bucket level indicator

[repete]

These are what I use:

 

[nickc]

nice to have, don’t really use it much in the dirt. very helpful when lifting and loading pallets.

 

[Aquamoose]

Good points everyone is making. I decided to forge ahead and design & make them. I hope to keep the costs down and add another “level” feature so you could choose between a level relative to the ground and a level relative to the tractor. It’ll be hardwired too. Just a matter of finding indicator lights that’s bright enough in daylight.

 

[TMGT]

Here’s a wild idea. I’m an electronic engineer and it just came to me as an idea which I’d like your feedback on…

A battery operated two-part device connected via cable and is a bucket level indicator with colored LED lights on a second device mounted on the loader arms (or near the operator station) showing the current level via 5 LEDs arrayed vertically. Center could indicate 0° while others read 2°, -2°, 5°, -5° on either side.

It would sleep when motionless, awaken when moved to preserve battery life, could be dampened so the electronic “pendulum” wouldn’t swing wildly, and very simple to use.

Is this worth pursuing?

Ive thought about doing this before but it needs to be referenced to the bucket/forks in relation to the tractor or loader arms rather then relation to level. I'm rarely working on level ground.
I haven't found a compact, durable scale (linear or rotary) that is affordable enough to make it work yet, plus I'm not smart enough to make the control side of it from scratch.

 

[Aquamoose]

Someone had a similar approach some time back.

Here is the thread about it: Electronic bucket level Indicator, Now with Auto Level STOP Control

That guy is amazing!!! Thanks for the link!

 

[oosik]

I've never found it to be that useful. However - when I got the grapple - the level indicator bracket became a good place to attach the bungee cords. Keeps my long hydraulic lines up and in a safe place.

 

[Boss 302]

That some good popcorn

 

[ruffdog]

I wonder if a person could make one from 2 sizes of pex tubing, one inside the other. The tubing flexes so it could bend and be routed tight to the loader arm.

 

[hube2]

I use mine in winter. The one for my tractor is not very good to be honest, but I can use it when needed. I use my bucket for moving piles of snow and on rare occasions when I don't get enough for the blower I use the bucket as a plow. I have edge tamers for the bucket but it is still important to know when the bucket is level so I don't plow up my grass and stone driveway. I've found that it is very difficult to judge the angle of my bucket from the seat without it. While it's a PITA to use it does a better job than my eye and it does reduce the time it takes me to plow. I would like a better one, but I was unable to find the time to fabricate something better over the summer so I'll need to use the one I have for another winter.

 

[Tony H]

I don't have one on my backhoe but I can see the bucket better. When I hop in my neighbors Kubota, it helps. I bet it would be very handy when using a snowplow. Getting that angle correct makes a difference from gliding over or gouging in. Especially the snow plows without the front chain float