Bucket Level Indicator

[WaxMan]

That's what I thought, must be an older guy thing to have an indicator, I've never used one and can tell when my bucket is level without moving the tractor, its just an acquired skill using it. Like you said the setting is only good for ground level, anything else and its inaccurate. Seems like a waste to me but that's just my opinion.

You can't tell when your bucket is level until it's touching the ground in front of the pile. Even then you're guessing.
After dumping and on the move, before the bucket with a rod fel indicator ever touches the ground you know it will be level when it touches the ground. Way before you even guess where it is. Sorry but that is a fact.

Every high end bucket has a bucket level indicator from the factory. It has nothing to do with age or skill. The larger loaders that professional operators use 8 hrs a day every day have an auto stop at level, the hydraulics cut out at level to improve productivity. High end tractors come with a bucket level rod.

Again it has noting to do with age or skill. Sorry
The best operators in the world have a bucket indicator.

You did a good job with yours chim, it works for you:thumbsup:

 

[chim]

.....................it works for you:thumbsup:

Well, that's the real point. I'm not trying to tell anyone else that it's a "must have". Before I bought the L3200 I had 20 years of seat time on tractors with cruise control and except for trying it out a few times never used it. So when I bought the last tractor it wasn't something I wanted because cruise control wasn't something I needed.

In the first paragraph of the first post in this thread I explained the usefulness of the indicator to me when taking thin even slivers of virgin soil off of one area. I won't question whether another operator needs one or not. I can only say that in my experience the rotation of the bucket had to be almost perfect to achieve what I was doing.

While clearing snow the other night it worked the way you described. After dumping a bucket of slushy snow it was easy to get the bucket in the right rotation while backing up with the bucket 4' or so off the ground. When the rod was just a bit down inside the clear pipe it was certain the wear edge would have a slight downward angle when the joystick was shoved into the float position.

The bucket on the B7500 had a crude but effective little metal strip that made it easy to get a reasonably good idea of the bucket's position, but only when it was on the ground. There isn't much to eyeball on the L3200's bucket.

 

[dsmiley]

No operator, no matter how experienced, can curl the bucket to the exact same degree 20 times in a row without an indicator. But with one you can do this even if you are moving. It is a time saver and it allows repeatable results so why wouldn't you have one? Well, I guess if you don't think it's necessary to be a better operator than you are, then you don't need one. I want to be a better operator plus I want to know when my forks are level so I will be building an indicator as soon as the snow blower comes off and the my bucket goes back on. I found this indicator designed by member Usta in this thread which allows you to adjust the indicator for different implements. Since I can't see my forks when they are attached to the bucket this will be a handy tool. It will also be nice when I want to peel a small amount of earth and not dig in.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Reading this got me thinkin about the L4310 at work that we use forks on often to load/unload pallets from delivery trucks... can't see forks going into pallets (blocked by the SSQA plate) so it's a guessing game at leveling them at truck bed hight. Perhaps something that dangles on the forks frame next to a plumb/level part so it would just be a matter of lineing them up no matter what level the loader is at... if I ever make something I'll post pictures.

 

[swick1]

No operator, no matter how experienced, can curl the bucket to the exact same degree 20 times in a row without an indicator. But with one you can do this even if you are moving. It is a time saver and it allows repeatable results so why wouldn't you have one? Well, I guess if you don't think it's necessary to be a better operator than you are, then you don't need one. I want to be a better operator plus I want to know when my forks are level so I will be building an indicator as soon as the snow blower comes off and the my bucket goes back on. I found this indicator designed by member Usta in this thread which allows you to adjust the indicator for different implements. Since I can't see my forks when they are attached to the bucket this will be a handy tool. It will also be nice when I want to peel a small amount of earth and not dig in.

I agree it can save a little time while the bucket is in the air but you eventually develop a feel for how much you are digging in and can skim the surface without looking at it. Its like using your hands to operate excavator tracks. You have a little more control than with your feet but you aren't paying attention to your boom. I think the indicators on our tractors are a distraction from the work.

 

[WaxMan]

Reading this got me thinkin about the L4310 at work that we use forks on often to load/unload pallets from delivery trucks... can't see forks going into pallets (blocked by the SSQA plate) so it's a guessing game at leveling them at truck bed hight. Perhaps something that dangles on the forks frame next to a plumb/level part so it would just be a matter of lineing them up no matter what level the loader is at... if I ever make something I'll post pictures.

You might not like the way I did it, but I solved that problem.

 

[WaxMan]

No operator, no matter how experienced, can curl the bucket to the exact same degree 20 times in a row without an indicator. But with one you can do this even if you are moving. It is a time saver and it allows repeatable results so why wouldn't you have one? Well, I guess if you don't think it's necessary to be a better operator than you are, then you don't need one. I want to be a better operator plus I want to know when my forks are level so I will be building an indicator as soon as the snow blower comes off and the my bucket goes back on. I found this indicator designed by member Usta in this thread which allows you to adjust the indicator for different implements. Since I can't see my forks when they are attached to the bucket this will be a handy tool. It will also be nice when I want to peel a small amount of earth and not dig in.

Exactly there are many way to use an indicator not just level. It's a handy tool there to use.
I might have taken mine to the extreme, but it is very useful in the snow also.
When moving snow with my bucket on my driveway I use the up arrow which indicates digging 1 inch so it scraps the pavement clean , and plowing on the dirt part of my driveway, I use the down arrow or green depending how soft the ground is. The down arrow indicating the bucket has to go down 1 inch for level. After a while it's just a habit each time I dump the bucket I set the level right after curling the bucket from dump. It all set and I don't think about it again. On my B3030 I used the same princable with gauge lines on my level rod this way you can always adjust the same each time.

