Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach

[dickfoster]

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I've been filling these cold winter days with fabbing and testing this bucket level indicator. It's an idea from a friend in New York State who built and has been using his for about 10 years. He used connecting rods rather than the 1/16" cable on mine. No particular reason for cable other than easier adjustment of length while calibrating. May use rods for permanent installation.

The pics show the leveler mounted on the outside of the right loader arm which makes it a little easier for calibrating since the loader valve is there. The round silver object is a 5" diameter neo magnet, again handy for testing. It's super strong and can only be moved by hitting fairly hard with a soft hammer and could probably be used for permanent mounting.

The 1st picture shows the loader raised with bucket level, the next shows loader raised bucket not level, the third shows loader at ground level with bucket leveled. The last picture shows the leveler on my friends tractor where the rods are used to operate the indicators.

I'm not sure if there are other methods, out there, that will show bucket level with the loader raised. This one is handy in that "bucket level" can be shown prior to dropping the loader to ground level which saves time while moving back to the "pile" and dropping the loader for another load. Showing bucket level with loader raised is very handy for something like forks where level is normally difficult to see from the tractor seat.

Questions and suggestions are appreciated.

Edit: To clarify---The white pointer (first three pictures) is "stationary" while the "silver" one is attached via cable to the loader frame upright and the curved "quadrant" is attached via cable to the loader bucket.

It sure is easier to see.

 

[prichard]

It sure is easier to see.

That's my interest in it. I haven't used any indicator except the level metal on top of the bucket. Seems like the sliding rod types would be hard to tell where you are relative to level. Something like this could be scaled easily.

 

[Mendonsy]

Looks good! :thumbsup: :cool2:
I still haven't figured out how you manage keep tension on those cables, but I'm sure it will be explained.

 

[ovrszd]

Following.

 

[Rustyiron]

That's very clever:thumbsup:

 

[oldpilgrim]

Do you have an SSQA loader? You said the cable attached to the bucket so I'm guessing, no.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I'm curious as to how this works. Looking forward to more pictures.

 

[jcummins]

following

 

[npalen]

I will post each picture or two in a separate post to avoid confusion.

This first one shows the 5" diameter magnet attached to the right loader arm but would normally be attached to the left inside to keep it out of harms way. The neo magnet is super strong.

There is a 3/8" hexbolt shown with the head in the clearance area on the backside of the magnet. I used a longer bolt and then cut some of the threads off to keep more bearing area for the pivoting components..

 

[npalen]

This shows the addition of the white plastic pointer. I started out with a metal pointer (1/4" x 1" material) but the magnetism flowing thru it was enough to affect movement of the other metal pointer. Probably will make a new one out of aluminum since I kind of messed up the plastic one with too much heat.

The white pointer shown is clamped in position via the 3/8" hexbolt to not move once its position is established. When it and the other pointer and the reference mark (yellow) on the quadrant are lined up the loader is at ground level with the bucket level. Could call this the "starting position".