Anyone attach mirror to bucket to see cutting edge?

[hz293]

With a bad back, I had a hard time turning around to see how deep the ripper teeth were on my boxblade when I use them for churning things up. I've put rear view mirrors on my tractor and since the boxbade is a foot wider than my tractor, I can see a ripper on both sides. Problem taken care of.

Now to the problem of not being able to see the FEL bucket cutting edge when I'm scraping or trying to dig down only a couple of inches. As much as I try, I'm either digging to deep, not deep enough or gouging the ground even though I use the level indicator on the top of the bucket. What I've been thinking of is to put a convex miiror on the lip of the bucket so that I can see what the cutting edge of the bucket is doing.

Have any of you done something like this? Any thoughts or comments?

Harris

 

[Bill Barrett]

No but great idea.

 

[stevenf]

HZ293, Are you kidding that'd be like using a cheater stick in billiards or opening the glove compartment and actually looking at the map no way would I want a mirror so I could avoid gouging 3 foot long trenches in my fields to pop a tree root out with precision! Just kidding its a great idea when you get it done post some pictures and I'll copy your finished product. I also use a grapple rake on the FEL and although you can see thru it you still can't see directly in front of the tractor, I came within inches of putting a good size stick thru my grill and radiator last weekend because I couldn't see so I need to comeup with a way to use a mirror for that as well. I haven't looked but I wonder if just the largest size stick on fish eyes you put on auto side mirrors for towing would work if just stuck on the loader arms out front that way I could use it for both bucket and grapple. HMM hafta look when I get to the ranch tonight. Thanks for the inspiration.
Steve

 

[monkeymonk]

Thats a good idea Ive thought about the same thing...kinda like the postal trucks mirror...Then i thought ...this thing would be dead meat the way i drive. It is possible... you would want to be able to remove it quick and easy maybe some holes drilled on the side of the bucket and some wing nuts...

But don't sweat it to much... practice makes perfect and after a while you'll be scraping and grading just right....It took me a bit to get it just right.
When I have a hard time it helps me to put the bucket flat and square on the ground, (its easy easier to do that) then I tweak it just a little bit nice and slow curl up curl down...tires on the ground!.. patience...after a bit it becomes an extention of you arm and eye.

Funny you posted this Today as i just got done excavating around a 40x30ft creek/hillside area(quick cabin) and was thinking to myself how quick and easy it went....

Good Luck Harris..Post some picks..

 

[PineRidge]

Warning: Objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear.

sorry just had to say that.

 

[Egon]

If you do it mount it high above the bucket. For the uses my bucket sees it would not last long.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Monkeymonk got it right. Practice makes perfect. The more your use your FEL the more skilled your will become. Most buckets are made so that if the top is level so is your cutting edge. Alot of it is just feel. The trouble with a mirror is that its going to be hard to mount it anywhere that it will not be knocked off sometime while working. Take your bucket leveler off and learn to watch your bucket instead of the leveler. You will become a much better operator.

 

[neverenough]

IMO, I wouldn't use mirrors, but polished stainless steel or something might work for you. Them boy's and girls who use skid steers all day long have it easy having the bucket right in front of them. I don't see why some type of image reflector would be a bad thing on a tractor. I have a reversed loader, so I can see the bucket much like a skid steer.

 

[PineRidge]

If you mount a mirror on your bucket and it doesn't get broken or knocked off almost immediately then you're not using your tractor to it's full potential.

Practice will dictate how much soil you can get in your bucket at any one time. A tooth-bar will also aid you in digging and bucket filling.

 

[MikeBurr]

How about a remote camera and a small tv - with a remote joystick so you can check the whole front end. Then add a recorder so you can prove how hard you've been working....