teeth on one. Any thoughts?
 
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Delmer

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I figure the teeth go on the narrower and heavier duty bucket. You're going to be using the teeth for digging in tougher conditions, so you want the stouter bucket. Use the wider one for fine grading, spreading, etc.

Or does multi purpose mean it's a 4 in 1 bucket? In that case what's the width of the other bucket?
 
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Delmer

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That makes it tricky. probably doesn't matter too much though. Do you like to use the MP bucket to grade with the bucket open a bit to control the depth? that would be the only reason I wouldn't want the teeth on the MP bucket, if that was more useful to you for grading and final cleanup type stuff than having the MP bucket for grubbing, piling and heavy digging where you'd want the teeth.
 
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Tags

Senior Member
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Feb 19, 2012
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Connecticut
I have a tooth bar on an 84" 4n1 Construction Attachments bucket and have never removed it. If you need to clean up material off a hard surface like concrete or asphalt, I open the bucket and use either the smooth edge on the jaw or the smooth edge on the "dozer" side.
 
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Welder Dave

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I think the standard bucket will dig better than the 4 in 1 and if you're digging heavy clay will lift more because the bucket is lighter. How do the teeth attach? If they bolt on could use them on either bucket.
 
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Reuben Frazier

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Mar 25, 2019
Messages
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Location
NE Texas
Thanks for the input guys, the teeth are bolt on’s and I could easily move them if I wanted to so I think I’m going to try to put them on the 4n1 bucket.
 
KSSS

KSSS

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Feb 27, 2005
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excavation
I have an 84" Bradco that I put a tooth bar on. I typically buy extended lip buckets and typically Virnig. However for a tooth bucket I think there are some things to consider. The times that you need a tooth bucket are for obviously hard digging. The teeth extend the lip of the bucket out further, this increase in tip radius reduces the machines bucket breakout. The Bradco that I put the tooth bar on is a shorter lipped bucket, but by the time you factor the length of the teeth you are essential at an extended lip configuration ( so if you put teeth on an extended lip bucket you are further reducing breakout when you need it the most). Your Cat I think has around 7K in breakout, which is factored typically with a shorter lipped bucket (provides a more impressive breakout number, which is common). To maximize what breakout you have, I would consider the length of the bottom of the bucket with teeth on it. If your working your machine in tough breakout conditions, it can matter.
 
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Reuben Frazier

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Mar 25, 2019
Messages
145
Location
NE Texas
KSSS said:
I have an 84" Bradco that I put a tooth bar on. I typically buy extended lip buckets and typically Virnig. However for a tooth bucket I think there are some things to consider. The times that you need a tooth bucket are for obviously hard digging. The teeth extend the lip of the bucket out further, this increase in tip radius reduces the machines bucket breakout. The Bradco that I put the tooth bar on is a shorter lipped bucket, but by the time you factor the length of the teeth you are essential at an extended lip configuration ( so if you put teeth on an extended lip bucket you are further reducing breakout when you need it the most). Your Cat I think has around 7K in breakout, which is factored typically with a shorter lipped bucket (provides a more impressive breakout number, which is common). To maximize what breakout you have, I would consider the length of the bottom of the bucket with teeth on it. If your working your machine in tough breakout conditions, it can matter.
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Well brother you took that to another level lol, great info and I appreciate your time and opinion. To be honest I rarely use a bucket but I will look at them tomorrow to see what your referring to and report back. “Weather Permitting” it’s a swamp here
 
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RTSmith

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Oct 23, 2008
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Middle Tenn.
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I figure the regular bucket can hold more than the MP. When I am seriously digging like with teeth, I'd like to stay in the cut and fill it up. So bigger capacity gets my vote And yes, They unbolt, but it seems to be rare we want to take the time to do so....
 
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RTSmith

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Oct 23, 2008
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I do find it interesting Cat suggested a 80". I have a 289D with wide tracks and they suggested a 78". When I got a 299D3 with wide tracks they suggested a 83". Looking at them side by side the 83" has noticeably higher back for more volume. Data tag on it shows .89 yard as I recall.
 
Canuck Digger

Canuck Digger

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Since the 4 in1 is kinda like a do it all bucket, perhaps I'd put the teeth on that one. Leave the other one for grading/bulk material handling only. I think a lot of it depends on the type of work you do most.
 
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Tags

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Feb 19, 2012
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On the CTLs I like having the bucket wider than the machine by a couple of inches, I feel it stops a lot of material from falling on to the tracks when digging.
 
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