7308 loader bucket level indicator?

[mcduff]

Is there such a beast? I know on some buckets and loaders (various makes) there is a rod that slides in a sleeve and sets in a notch when the bucket is level. I have a buddy with a TC 55 with a LA 18 loader and there is one on his. Do they make one for the 7308 loader? I have the heavy duty 60" bucket, tractor is a 2001 TC33d.

 

[Powerhorse]

My TC25d with the 7308 has it. Mine is a 2001 also and I have the 68" bucket.

 

[J_J]

Why not build one out of a mercury switch and connect it to a LED light, and when level, the light lights. Mount it on the bucket so as not to interfere with your loader operations.

 

[jinman]

See the attached illustration from Messicks.com.

Looks like you need the following parts:

28 GUIDE
Tube
86548329
1 Needed for Job
$74.58 In Stock : 2

29 ROD
Indicator
9600334
1 Needed for Job
$27.62 In Stock : 1

30 WASHER
3/8", SAE,
87016
2 Needed for Job
$0.61 In Stock : 46

31 COTTER PIN
1/8" x 3/4",
80756
2 Needed for Job
$0.13 In Stock : 59

 

[V1Rotate]

My brother and I made one for ours.
We`welded two 4 inch sections of angle iron onto the top of the bucket at the most outboard points, one on the left and one on the right

Put the bucket so the bottom edge is parallel to the ground, place the angle iron so that the flat top part is parallel with the bottom of the bucket and weld them on, these wil be your guides.

When using the loader, you can look at the angle irons either to the left or right side of the loader to see what the angle is.

 

[FredH]

Mine use to be there , now it is scrap metal heaven . Can't remember what I was moving for the neighbors , but it rocked backed over the top of the bucket when I turned up their driveway . Long story short , Rather than try to straighten everything back out , I took the grinder and a cut-off wheel and whacked it all off . That picture posted before from Messicks is how mine looked .

Fred H.

 

[LarryD]

Why not build one out of a mercury switch and connect it to a LED light, and when level, the light lights. Mount it on the bucket so as not to interfere with your loader operations.

What if the tractor isn't level? Would the switch give a false indication?

I've got the factory level rod but I added a 1/2" heat shrink piece where the rod should be in the guide when the bucket is level. It's been on there for 7 years.:thumbsup:

 

[jinman]

What if the tractor isn't level? Would the switch give a false indication?

I've got the factory level rod but I added a 1/2" heat shrink piece where the rod should be in the guide when the bucket is level. It's been on there for 7 years.:thumbsup:

I like the level rod instead of a light. The rod tells me when I am approaching level and which side of level I am on. A light only tells me when I'm at level.

 

[Geunther]

I have a 7308 as well. My tube is still there, but the rod and any attachment parts are missing. Could someone send me a picture of the rod attaching to the bucket/pin? The diagram from Messicks, and the parts diagrams I have seen all show the exploded view, but not the assembled view. I have attempted to enlarge some of the photo's I have seen online, but cannot seem to see the detail needed. Thanks, in advance.

 

[thclimer]

I have a 7308 as well. My tube is still there, but the rod and any attachment parts are missing. Could someone send me a picture of the rod attaching to the bucket/pin? The diagram from Messicks, and the parts diagrams I have seen all show the exploded view, but not the assembled view. I have attempted to enlarge some of the photo's I have seen online, but cannot seem to see the detail needed. Thanks, in advance.

Sorry for the late reply, hopefully these are what you were looking for.

 

[Geunther]

That is exactly what I needed. I bought a piece of Zinc plated rod (TSC), bent it, drilled it, and installed it. I am very happy with the repair. I even left the label on the rod, as it passes through the top of the receiver at the level position. One word of warning, is to make sure the holes are far enough apart to allow a washer on each side of the bucket.

 

[Bassdogs]

That is exactly what I needed. I bought a piece of Zinc plated rod (TSC), bent it, drilled it, and installed it. I am very happy with the repair. I even left the label on the rod, as it passes through the top of the receiver at the level position. One word of warning, is to make sure the holes are far enough apart to allow a washer on each side of the bucket.

Is this part really necessary? I have owned my 33D w/ loader for 6 years and never knew why that rod sticking up on the R side was there. Last weekend I was pushing a downed tree top and a piece slipped over the bucket and bent the rod about 30 degrees. I straightened it but noticed that this was not the first impact it has taken. The tube is also bent and the upper bracket where it mounts onto the frame is bent in at least 2 odd shapes. Still seems to work but binds up a bit. I was researching replacing it as I thought it somehow affected movement of the bucket. Since its just a level indicator that I never used, it will stay as is unless it causes a bind or breaks altogether.

 

[kthompson]

What if the tractor isn't level? Would the switch give a false indication?

I've got the factory level rod but I added a 1/2" heat shrink piece where the rod should be in the guide when the bucket is level. It's been on there for 7 years.:thumbsup:

When I read J_J post had the same thought but, that will tell you the bucket is level regardless if the tractor is level. So do you want to know when the bucket is level to the ground or level to the front end loader?

jinman,understand your thoughts on the light will not give you indication of how near to level it is. Which when digging I want to know. However, I have seen and no idea where a bucket indicator made that did use more than one light to indicate the tilt. No idea what type of sensor was used to send power to the proper light.

My first fel did not have tilt indicator rod on it and when I replaced it did have one installed. Liked it till some how it binded bending the rod.