How Do Bucket Teeth Attach to a Bucket?

Whether you're a landscaper, farmer, construction worker, or logger, a bucket with teeth attached to your backhoe or excavator can save you time and money by digging faster and more efficiently. The little metal teeth cling to the surface of the bucket and allow you to grip objects during operation.

Bucket teeth are part of a class of parts called Ground Engaging Tools, or G.E.T. These metal components come in different shapes and sizes to meet a variety of job site requirements, but the core function is to penetrate and sever earth and debris for moving or removing it.
One of the most important considerations when selecting and installing bucket teeth is how they'll be mounted to the bucket shank. There are two main types of mounting systems: the roll pin and flex pin. The roll pin is a vertically mounted steel pin that must be pounded through the top of the bucket tooth and onto the adapter shank. Roll pins are not re-useable and must be replaced with each new tooth installation.

The flex pin system mounts the tooth with a flexible piece of neoprene that is sandwiched between the steel forgings. This type of bucket tooth requires less hammering to install and remove, but is more likely to lose its alignment over time and may require manual adjustment. When the flex pin is installed, it's best to use a punch tool that fits perfectly to the pin to avoid putting too much pressure on the punch, which could cause it to split and detach from the bucket tooth.