Bucket Level Indicator Rod

[knucklehead]

Here's a few pictures of the bucket level rod my Dad built for his new 3010. I tried to get the pictures all in one post, but I'm still learning. Seems that they need to be posted somewhere on the web (I'd appreciate advice on how to do several pictures on one post, from a PC location like my C drive, if possible). Anyway, here's the first one....

 

[knucklehead]

Second one, showing upper mounting point

 

[knucklehead]

Third and last, showing lower mount point (fuzzy - camera focused on lower pin, I guess).

Here's a quick rundown on parts & method (He used what he had lying around):

Tube: 3/8" ID, 25" long, with about 1-1/4" of the top split lengthwise and cut off to expose rod (see first picture).

Rod: 5/16", 48" long, cut to 44-1/2" after installation/leveling (others may differ).

Top mount tab: 3/4" bar stock, 2-3/4" long welded to tube. The bucket cylinder pin is drilled and tapped to allow the 1/4" bolt to bottom and not bind the tab.

Lower Rod end: Closed-eye cable connector (like starter motor connector), soldered onto rod (it was copper); 5/16" bolt used because of connector eye size, and bushing described below.

Rod end bushing: Two pieces of tubing. One sized to butt the rod end and hold it away from the bucket bracket, the other to slide through the first, and through the rod end by a small amount. The head of the 5/16" bolt tightens against the end of the smaller, longer tube, sandwiching the rod end between the bolt head and larger, shorter bushing. The bushing tube lengths were sized to stop the bolt flush with the inside of the bucket bracket.

The bottom mount hole (drilled and tapped for the 5/16" bolt) is located 3-1/4" up from the bottom bucket pin, located to be parallel with the loader arm for a clean appearance, and minimum movement of the rod (he didn't want 12" of rod sticking out at the top when the bucket was rolled back).

The top of the rod was marked by setting the tractor on a level surface (road), and cut to make it flush with the tube when the bucket was level. It was painted orange for a few inches for visiblity. If I remember correctly, he didn't have any Kubota orange at the time, and wanted to get the thing installed.

Dad was going for a functional, good looking job. He sort of followed his nose through it, solving problems with what he had at hand. Simplifications may come to mind, but I think he accomplished his goals, don't you?

 

[Steelfan]

Nice job!!! The level rod on my New Holland helps me a great deal. I can level the bucket, and scoop ground off of grass without tearing it up. My TC came with it already on it. I'm not sure if its standard or not. I bought the tractor used. Thanks for sharing your work. Kent

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>advice on how to do several pictures on one post</font color=blue>

Currently you may only upload one picture file per post, but you can effectively submit multiple pictures by using some picture editing software to combine several images into one file. Just create a montage, making sure the total file size is within limits and attach it to your post like any other picture.

Pictures must reside on a web server in order to be accessed from a web page. Uploading as an attachment to your message is the best approach, but if you have pictures on another server, you can use the [image], or more preferably the [/b] or [b][url=][/b] tags to link ...://www.acknowledge.com/tractor/wink.gif[/img]

 

[knucklehead]

Here's Dad's tractor. He's trying to get me to buy one /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. Forks are MDS products. Weight box is from dealer, with plywood top rimmed with dadoed 2"x4"s.

 

[knucklehead]

Thanks, Harv - This is the second time I've uploaded pictures anywhere, and the first time I've used a digital camera. I'm just following the FAQ advice, and exploring the dropdown menus on my software. When I dumped (highly technical term /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif) them out of the camera I was borrowing (Kodak "4800"), they were something like 20" x 30". I used "Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition", that came on this used Compaq to resize them to something around 6"x9". The 150k limit would not initially allow me to upload them, so I just went back in and resized to a lesser dimension, and resaved them to my C drive. I am very new to this, and appreciate all your advice. If there is a better way to resize, I'd like to know it.

Also, I've been wondering where you get your secret icons that aren't on the FAQ page. You wouldn't believe the things I've been putting in [] to try to get different ones!

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>wondering where you get your secret icons</font color=blue>

Ain't such a secret, Mark. I happen to have saved a few of the old classic emoticons:

Also, back when I had time on my hands, I doodled a few of my own:

They live on my own server so there's no shortcut tags for them, but I've programmed my function keys to spit out my favorites with one stroke.

Now I need to get a life. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[beenthere]

That rod looks almost identical to the one on my 430 Deere FEL on my 4300. I rarely use it now that I am used to the FEL. I was told that in the beginning, and also have read it here on TBN, that in time, I would get to know the position of the bucket without the indicator.
You might get better sensitivity (indication) if the lower attachment point was higher on the bucket bracket. The farther away from the pivot point below, and as close to upper connection of the bucket cylinder without interferring works the best.

 

[knucklehead]

Emoticons are sorta new to me, as most of my PC work pre internet has been database (which we used to call spreadsheet) work. It was hard to try to figure out were to put emoticons on an efficiency curve for a hydro generator /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. Then I got away from it for a few years. Now when I try to do work with Excel or something similar, I still every once once a while try to start with / to bring up a menu (Lotus 1........) /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif. I am a sort of mixed breed, as now I am into the mouse, and am losing all of the key board commands.

I'm pretty intrigued by the things I'm learning here, as I'd like to mess around with a web site sometime, and it seems like these little things we throw into our posts are a step in that direction. Knucklehead may be an online moniker, but knuckle dragger ain't far from the truth [insert Neanderthal icon here]/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.