Loader FEL level indicator rod.

[Gil Case]

I just put the bucket level with the ground and put a piece of electrical tape around the rod at the top of the tube. That is the only indicator I have and it seems to be enough.

 

[ovrszd]

The "Rod sliding thru a Tube" concept seems to be the most common. On mine the tube is attached to the bucket swivel pin and the rod is then slid into the tube and fastened with a locking bolt. To adjust you loosen the bolt and slide the rod up or down in the tube and retighten. The rod then slides thru a slotted bracket. To set level you tilt the bucket until the "V" in the rod is resting in the slotted bracket. I like this design better because I can tell when the bucket is tipped forward and how much by where the rod is in the slot. With the fixed tube and sliding rod concept you can't see the rod once it disappears into the tube. Check out the pic for details.





I have NO desire to run an FEL without a level indicator. Biggest gain to me is when doing repetative work I can set the bucket level while returning to the pile and with the bucket in the air. When I get to the pile I'm already setup and only have to drop the bucket to the ground. Try that without an indicator or one of those flat brackets that's welded to the top flange of the bucket.

I also use my indicator if trying to dig to judge how much pitch I have on the bucket when I start. Just can't see life without it.

Yep, once I got it caught in brush and bent the snot out of the rod. Stopped working and fixed the indicator before I continued even though I wasn't using it for the task of piling brush. It's not quite as important as 3rd function, but REAL close.

 

[ovrszd]

Here's another shot that shows how the bottom of the tube is fastened at the bucket pin. Sorry I don't have more clarity.

 

[econometrics]

Bringing this thread back to life. Does anyone have any experience using the new "bent" style rod on the JD 553's?

Richard, I like your idea above - setting the bucket level on the ground, then setting the rod in the slot... then you can know how far forward the bucket is from the notch on the rod as you go up with the FEL.

I guess the 553 can work the same by setting the rod into the slot on the loader arm where it bends.

 

[RalphVa]

I've a bent rod on my 1025's bucket. It's easier to tell where "level" is (@ the bend) than the tape or paint I had on the straight on on the 410 loader.

Ralph

 

[ovrszd]

My Brother's loader uses the bent rod type. I like it better than mine because the rod doesn't stick up above the loader frame as bad when bucket is rolled back. I catch mine on brush once in a while.

 

[eventer79]

Here you go. This is on my DK 40. In my opinion bucket level indicator is very useful. I use it all the time. When rod is even with the top of the tube then the bucket is level. I'm sure that you could find or fabricate clamps to hold the rod and tube brackets to the hydraulic cylinder if you didn't want to weld like the factory indicator is done.

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OH! That's what that is -- I noticed something like this on my '94 Ford 1620 FEL yesterday while I was lubing and stared at for a while trying to figure out what it did (fostering tractor, so it's new to me). It is held on with a hose clamp (we like "redneck engineering" down here). Stumbled across this thread, mystery solved, thanks!

 

[ovrszd]

The neighbor that cuts my hay bought a new NH tractor several years ago with FEL. He left it overnight in my field so I checked it out. It has the bent rod style. I stared at that thing and talked to myself outloud for several seconds before it dawned on me what that was. Then I talked to myself outloud for several seconds about how stupid I was to not know.....

 

[Egbert]

Never saw what hit it, but the rod on my DK50 turned into a pretzel a few weeks ago. I just removed it and continued on, albeit with some aggravation

Before replacing the rod, I have been searching - with no success - for a digital option. Does this exist?

I would like to mount a sensor/sender on the side of the bucket that sends a signal to a cab receiver with the bucket degree angle.

 

[ovrszd]

Never saw what hit it, but the rod on my DK50 turned into a pretzel a few weeks ago. I just removed it and continued on, albeit with some aggravation

Before replacing the rod, I have been searching - with no success - for a digital option. Does this exist?

I would like to mount a sensor/sender on the side of the bucket that sends a signal to a cab receiver with the bucket degree angle.

Now you've got my attention!!!! My Brother's NH backhoe came with such a creature. It would actually kick off the hydraulics when the bucket was level. Has long since been destroyed by brush, etc.

My imagination is at work now. How about an indicator light that comes on when the bucket is level, controlled by the level rod and a switch??? Or maybe a simple little beeper that signals once when level???

Yeah, I know,,,, calm down....