 

[RDrancher]

I agree it can save a little time while the bucket is in the air but you eventually develop a feel for how much you are digging in and can skim the surface without looking at it. Its like using your hands to operate excavator tracks. You have a little more control than with your feet but you aren't paying attention to your boom. I think the indicators on our tractors are a distraction from the work.

I guess if you're looking for maximum seat time for every task you take on, then this is a perfect method for you.

Every modern construction loader (track or rubber tire) is equipped with some sort of bucket level indicator (return to dig), and most have auto bucket leveling available for loading trucks. Even compact track loaders and skid steers are designed with a (semi) return to dig feature built in. Lower the loader arms to the stops and then look at the bucket edge. The bucket is nice and level for grading. Bucket manufacturers even build the QA mount a a certain height to make sure this works. A few CTL and SS manufacturers have a slightly different pin height at the stops. If the bucket isn't matched to the machine, it can be a pita.

Can you tell where the bucket edge is by feel? Sure. Is it faster and more productive to have an indicator? Without a doubt.

 

[dsmiley]

I agree it can save a little time while the bucket is in the air but you eventually develop a feel for how much you are digging in and can skim the surface without looking at it. Its like using your hands to operate excavator tracks. You have a little more control than with your feet but you aren't paying attention to your boom. I think the indicators on our tractors are a distraction from the work.

Well, perhaps you're one of those operators I mentioned that doesn't need to be any better, but I'm not there yet. I'm not a bad operator; I can get my bucket where I want it maybe 7 out of 10 times without an indicator but I think I could get it where I want it 10 out of 10 times with an indicator. I'm not sure how this or anything that makes the job at hand easier and faster can be a distraction but as you say, that's your opinion. You indicated earlier in the thread

Yep, my indicator is the flat bucket top.

So you use an indicator; it's just a different one than the one I will build. No I won't use it for rough work but when I'm doing something fine or using the forks, I think it will be a real asset...like the flat top of your bucket is for you, or Waxman's arrows are for him.

 

[WaxMan]

Go to google advance search. Type in bucket level indicator. In everyone you will find someone bragging they'er so good they don't need one. (not talking about swick1 or anyone in particular here) (swick1 does not come off like that but others do) It's usually one person per thread. There so good with the tractor, but couldn't figure out how to use an indicator properly so they took it off.
I don't know what it is but having a bucket level indicator just rubs some people the wrong way.

Here you go, take your pick about two thousand results.
https://www.google.com/search?as_q=...=any&safe=images&tbs=&as_filetype=&as_rights=

 

[RDrancher]

Go to google advance search. Type in bucket level indicator. In everyone you will find someone bragging they'er so good they don't need one. (not talking about swick1 or anyone in particular here) (swick1 does not come off like that but others do) It's usually one person per thread. There so good with the tractor, but couldn't figure out how to use an indicator properly so they took it off.
I don't know what it is but having a bucket level indicator just rubs some people the wrong way.

Here you go, take your pick about two thousand results.
https://www.google.com/search?as_q=...=any&safe=images&tbs=&as_filetype=&as_rights=

It's kind of strange isn't it? I think the real question is why wouldn't you want one?

 

[dsmiley]

You might not like the way I did it, but I solved that problem.

Au contraire. I like everything you've done, especially the inclinometer. I spent some time working on that last year and gave up when I couldn't find a meter that suited me. The Toyota piece, which was unknown to me, is awesome for this.

 

[WaxMan]

Thanks dsmiley,
I gave up a couple of times also. Not much out there. Problem with the Toyota one it's an odd shape to mount.
I was going to get one of these but hard there hard to find.

Innovate Motorsports 3805 RAD-1, Rollover Avoidance Device

 

[puckgrinder85]

That's fine if you like them and use them, its your tractor you can do whatever you'd like to it. If I was using my little 32hp tractor for high production that's kind of a moot point, its a 32hp tractor. If I wanted production with the bucket or whatever attachment may be on there I wouldn't have a 32hp tractor. I guess that's what I meant by saying I really don't need one, for what Im using it for it would probably just make noise on me and drive me nuts like another person said, but if you like them its a cheap way to know where you're at in the roll of the bucket.

 

[RDrancher]

That's fine if you like them and use them, its your tractor you can do whatever you'd like to it. If I was using my little 32hp tractor for high production that's kind of a moot point, its a 32hp tractor. If I wanted production with the bucket or whatever attachment may be on there I wouldn't have a 32hp tractor. I guess that's what I meant by saying I really don't need one, for what Im using it for it would probably just make noise on me and drive me nuts like another person said, but if you like them its a cheap way to know where you're at in the roll of the bucket.

Ya, you're probably correct there...you're about 3hp shy of being able to perform any type of production work with your tractor.

 

[WaxMan]

Like I said, there is always someone that doesn't want one, thats Ok, it's their tractor. They can operate the way they want.
I can respect that :thumbsup:
Just as long as, they don't come off as, they're better at operating then someone that uses a bucket level indicator.

 

[avc8130]

I LOVE my bucket level indicator. When I am doing loader tasks it is really fast to use the indicator while I am moving to set the bucket curl. Then when I get close to the pile or whatever I am scooping I just drop the bucket to the ground and slide right into the pile. Same thing when dealing with snow on the lawn. I can use the indicator as I am backing up from dumping to get the bucket in my desired position and all is set before I get back into the pile. No taking time to "feel" the bucket, I KNOW where it is from the indicator.

Using pallet forks it is a God send. Without an indicator, using "feel" would result in a bunch of ripped feed bags, broken pallets and possibly damage to pickup trucks.

I know plenty of professional operators that swear by their indicators. The beginning of any operation with "feel" is a waste of productivity. They all set their bucket orientation as they are moving to the task with the indicators and then switch to "feel" as they are working the task should adjustments need to be made.

ac