FEL level indicator

[repete]

I get by with just this type. I can see the top flat and I can level at any height. When I place things above head height on a shelf this works well. When the top flat is level the bucket is level regardless of the height off the ground. The rods and such only work at ground level I think and the flat bar on the bucket works there too.

 

[JWR]

I get by with just this type. I can see the top flat and I can level at any height. When I place things above head height on a shelf this works well. When the top flat is level the bucket is level regardless of the height off the ground. The rods and such only work at ground level I think and the flat bar on the bucket works there too.
View attachment 736114

No, the level indicators DO NOT just work 'at ground level.' The one you show is what the mfrs do when they want to save $2 by not putting a bucket level indicator rod on the thing. Sure, I get by with it on my BX2200 but I would not want to on my larger farm tractor. As others mentioned, the top of the bucket may or may not be visible depending on what you are doing. Besides, I am often using a grapple or other front tool when there is no bucket and the rod type level indicator is very useful then too.

 

[OzarkChris]

I've never understood the interest in bucket level indicators. I just look at the top of the bucket, which is parallel with the bottom and visible on either side of the tractor, and judge by that. Is the top not parallel to the bottom on some units?

I do NOT find this comment negative, merely inquisitive. To answer your question though, the top of my bucket, grapple and most other SSQA implements I own are not parallel with the bottom leading edge. My FEL "had" a level indicator on it that got ripped off during a "grueling grapple fest". Mahindra wanted ~$200 for a new one so instead I put one of them wireless two camera rear view mirror setups from Amazon (think it was ~$150). The two cameras are mounted at the top of the cab, one toward the FEL the other pointed at 3ph implements. This setup works very well for me because I can see the leading edge on all my SSQA stuff as well as watching my 3ph implements (no float on my 3ph).

Just my 2 cents.

 

[TerryR]

Thanks, Chris.

 

[Bentrim]

More often, I want to know when my bucket is curled correctly to hold full loads when it's above my line of sight but at varying heights. When I'm loading something like a big dumpster and I've got a bucket full of miscellaneous objects that need to clear the lip before dumping I worry about dropping things prematurely or onto myself. Anybody rig up something like this? What would it even be called?

That would be a self leveling bucket. Some manufacturers did it mechanically with linkage. some had it built into the hydraulic valve and yet others sold a kit that was a special valve installed. Some are good but some only level when raising. Most smaller loaders did not have them as the price was too high.

 

[DougMahindra2545]

My Mahindra came with one, standard. Don't they all? It is handy, but for all the road building and terracing work I do, I just find it a starting point, being level. Whether shoveling or dozing with the 4in1 clamshell open, it usually needs to be tipped up or down some degree depending upon the terrain.

 

[lpakiz]

I would be very lost without a good level indicator. When I work on making woods trails, I need to shave off a few inches here or there, and if the bucket is not curled EXACTLY right, you are digging down or rising up.

 

[dh206]

I've often thought about just attaching a piece of plastic or any rigid material (painted metal for instance) to the top of the bucket so that I can get a better indication of level vs trying to gauge the top of the bucket from the seat, which could be off by 5-10 degrees depending where the bucket is in relation to my head. It's really tough to determine those 2" that are so relative to where the bucket is and what it's carrying. Nice job.

 

[WranglerX]

After revisiting this and other parts of forum, really beginning to rethink this... Might be cold rainy nigh project in the heated shop...

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

 

[tradosaurus]

I use my level indicator every time I use my bucket.
Probably the best add-on for a tractor.

 

[JDAOWNER]

I USED THE ONE ON MY KIOTI WHEN I NEED IT. ALAS, IT STUCK UP TOO HIGH OVER LOADER ARM AND A BRANCH BENT IT. I WOULD LIKE ONE THAT DOSN'T STICK OVER THE LOADR ARMS. I KNOW THERE ARE SOM HOME MADE ONES ON HERE, BUT I DON'T USE IT ENOUGH TO BOTHER.

 

[rScotty]

I get by with just this type. I can see the top flat and I can level at any height. When I place things above head height on a shelf this works well. When the top flat is level the bucket is level regardless of the height off the ground. The rods and such only work at ground level I think and the flat bar on the bucket works there too.
View attachment 736114

Thanks for the photo. Our Kubota has two of those handy horizontal brackets - one on both sides. It looks similar to yours, although on ours the reflective tape is on the top horizontal flat part.

