Does Branson Offer Auto Bucket Leveling ? How Important Is It ?

FastEddieR · Oct 15, 2018

Is there no bypass mode? I could see where the mechanical linkage type would be always on, but with special valves I would think that you could turn self leveling on or off...

DavesTractor · Oct 19, 2018

As mentioned by Lou, the mechanical self leveling loaders generally cause you to lose some range of motion regarding the dump/curl. They will not dump over as far, nor rollback as far. To me that is the issue. Hydraulic self leveling loaders solve this. I have a track loader with hydraulic self leveling. I really don't know how it works, but I like it and I am not giving up rollback or dump. And I can override it at anytime.

Branson is planning to offer a self leveling system again. Years ago we sold a few and some folks loved them, especially people forking pallet loads off of trucks, but for me the above mentioned lack of ROM was an issue. I will be pleased to see the new loaders and see how well they work. I expect to see them at our National Dealer Meeting in January. If they can make them work like on my track loader, there would be no reason (short of $$) not to have that system.

In Australia, I think self leveling is mandatory.

bigcut · Oct 19, 2018

DavesTractor said:
As mentioned by Lou, the mechanical self leveling loaders generally cause you to lose some range of motion regarding the dump/curl. They will not dump over as far, nor rollback as far. To me that is the issue. Hydraulic self leveling loaders solve this. I have a track loader with hydraulic self leveling. I really don't know how it works, but I like it and I am not giving up rollback or dump. And I can override it at anytime.

Branson is planning to offer a self leveling system again. Years ago we sold a few and some folks loved them, especially people forking pallet loads off of trucks, but for me the above mentioned lack of ROM was an issue. I will be pleased to see the new loaders and see how well they work. I expect to see them at our National Dealer Meeting in January. If they can make them work like on my track loader, there would be no reason (short of $$) not to have that system.

In Australia, I think self leveling is mandatory.

Dave.....do you know if they will be mechanical or hydraulic self levels ? Any idea which models they will be available on ?
Thanks,
John

DavesTractor · Oct 19, 2018

bigcut said:
Dave.....do you know if they will be mechanical or hydraulic self levels ? Any idea which models they will be available on ?
Thanks,
John

Branson is taking our entire staff out for a steak dinner next week, if I remember I'll ask about it. I would guess mechanical. The hydraulic system has a lot going on and would be pretty expensive on a tractor primarily marketed for the consumer/hobby farmer market.

HudoRanch · Oct 24, 2018

I dont necessarily like the self leveling feature....but I did run an old 966 cat loader that had a bucket indicator rod (just one that someone made) on it that was very handy.

Maybe I am just inexperienced but when I am running up to the material I invariably pitch the bucket too far forward and dig into the ground and end up with clay in my bucket of sand etc. This indicator rod was just tied to the bucket with a clevis and went through a loop welded onto the upper arm. When you dumped or curled this rod slid up and down. The rod had a threaded section on it with a nut & pointer welded to the nut.

When the pointer was even with top of the frame your bucket was level with the ground. Simple and took any guesswork out of what angle your bucket was setting at in relation to the loader. And if you was on an incline or something where you needed a little bit of "dig" you could just turn the nut a couple threads up or down to fine tune it. It gave you a consistent material run in which is all that is really necessary. When you are doing hundreds of buckets a day even a few seconds each time of not having to "feel" where the bucket is means a lot of time saved. Sometimes a simple "farmer" solution will work just as well as all the hydraulics & gadgets

Slowpoke Slim · Oct 25, 2018

The newer Bransons already have a bucket level indicator rod on the FEL, so you should be right at home Hudo.

HudoRanch · Oct 25, 2018

Slowpoke Slim said:
The newer Bransons already have a bucket level indicator rod on the FEL, so you should be right at home Hudo.

Cool

I have not even actually went to the dealer to look at them yet. I live way out in the sticks and it is quite a trip so I have been doing my research for the last 2-3 weeks and decided on the Branson. But I am still gathering prices and info, still not sure which model I am going with.

ning · Oct 26, 2018

Does the mechanical self-leveling bucket system interfere with ... idk what you call it, but when I drop my bucket at some point it's pointing mostly down and is sort of floating, I can rake with it and not dig stuff up too much. I'm guessing that a mechanical linkage would either keep it from dropping as far to point down, and would definitely keep it from being floppy in that position.

LouNY · Oct 26, 2018

I have a picture of a BL-50 loader in post #8;
The mechanical linkage is attached to and part of the curl cylinders. If you are referring to curling the bucket down to almost vertical and back dragging with it.
Yes that is possible. te self leveling does little to keep any slop or slack out of the linkage.