Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach

[npalen]

For a stronger more permanent solution to a magnet, look at Click Bond fastening system. Full disclosure, I am associated with this fine US engineering/manufacturing company.

interesting!

Click Bond, Inc.


Click Bond - Installation of Externally Fixtured Fasteners - YouTube

 

[Mendonsy]

For a stronger more permanent solution to a magnet, look at Click Bond fastening system. Full disclosure, I am associated with this fine US engineering/manufacturing company.

Click Bond is a great product, but like any adhesive the whole key is surface preparation.
For surfaces with an existing painted finish it is usually easier to just drill and tap a hole than to do the proper surface prep and re-paint afterward.

 

[Ivan49]

Great idea and well thought out. Do you have any problems with brush hooking the cable when yu use it in the woods or stacking brush?

 

[npalen]

Click Bond is a great product, but like any adhesive the whole key is surface preparation.
For surfaces with an existing painted finish it is usually easier to just drill and tap a hole than to do the proper surface prep and re-paint afterward.

Agreed. Hard to beat a mechanical fastener. Easy to drill and tap a hole for mounting.

 

[npalen]

Great idea and well thought out. Do you have any problems with brush hooking the cable when yu use it in the woods or stacking brush?

That would be a concern for sure. The level indicator assembly will eventually mount on the inside of the left loader arm but still. I will probably go with 1/4" rod linkage same as Mendonsy's original design. The cable and magnets just made it easier to find the right position for for the indicator mounting and the cable attachment locations. That and I think the 1/16" cable and tiny fittings are just so cool.

 

[ETpilot]

This is looking good but may be somewhat complicated. I made a bucket level, several years ago, using a freebie Harbor Freight LED light. Fairly simple. When the light turns on the bucket is level. Works at any height. Has visual n light reference. Is easily adjustable for other angles besides level. I haven't tried that trick yet. The down side: by design the light flicks on n off with tractor movement, although not a significant problem. In the sunlight the light may be more difficult to see. Forgetting to turn it on or off. An upgrade was to run the wire up loader arm where switch is easily reached. And convert to the new 27 LED light. I may get to it some day. Right now I have to check the batteries n see if it still works.

 

[dragoneggs]

This is looking good but may be somewhat complicated. I made a bucket level, several years ago, using a freebie Harbor Freight LED light. Fairly simple. When the light turns on the bucket is level. Works at any height. Has visual n light reference. Is easily adjustable for other angles besides level. I haven't tried that trick yet. The down side: by design the light flicks on n off with tractor movement, although not a significant problem. In the sunlight the light may be more difficult to see. Forgetting to turn it on or off. An upgrade was to run the wire up loader arm where switch is easily reached. And convert to the new 27 LED light. I may get to it some day. Right now I have to check the batteries n see if it still works.

Need a 'momentary on' trigger on your FEL stick to solve the 'tractor movement' issue.

 

[npalen]

This is looking good but may be somewhat complicated. I made a bucket level, several years ago, using a freebie Harbor Freight LED light. Fairly simple. When the light turns on the bucket is level. Works at any height. Has visual n light reference. Is easily adjustable for other angles besides level. I haven't tried that trick yet. The down side: by design the light flicks on n off with tractor movement, although not a significant problem. In the sunlight the light may be more difficult to see. Forgetting to turn it on or off. An upgrade was to run the wire up loader arm where switch is easily reached. And convert to the new 27 LED light. I may get to it some day. Right now I have to check the batteries n see if it still works.

This is very interesting! I'm not understanding what kind of switch you're talking about. Maybe you're describing some kind of pendulum switch that turns on the LED? That kind of makes sense as the pendulum would tend to swing and trigger the light on and off.
Dragoneggs suggestion of the momentary on the FEL stick would appear to be a solution. Maybe someone makes an inexpensive (wishful thinking?) fluid filled pendulum switch with built in light.

This stuff is all interesting to me and enjoy reading about other folk's approach to the same result.

 

[Rustyiron]

This stuff is all interesting to me and enjoy reading about other folk's approach to the same result.

I agree:thumbsup:
Sometimes the best "cure" is just many hours of seat time.:laughing:

 

[oldpilgrim]

I bet if I thought about it a bit, I could take an old round Honeywell household thermostat, the kind with the mercury switch in it, and come up with something that would work.