Bucket level indicator rod---useful?

[buck12]

I broke mine (my fault) with only a few hours on my tractor. i broke the mount part that pivots on the loader arm. One of these days I will get around to fixing it. But I did use it much on my last tractor.

 

[npalen]

A method of leveling the bucket with the ground is to drop the bucket to the ground and then hit the tilt lever. Its easy to visually tell by rocking the tilt back and forth a time or two if the bucket is flat on the ground surface. Might be even easier if the loader is in float mode but I don't find that necessary.

 

[Bearsixty7]

A method of leveling the bucket with the ground is to drop the bucket to the ground and then hit the tilt lever. Its easy to visually tell by rocking the tilt back and forth a time or two if the bucket is flat on the ground surface. Might be even easier if the loader is in float mode but I don't find that necessary.

LS uses a bent rod through the loop. I set mine up so that when the peak of the bend is in the loop, that is level when the loader is on the ground.
While your method would work, it is too slow.

After I dump a bucket of material and I am travelling back to the pile to get another scoop, I will level the bucket using the rod while the loader is off the ground a couple feet. As I approach the pile of material I start lowering the loader only as the bucket is already set for level. This helps me be the most efficient.

 

[npalen]

LS uses a bent rod through the loop. I set mine up so that when the peak of the bend is in the loop, that is level when the loader is on the ground.
While your method would work, it is too slow.

After I dump a bucket of material and I am travelling back to the pile to get another scoop, I will level the bucket using the rod while the loader is off the ground a couple feet. As I approach the pile of material I start lowering the loader only as the bucket is already set for level. This helps me be the most efficient.

But, but I'm trying to make my tractor time last as long as possible!

 

[Bearsixty7]

But, but I'm trying to make my tractor time last as long as possible!

LOL! I understand.
I just often like to challenge myself to see how efficient I can get with some things, like manipulating the bucket and the boom while moving. The Hydraulics on the MT240 are pretty low at 8gpm so doing both smoothly is a challenge, seems there is a small sweet spot to get both to move.

 

[npalen]

LOL! I understand.
I just often like to challenge myself to see how efficient I can get with some things, like manipulating the bucket and the boom while moving. The Hydraulics on the MT240 are pretty low at 8gpm so doing both smoothly is a challenge, seems there is a small sweet spot to get both to move.

Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach

I've been filling these cold winter days with fabbing and testing this bucket level indicator. It's an idea from a friend in New York State who built and has been using his for about 10 years. He used connecting rods rather than the 1/16" cable on mine. No particular reason for cable other...

www.tractorbynet.com

And I understand where you're coming from--The thread above attempts to take bucket leveling to the max.

 

[oosik]

I used it when scraping up the very bottom of a pile of "something". Bent the crap out of it when the grapple was installed. Never replaced it. Never put the bucket back on the FEL once the grapple was installed either.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach

I've been filling these cold winter days with fabbing and testing this bucket level indicator. It's an idea from a friend in New York State who built and has been using his for about 10 years. He used connecting rods rather than the 1/16" cable on mine. No particular reason for cable other...

www.tractorbynet.com

And I understand where you're coming from--The thread above attempts to take bucket leveling to the max.

Wow! that is going to the next level! (Pun intended)

 

[RidgeHiker]

It is often helpful. Since it is not easy to see the top of the bucket without leaning over it gives an approximate idea of where it is relative to the tractor (rather than the ground) and usually go by feel after that. Generally do not need precision. For moving snow I generally refer to it when I am moving back in position after dumping the bucket. Also helps that I have 3 Edge Tamers on my 72" bucket.

 

[wolc123]

I use it just about every time I use the loader. It is real handy when pushing up the snow piles at the end of our driveways and when using forks bolted to the bottom of my bucket.

 

[Cougsfan]

I have had several over the years and used them all. Some seem to be better than others. I think it is in how the linkage is set up. It is best to have maximum swing in the linkage at or near the level position. The one on my new Branson doesn't seem to be as accurate or repeatable as the one had n my old Ferguson.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have my level indicator adjusted for my pallet forks, and it gets me close. I can see the flat top plate on my bucket, so I don't use the indicator most of the time.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I use it all the time with my bucket, particularly on any kind of driveway maintenance where I'm looking to scrape, not dig, my (gravel and/or mud) driveway.

Don't really need it with the grapple whose bottom tines I can eyeball for root raking or whatever.

Of course in my case I've never _not_ had an indicator so I don't know what life is like without it. I haven't had any trouble with any activity or attachment breaking my indicator.

 

[WranglerX]

I just have to wonder how one breaks a bucket level indicator....

Dale

 

[kenmbz]

I just have to wonder how one breaks a bucket level indicator....

Dale

With a Tractor !

 

[Bearsixty7]

I just have to wonder how one breaks a bucket level indicator....

Dale

I bent mine in the woods at my dads. I was backing up and a limb caught it while I was looking backwards. Luckily it wasn't bent to bad and I got it fairly well straightened.

 

[BravoXray]

Here is an indicator I made for my BX. I had all the parts and material, and iy only took a couple of hours to fabricate, paint and install.

 

[Emainiac]

I use mine all the time. The rod and holder are painted black, so I painted the top portion of the rod white so when the bucket is level, the white portion is flush with the holder.

It does not always align perfectly when I have my stump bucket or forks on, but it gives me an idea of positioning, which is important when using the forks since I cannot see the tips of my forks from my seat.

 

[al3]

I just have to wonder how one breaks a bucket level indicator....

Dale

How? Operator error, of course. With the possible exception of an electrical gremlin, all damage to my tractor and implements can be traced back to the guy in the seat.

Was doing spring cleanup on the 40+, had forks installed to move tree trunks and some pretty substantial limbs to the burn pile. From the damage/bends, I’d assume that the upper tube assembly the rod slides thru got impinged. Most likely one of the limbs was jammed against the tube when I attempted to curl/dump.

If you take a close look at the original pic, you can see a slight bend about 7 inches from the top, below the yellow bands I’d painted on. That area was seized in the tube assembly; had to use a piece of rebar and a hammer to remove. Guessing that the lower Big Bend (my apologies to all the Texans out there) was a result of that top seizure. Just a guess.

And being cursed with the need to fix every nonfunctional thing in my shop, here’s a pic of the pretty-much straightened rod, complete with a new orange tip.

 

[buck12]

I just have to wonder how one breaks a bucket level indicator....

Dale

It’s not hard to do when the operator attempts to use a tractor instead of a bulldozer. Actually it did not take that big of limb to break mine. It was my fault.