Home Brew Bucket Level?

[MossRoad]

I had a bucket level indicator on our old IH2500b. There was a half-round piece of metal with indicator marks on a pivot hanging on the side of the FEL arm at the bend. There was a pointer for the marks fixed to the arm. There was a rod connected to one edge of the round piece and the other end was on the bucket bracket above where the right dump/curl cylinder attached, so the rod was parallel to the arm.

When you'd dump/curl the bucket, the rod would make the disk rotate on the pivot, and the marks would move behind the pointer. It was pretty handy.

The numbers on these things are kinda useless as far as an absolute number goes. However, if you just use the numbers as a reference point and not an absolute starting point, they are great!

Kinda like a home thermostat. Some day's you feel cool and the thermostat says 72. And some days you're warm and the thing still says 72. It's a reference point to the current conditions.

 

[MossRoad]

HA! For kicks I googled it and found a grainy image from an IH manual that shows one on a different model, but it's the same thing. Item #3 in the picture.

 

[mred2]

I have the tube with rod. I have thought about cutting a slot into the tube so that I could see the end of the rod. For the hay spear to be level, the rod is below the end of the tube. However, after loading, moving and unloading 90 rolls of hay, I think I will wait. After the first 20 rolls, I never looked at the rod.

 

[npalen]

HA! For kicks I googled it and found a grainy image from an IH manual that shows one on a different model, but it's the same thing. Item #3 in the picture.

View attachment 587505

The ability to level the "bucket" with the loader raised above ground level should be handy when using forks particularly when loading or unloading from a truck or trailer bed.

 

[MossRoad]

The ability to level the "bucket" with the loader raised above ground level should be handy when using forks particularly when loading or unloading from a truck or trailer bed.

What's really handy is self leveling linkage. Really handy. Set it and forget it. Great for forks on a FEL.

 

[dnw64]

Don't need no stinking spinner knob.... Power steering on my MF GC 1715 is so easy, I can get into trouble real fast....

Dale

I have the slightly earlier version of the same (GC 2300) and I was impressed how easy it is to turn it.

However, after getting my B3030 with a spinner already in place, I have come to love it. Especially during slow/tight maneuvers, it's great to be able to make quick, large turns.

 

[LScraig]

This might work for you:

 

[Handloader109]

Spinner is great, even on my little scut. I've not used fel enough to get true use out of the leveling arm, it works, but I'm just not Experienced enough

 

[shooterdon]

Spinner is great, even on my little scut. I've not used fel enough to get true use out of the leveling arm, it works, but I'm just not Experienced enough

With 20 hrs on my machine, I feel your pain. I can barley tell if the bucket is level on the garage floor...LOL. I am making an indicator for mine. Luckily for me, not many experts around my place so the laughter will be minimal.

 

[npalen]

What's really handy is self leveling linkage. Really handy. Set it and forget it. Great for forks on a FEL.

I agree and if us guys in the U.S. ever figure this out, all the CUT loaders will be standard with self leveling.

 

[Xfaxman]

I had a self leveling leveling loader on a garden tractor back in the early 1980s:

 

[rangerfredbob]

I have a self leveling loader on my tractor, it's nice but has annoying characteristics as well, since the tractor is 45+ years old and the loader is 30+ years old there are a LOT of pivot points to flop around, a couple have the wrong size pins in them which doesn't help, but the self leveling linkages hurt the bucket travel, I can't tilt it back very far... I'm sure the geometry leaves some to be desired as the bucket tilt won't lift much either...

I get used to the "level" of the bucket when working, but an indicator would be nice at times, just haven't gotten to making one yet.

 

[K5lwq]

What about an old mag mount antenna stuck to the top of the bucket? If antenna points straight up, bucket is level. If it pionts away from tractor you are dumping. Towards the tractor you are curling.

That way you can easily attach and remove when needed.

 

[npalen]

How about hanging an artificial raccoon tail from the antenna tip like a plumb bob? (No raccoons were harmed........)
Seriously, I've heard worse ideas than a mag mount antenna for a bucket level indicator. Only better would be an adjustable angle one.

 

[WranglerX]

How about hanging an artificial raccoon tail from the antenna tip like a plumb bob? (No raccoons were harmed........)
Seriously, I've heard worse ideas than a mag mount antenna for a bucket level indicator. Only better would be an adjustable angle one.

Naaaah.... Need those Red/White/Blue streamer things kids put on bicycle handle bar grips in 50's...

Dale

 

[Diggin It]

I could see a little more practical plumb bob instead of the sillies.

 

[WranglerX]

I could see a little more practical plumb bob instead of the sillies.

It always turns to silly after 5-6 pages.... BUT one has to wonder about 80 pages of striped head of drain plug on another thread....

Dale

 

[rangerfredbob]

Cranes use just a gravity pointer for the boom angle, so that's not a bad idea...

 

[dnw64]

Cranes use just a gravity pointer for the boom angle, so that's not a bad idea...

Actually, even "digital" ones probably use a gravity based sensor, which is connected to some sort of digital converter to show position. In fact your fancy phone almost certainly uses that to sense position/angle. Without gravity we're pretty well sunk. Well, without gravity I guess you wouldn't sink, even without a bottom in your boat, but I think you get my drift.

 

[Xfaxman]

Cranes use just a gravity pointer for the boom angle, so that's not a bad idea...

My compact telehandler uses a gravity pointer for boom angle also: