How practical is a bucket level indicator?

[mhalla]

I asked these questions under a different thread but then thought it best to ask them again in their own thread after receiving just one reply.

<font color="green"> How practical is a bucket level indicator? I did not order one with my 2210 tractor but might get one to add to my 210 FEL if a family member ever wants to buy a present for me at birthday time or Christmas.

Is it worth having and what I am really curious about how does it work? All I have seen are some pictures showing some kind of rod sticking up on the right side of the loader. None of the tractors at my dealer have one installed. </font>

 

[JC4HD]

I find it very handy... I have painted different marks on mine to indicate different positions on the bucket. Since I have a 4in1 bucket I marked when it is level with the ground closed... and the best dozer angle when the clam is open. some guys with regular buckets level the bucket and hacksaw the rod even with the top of the bracket. Whatever they are handy!

 

[markie61]

Get it! Get it! GET IT! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

It is a distant second-place to an auto-leveling bucket, but is very useful. It's a simple/stupid rod assembly that gives you GOBS of information. It tells you whether the bottom of your bucket is parallel with the plane defined by the bottom of your tires (assuming the loader arms are dropped.)

I couldnt plow snow without it - I'd either roll the bucket too far forward and dig in the driveway or roll too far back and glide the bucket over the snow. I would think it essential for leveling earth without guesswork.

My NH TC40D's loader (16LA) came standard with one. They are so simple, it wouldnt be hard to make one.

Mark

 

[thcri]

My TC29D and 7308 Loader came with one. I took some different color tape and put on the rod and I can pretty much tell where I am with the bucket. To me it is a must less you go with the automatic leveling bucket.

Make one as it would not be that tough and well worth it.

Murph
ps. if you want any pictures of one just let me know, i don't have the camera home tonight, but could take one tuesday

 

[RobS]

I'll take the contrary opinion here and say I wouldn't pay for one but here's why: On my tractor the bucket has a flat top that is parallel with the bottom. I have a great view of this surface from either side so I just glance down to see if the top is level to the surface I'm on.

I suppose I'm really saying I use a bucket level indicator all the time but mine is built in. Check to see if you have a similar feature before adding a seperate gizmo /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Woody1]

I agree with Rob. After some getting used to it, and NOIT haveing one, you can just kinda "feel" with the tractor and watch where the bucket is/goes. I , here on my lil 4 acres and when we had over 2k acres on the farm, never had bucket level rods. Never saw a use for them.
"Become 1 with your machine!"

 

[DK35vince]

I say Get it !
Thats 4 for and 2 against.

 

[BillyP]

Make it 5 for! They're only about 30 bucks /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[mhalla]

<font color="green">
So if I understand correctly, there is nothihng mechanical involved with a bucket level indicator. It is simply a rod or staff that one eyeballs to tell if the bucket is level. Placing tape marks on the indicator allows one to eyeball the rod and return the bucket to frequently used positions.

My question given the above, is what are you eyeballing relative to the marks on the indicator? </font>

 

[gator]

On mine there is a short pipe at the top that holds the rod, the amount of rod above this pipe indicates how the bucket is in relation to the ground. I don't have tape on mine, I use rod length. Hope this helps.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

If you have a JD bucket, you will not need one. As mentioned before, the top edge is level with the bottom. I had one on my 5400 for a short time, until pushing brush and it got ripped off. I haven't needed it since.

 

[thcri]

You can learn to get along with out one. But they are inexpensive and you will like it. I have two neighbors and we trade implements all the time and we also on occasion trade tractors. One of my neighbors has a JD4100 with no bucket so if he needs loader work he just comes over and gets my tractor. He loves the leveler also and if you doing site work it is a lot more acurate than the eye.

murph

 

[cowboydoc]

Get one. It lets you see exactly where your bucket is without having to look all the way down. Once you get used to one you will never go back to not having one.

 

[bigpete]

I had one thrown in with the tractor deal on my 2210 w/210. The mechanic who delivered it suggested that a lot of pros around here use two different colors of florescent paint to paint a color gradient on the rod at a couple of common angles, including level. He described a simple process of sanding to rough up the paint on the end of the rod, marking at a specific angle, masking, and spraying with day-glo orange for level letting it dry and bright white for the perfect digging angle. Of course you could use whatever color provides you the best quick reference for contrast. I'll get around to this little project after I take care of some other bigger issues around the homestead.

 

[jimgerken]

<font color="green"> </font> Buy it. You will do better work in fewer hours with it. I built my own, for the 410 loader. Both the holes I needed were there already, all I had to do was weld a 1" hex bolt on the side of a 3/8" diameter rod of about three feet in length, stick the bolt thru the hole in the bucket-attachment area and nut it with a nylock. Then a 1 foot pc of 3/4" pvc tube of 3/4" size was bolted on the the loader arm by the use of a band clamp (adel clamp) with hole in it. Took me about 15 minutes. You will use it. It is especially helpfull if you are scooping up something like dirt or snow and you don't want to gouge into the ground. <font color="green"> </font>

 

[WCarlson]

I vote with the "get it" crew. I have one and find it useful. Yes, you can use the bucket itself, however, it is not as accurate. I find it absolutely necessary when I use my fork lift attachment instead of the bucket on the loader....It would be impossible to level the forks from the tractor seat without the level indicator as any small angle that you are off level shows up significantly on the ends of the folks. Besides, they are simple and about the least expensive thing you can get from the JD dealer.

Bill

 

[tdenny]

Anybody have any idea how much John Deere is charging for a level indicator that will match my machine? I think this would be a very value added tool providing it's as cheap as people are indicating.

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( On mine there is a short pipe at the top that holds the rod, the amount of rod above this pipe indicates how the bucket is in relation to the ground. I don't have tape on mine, I use rod length. Hope this helps. )</font>

I pulled the tractor on a concrete pad, set the bucket cutting edge level.
Then cut the rod level with the tube.

 

[WCarlson]

As I recall, the level indicator was around $30.00 a couple years ago. My dealer threw it in on my last massive purchase, so it does not appear on the invoice. Suggest you call your dealer and see if he didn't "intend" to include it when you purchased your new tractor.

Bill

 

[jmattox1]

After plowing a BUNCH of snow here in Indy a qucik eyeball and a flick of the wrist on the scv and off ya go. Save the money for something else. Remember, practise make more seat time