LA524 FEL bucket level indicator rod

[Chain Bender]

can i make one of these fairly easy or is it best to buy one from Kubota? If I'm gonna make one, I'm gonna need some specs from soome one.

Thanks in advance,
Chain Bender

 

[ovrszd]

I made one for my Rhino loader. Don't think you're gonna find any sort of specs. Welder would make it quicker to build but not absolutely necessary. I let my 3/8" rod slide thru a piece of 1 1/2" x 18" flat bar welded to my loader frame with a 3/4" hole drilled in it. The bottom end of my rod swivels using a small heim joint fastened to a 5/16" bolt that has the head welded to the welder frame QA bracket just below the tip cylinder pin. I formed a ^ notch in the rod that indicates bucket level when it slides thru the flat plate hole.

Some guys use a tube for the rod to slide thru with a painted mark indicating level bucket. I like the ^ notch better because it never fades or gets rubbed off requiring it to be redone.

I used an adjustable heim joint for fine tuning but that's not necessary.

A nut a size bigger than the bolt used at the bottom end could be substituted for the heim joint on the rod. That would allow the rod to swivel on the bolt. This isn't rocket science so precision isn't absolutely necessary.

Sorry I don't have any pics.

 

[kencunningham]

If this is what your talking about, you should be able to make one yourself. You will need to make two brackets and have a length of round bar with a way to make a bend in it. Looking at the pic it is on the left side attached to the bucket.

 

[dusty3030]

More pics.

 

[JB4310]

If this is what your talking about, you should be able to make one yourself. You will need to make two brackets and have a length of round bar with a way to make a bend in it. Looking at the pic it is on the left side attached to the bucket.

That is JD's improved version with the crook in the rod, much more intuitive than just the straight rod with painted line on it like most everyone else uses.
Unless everyone is making them like that now???

I've had both, and the new version is so much better. would be a tad more difficult to make yourself but still doable.

JB

 

[Combustix]

google it I found plans for one one the web about a year ago, though I don;t have the site any more I do have the picture I printed out. sorry couldnt be more help but it is on the web

 

[JD5210]

Taking Combustix lead. I did a search and found this.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/136525-kubota-la243-front-end-loader.html

 

[Ford tractor]

I'll give the minority opinion. Those level rods are just one more thing to break. I like the flat welded tab on the top of the bucket that parallels the bottom. Pretty much can't be broke and you can see it pretty easy. Spend time to learn the look of level -- not money on a fragile doodad.



Wait a moment while I step back and slip on the asbestos suit....

 

[ovrszd]

I'll give the minority opinion. Those level rods are just one more thing to break. I like the flat welded tab on the top of the bucket that parallels the bottom. Pretty much can't be broke and you can see it pretty easy. Spend time to learn the look of level -- not money on a fragile doodad.



Wait a moment while I step back and slip on the asbestos suit....

I agree with "most" of what you said if you are the only operator of your tractor FEL. I built my indicator to assist anyone else that gets on my tractor and struggles trying to level the bucket.

With that said, when I'm repeating bucket functions I'm always leveling the bucket while returning to the material I'm loading. When I sit the bucket down to reload it's already level. Can't do that using your method.

Lastly, a level indicator is only a fragile doodad if you build it that way.

 

[Redbug]

Hey Ken...Where do you live? It looks like around Elgin, SC.