bucket level indicator

[ljjhouser]

Yep, have it and use it most times. It is low cost attachment and a good indicator. And you can set it where you want.

 

[ruffdog]

Good points everyone is making. I decided to forge ahead and design & make them. I hope to keep the costs down and add another “level” feature so you could choose between a level relative to the ground and a level relative to the tractor. It’ll be hardwired too. Just a matter of finding indicator lights that’s bright enough in daylight.

Maybe instead of using an angle sensor, a proximity sensor (part present switch) with a remote led light would be cheaper and more durable. We used proximity sensors in a factory setting all the time and they handled weld slag and shock loads. Brackets and something to detect would be needed.

 

[LD1]

Maybe instead of using an angle sensor, a proximity sensor with a remote led light would be cheaper and more durable. We used proximity sensors in a factory setting all the time and they handled weld slag and shock loads. Brackets and something to detect would be needed.

That would work good for detecting the bucket in only one position....level when on ground ideally.

But don't solve how to tell if a bucket (of forks) are level at various heights

 

[Cattleguard]

Do any of you guys use that thing?
I got one on my tractor but it seems to be kind of unhelpful. I think I do better just looking at the load.

Up until now, I thought the one on my tractor was a gadget I would ignore and simply learn to do it by “eye”
After reading all the answers here I will be adjusting it and USING it! And…remembering ALL the times I screwed everything up because I wasn’t using it.
Thank you all. Ya live and learn!

 

[SmallChange]

These are what I use

Hey, repete, can I beg you to explain what I'm looking at here? Is it just a label on a right angle bracket on the top of your bucket? How does that indicate bucket level? What happens differently between slight dump and slight curl positions?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Another vote for VERY useful reference tool. Mine is pretty darn accurate and takes most of the guess work out of using the bucket.

 

[Otgaugres]

I was on my 3rd compact tractor before really ever using my bucket level indicator. I modified mine in my 4066R and put a bend in the rod so that when adjusted correctly falls into then guide rod bracket when the bucket is level. Easier to see than describe. (Pic attached). Kudos to those that can do a really good job of grading with a tractor, especially a newer one. It’s hard, especially when compared to doing the same with a compact track loader. You absolutely cannot see anything on my 4066R. You need some point of reference to know when the bucket is level.

 

[repete]

Hey, repete, can I beg you to explain what I'm looking at here? Is it just a label on a right angle bracket on the top of your bucket? How does that indicate bucket level? What happens differently between slight dump and slight curl positions?

The top of the angle bracket is parallel with the bottom of the bucket. No matter the height you raise the loader arms the bracket is still reflective of the levelness of the bucket. The rods to me only indicate level if the bucket is on the ground.

When I remove items off say a shelf located 4' off the ground then the rod becomes ineffective, yet the angle bracket is still in reference to the bottom of the bucket. If the angle bracket top is on the same plane as the ground your bucket is level. To test this, if you use the rod set the loader flat on the ground and see where the rod is indicated. Now raise the loader 4' and see where the rod is when your loader is again adjusted to be parallel to the ground.

This is sort of a "to each his own" thing but I just find the visual level bracket always accurate regardless of the loader arm position. My method simply works for me and there is no right or wrong thing.

On our fire department ladder trucks with baskets we used what was referred to as a pendulum switch to control a hydraulic valve. The pendulum, mounted in the basket, always wanted to be level so it would move fluid to the basket hydraulic cylinders to constantly level the basket regardless of the steepness of the ladder. The pendulum was contained in an oil filled chamber to "slow" the adjustment in event of unanticipated basket movement.

 

[WranglerX]

After seeing some of the pictures of "factory" bucket level indicators its obvious some of the person engineering them has never been on a tractor or used one....

IF one has to know exactly the angle of bucket is in relation to plane of tractor, this one is interesting...

Bucket level indicator rod---useful?

I have had several over the years and used them all. Some seem to be better than others. I think it is in how the linkage is set up. It is best to have maximum swing in the linkage at or near the level position. The one on my new Branson doesn't seem to be as accurate or repeatable as...

www.tractorbynet.com

Might be my winter project when its to nasty to go outside of shop...

 

[SmallChange]

Now, this is interesting. Repete describes an indicator for the angle of the bucket relative to gravity, and DL Meisen describes an indicator for the angle of the bucket relative to the wheelbase of the tractor. And there are reasons why one might want one or the other.

Mostly, I've wanted an indicator to help judge whether the bucket edge will slide right under things, or bite in and try to tear up the ground, or ride up over things. So, I want a relative to wheelbase indicator.