toolsTooth Identifier

HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR DIGGING TEETH

Replacing your worn-out digging teeth can sometimes feel challenging, especially with so many options on the market. It’s also sometimes difficult to determine which tooth system you are currently using, as well as the profile and correct sizing of the tooth.

Cutting Edge Supply is here to help you determine the correct replacement part with this handy Tooth Identifier guide.

Steps To Identify and Unknown Tooth

Step 1

Look for a part number on the tooth or shank. Part numbers are often stamped or cast into the tooth. Many brands position the number in a location that does not wear, like near the base or inside of the pocket.

Step 2

How does the tooth lock onto the shank or adapter? What hardware or retainer type is used to secure the tooth?

The most common is either a side pin, diagonal pin or top pin. Alternatively, there can be proprietary hardware, such as newer CAT and ESCO systems that have unique locking mechanisms like a wedge or oblong insert.

You can use our Tooth Identifier chart below to see more examples of the most common tooth systems in the industry, and view Teeth Identifying Photos here.
SIDE ROUND ROUND PIN & RING RECTANGULAR POCKET CAT J SERIES / CAT R SERIES WE OFFER
TOP NOTCH IN TOP SIDE WEDGE PIN & LOCK SPRING HAS TABS/ FLANGES CAT K SERIES OEM ONLY
DIAG OBLONG OR ROUND ROUND PIN & RING PIN INSTALLS RIGHT SIDE FACING BUCKET CAT DRS WE OFFER
SIDE NUBS ON SIDE NO HOLES INCLUDED IN TOOTH LOCK TURNS TO CLICK CAT ADVANSYS OEM ONLY
DIAG OBLONG OR ROUND ROUND PIN & RING PIN INSTALLS LEFT/TOP SIDE FACING BUCKET H&L RHOMBIC WE OFFER
TOP RECTANGLE STEEL PIN W/ RUBBER SPRING ARCH ON TOP OF TOOTH OR FLANGE ON LARGER SIZES ESCO CONICAL / SUPER CONICAL WE OFFER
BASE OF TOOTH NO HOLES HORSESHOE RETAINER & CURVED PIN HAS TABS/ FLANGES ESCO HELILOK / VERTALOK WE OFFER
BASE OF TOOTH NO HOLES STEEL PIN W/ RUBBER SPRING HAS TABS/ FLANGES ESCO SUPER V / SV2 WE OFFER
BASE OF TOOTH SQUARE ON SIDE INCLUDED IN TOOTH RETAINER PRIES UP TO CLICK IN PLACE ESCO ULTRALOK WE OFFER
TOP ROUND STEEL ROLL PIN ROUND HOLE HENSLEY PARABOLIC 156 | 160 | 220 WE OFFER
TOP RECTANGLE STEEL W/ RUBBER CENTER FLEXPIN RECTANGULAR HOLE FOR PIN AT TOP HENSLEY PARABOLIC 290 | 330 | 370 | 400 | 410 | 450 WE OFFER
SIDE OBLONG ANVIL SHAPED WITH HEX HEAD PIN CLICKS IN WITH RATCHET WRENCH HENSLEY XS WE OFFER
SIDE TOMBSTONE / BULLET OBLONG SHAPE WITH HEX HEAD PIN CLICKS IN WITH RATCHET WRENCH HENSLEY GETPRO WE OFFER
TOP ROUND ROUND PIN & RING SIMIALR TO J-SERIES PIN BUT VERTICAL "5" SERIES HENSLEY 295 | 335 | 385 | 435 | 485 WE OFFER
SIDE OBLONG RECTANGULAR WITH HEX HEAD KOMATSU PROPRIETARY NOT SAME AS XS KOMATSU KMAX OEM ONLY
SIDE OBLONG RECTANGULAR WITH HEX HEAD BACKHOE SIZES ONLY NOT SAME AS XS CASE SMART FIT OEM ONLY
TOP (IN ADAPTER) RECTANGLE STEEL PIN W/ RUBBER SPRING HAS EAR FLANGES MTG KINGMET WE OFFER
SIDE ROUND WITH NOTCH ROUND PIN W/ SOCKET HEAD LARGE SIZE ONLY 5" POCKET AND UP MTG STARMET OEM ONLY
TOP (IN ADAPTER) RECTANGLE STEEL PIN W/ RUBBER SPRING HAS EAR FLANGES, VOLVO OEM VOLVO MET OEM ONLY
SIDE ROUND ROUND PIN & RING LOOKS LIKE J SERIES BUT LARGER HOLES KOMATSU SIDE PIN WE OFFER
SIDE ROUND ROUND PIN & RING NOTCH ON TOP OF TOOTH POCKET DAEWOO DOOSAN OEM ONLY
SIDE ROUND ROUND PIN & RING CUT BACK ANGLE ON REAR OF TEETH HYUNDAI KOBELCO OEM ONLY
SIDE OBLONG STEEL W/ RUBBER CENTER FLEXPIN PIN HOLE IS SOITS HIGHER ON TOOTH COMBI / BOFORS C-LOCK OEM ONLY
TOP RECTANGLE STEEL PIN W/ RUBBER SPRING NOTCHES ON REAR SIDES OF TOOTH COMBI PROCLAW OEM ONLY
SIDE OBLONG STEEL W/ RUBBER CENTER FLEXPIN FLEX PIN, SMALLER SIZES H & L ORIGINAL WE OFFER
TOP OBLONG STEEL W/ RUBBER CENTER FLEX PIN TOP LOAD SMALL TO LARGE SIZE H & L VP SERIES WE OFFER
SIDE ROUND ROUND PIN W/ SOCKET HEAD FITS ON J SERIES (*LOOKS SIMILAR BUT WILL NOT FIT KMAX/XS STYLE) JOHN DEERE TK / RVJ OEM ONLY
REAR ROUND BOLTS ON AT BASE TOOTH & SHANK ARE ONE PIECE UNI-TOOTH WE OFFER
NONE NO HOLES NONE CRIMPS ON BY PINCHING SIDEWALL H&L STYLE CRIMP-ON RIPPER 2A | 3C | 1L | HENSLEY CRIMP-ON WE OFFER
NONE SLOT OR GOORVE IN TOOTH NONE SLIDES ON, HELD ON BY ITS WEDGE SHAPE SCARIFIER WE OFFER

Step 3

Further clues to finding the tooth system include identifying the make and model of the machine and knowing if the bucket is original or a replacement bucket from a different manufacturer. OEMs will often use exclusive systems on their own brand attachments.

Step 4

Finally, measurements and photos of your tooth system can also help solve the mystery.

Measure both the inside and outside dimensions of the tooth pocket — measuring from left-to-right and top-to-bottom. Also, providing the lip thickness of the bucket will point to the correct adapter size.

If you can provide pictures of the tooth pocket, retainer hole and the shank itself, our expert staff can quickly help identify the tooth system.

Once you know the type of tooth you need, you can use our helpful Tooth System Size Conversion chart to see which systems are comparable to what you are currently using.

Tooth Conversion Chart

Best of the Best

We work with top-of-the-line vendors to bring our customers the highest quality of teeth. Our vendors use heat-treated superior steel alloys for optimum strength and performance and have designed a variety of styles to best suit machine and application needs.

VIEW TEETH PARTS HERE

Heavy Duty Wear Upgrades

We also offer Tungsten Carbide Embedding for all digging teeth, which adds hardness to the parent material in the most vulnerable wear areas of the teeth, thus improving performance and prolonging the life of the parts.