Another Bucket leveler

PineRidge · Mar 21, 2006

Henro I'm just guessing here but if the bucket geometry didn't change as the FEL was being lifted dealers wouldn't be selling a self leveling FELs on some model tractors, as there would be no need for one.

I like the fact that you can find the level position while the bucket is still high in the air after dumping a load of dirt and return to the digging position without lost time. Much more productive IMHO.

B8FISH · Mar 22, 2006

Here's the current JD leveler--looks a lot like yours!

Henro · Mar 22, 2006

Bigdad,

Thanks for posting those pictures. I see that the level indicator tells level for only one position of the loader arms...

I guess for me I'm back to thinking that for my needs the simple kubota level indicator probably works best.

This is because since nothing is flat here, I may be working with the bucket at different heights, and not at one height most of the time. I can see how the level indicator like you have would allow you to set the bucket back to a given position rather quickly, after dumping the bucket. I guess if I were frequently scraping a flat surface, like cleaning out a barn or whatever, having a level indicator that showed level at the scraping level would be a great asset.

Anyone have a level indicator that will allow one to set level of the bucket at any height of the loader arms? The simple indicator on the Kubota bucket offers this capability, but only if my eye ball is calibrated well on a given day.

3RRL · Mar 22, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I see that the level indicator tells level for only one position of the loader arms...)</font>
Henro, that is what I was trying to say in my previous post. After trying to lay it out on the CAD, I couldn't figure out how to get that level indicator to indicate a level bucket at different loader height.
I was hoping someone could...
I'd really like to see how to do it.

JerryG · Mar 22, 2006

To make it work that way, it would have to have part of the level attached to the uprights or some other stationary part of the tractor. Which that would create an additional problem.

johnk · Mar 22, 2006

That bucket looks so clean looks like there was ever nothing in it!! Put that rascal to work. Just kiding. nice job.

3RRL · Mar 23, 2006

Jerry,
I tried that and it did not work out for me. I tried the attachments in several spots (both bucket and stationary) but each time I lifted the arms up, the amount the stick moved was different than the amount needed to level the bucket at the new height? I even tried to use the theorhetical center point of the bucket pivot and, of course, the stick does not move when leveling the bucket from THAT point...duh. Ha ha, what a ****** I am. The bucket attachment has to be away from the pivot point. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Somebody has to know better than me?

Ford960 · Mar 24, 2006

There is a way... Make the indicator a two piece arrangement. Mount one part to the loader arms so that it can pivot by gravity in relation to the angle of lift arms. The part of the indicator attached to the bucket is then matched to the swinging part of the indicator to determine where the bucket needs to be for level at the angle of the loader.

Ford960

texbaylea · Mar 24, 2006

Rob

I will try to describe this now and if I get time over the next few days I will draw it out. You need to set up a parallelogram. Measure the distance between the bucket pivot and the point where the cylinder attaches. Now take a piece of metal bar for an indicator, about 3/16" x 1-1/4" and long enough to have a hole at each end that distance you just measured. Now mount the bar you just made to the loader on the inside near the knee. Any where it will be easily seen. You want it to be able to pivot on what will be the lower hole and it will be sticking up. Now measure the distance from that mounting point to the bucket pivot and now make a rod of light bar with a hole at each end that last distance.

Now if the pivot pin and the cylinder attach pin were in a vertical line when the bucket was level you would be done. When the indicator bar was vertical the bucket would be level and would be so no matter how high the FEL was. However the cylinder attach pin will probably be forward of the pivot when the bucket is level so make a sector (pie shaped piece) and fasten to the indicator with the point up. Now using a long enough bolt for the upper pivot where the rod from the bucket attaches to hang a pointed piece of metal, plumb bob if you will. When that pointer hangs vertical the bucket is level.

I am not going to be able to do what I just described on my FEL since the bucket cylinder attaches to an intermediate lever arm with a link down to the bucket. Because of unequal lever arm lengths the geometry gets complicated.

This thread has gotten me interested so I will go to work on a solution. I may have to draw this out.

Vernon