It was nice of Kubota to make them so visible and weld them on exactly parallel to the cutting edge.
I wish I'd thought to do that with our other tractors years ago.

No moving parts, no rattle, instinctive to use, and always shows the true bucket angle. From on the ground on up to about half max height I can judge bucket angle with one glance at that bracket.
It's particularly handy to keep the bucket angled up a few degrees moving snow so it doesn't dig in.

I find the brackets to be more instinctive & useful than the tube & rod system. But some folks don't like to judge level that way and a few even get passionate about it. I don't understand why.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

There's not one on any tractor available to me. 14 tractors.

 

[RalphVa]

I USED THE ONE ON MY KIOTI WHEN I NEED IT. ALAS, IT STUCK UP TOO HIGH OVER LOADER ARM AND A BRANCH BENT IT. I WOULD LIKE ONE THAT DOSN'T STICK OVER THE LOADR ARMS. I KNOW THERE ARE SOM HOME MADE ONES ON HERE, BUT I DON'T USE IT ENOUGH TO BOTHER.

You could bend it down right at the level point. I probably should do that on my PVC pipe. Could heat it up and bend it.

 

[Henro]

I don't remember if I posted to this thread or not.

BUT every time I see a thread about bucket level indicators, I keep wondering what they actually do.

I have the simple type indicator like the one member "repeat" provided the picture of. It tells me the relationship between the ground and the loader bucket bottom, or whatever other reference I might want to compare to.

My impression is that level indicators that are somehow mechanically linked to the tractor, show when the bucket is "level" with the tractor frame. I guess this could be useful in some cases, but I often find myself in a situation where I don't want the bucket bottom to be parallel with the tractor frame. I want it to be angled in reference to something else other than the tractor frame...

So what am I missing? Are these things really, overall, that useful? I do get it that if moving snow on a surface you might find them useful, until the surface angle changes and the bucket edge either digs in or effectively raises when the surface drops away.

 

[BnRidge]

The grapple here has tines that curl up at the end. If they are just right, they can rake everything in their path. If not, I'm either excavating or doing nothing. And I can't see a thing down there when it's buried in trash, branches, leaves, brush. We too have other tractors, some with loaders, and buckets or forks. Don't have, never had, and don't need one there.

 

[rScotty]

I don't remember if I posted to this thread or not.

BUT every time I see a thread about bucket level indicators, I keep wondering what they actually do.

I have the simple type indicator like the one member "repeat" provided the picture of. It tells me the relationship between the ground and the loader bucket bottom, or whatever other reference I might want to compare to.

My impression is that level indicators that are somehow mechanically linked to the tractor, show when the bucket is "level" with the tractor frame. I guess this could be useful in some cases, but I often find myself in a situation where I don't want the bucket bottom to be parallel with the tractor frame. I want it to be angled in reference to something else other than the tractor frame...

So what am I missing? Are these things really, overall, that useful? I do get it that if moving snow on a surface you might find them useful, until the surface angle changes and the bucket edge either digs in or effectively raises when the surface drops away.

On uneven ground or for back dragging the rod and tube level can't help much. For that it's better to look at the bucket.

But so many people like their R&T level indicators that they clearly have a place. I can see how that is really handy on gravel drives, snow, or anytime the bucket is on the ground and the ground is flat. And that's the kind of work a lot of tractors are used for.

Neither is very good for keeping the bucket level at max lift.

 

[Midniteoyl]

On uneven ground or for back dragging the rod and tube level can't help much. For that it's better to look at the bucket.

But so many people like their R&T level indicators that they clearly have a place. I can see how that is really handy on gravel drives, snow, or anytime the bucket is on the ground and the ground is flat. And that's the kind of work a lot of tractors are used for.

Neither is very good for keeping the bucket level at max lift.

My main problems areas are when using forks, as I cannot see the tips at all, and using my specific grapple, for the same reason.

 

[WranglerX]

I don't remember if I posted to this thread or not.

BUT every time I see a thread about bucket level indicators, I keep wondering what they actually do.

I have the simple type indicator like the one member "repeat" provided the picture of. It tells me the relationship between the ground and the loader bucket bottom, or whatever other reference I might want to compare to.

My impression is that level indicators that are somehow mechanically linked to the tractor, show when the bucket is "level" with the tractor frame. I guess this could be useful in some cases, but I often find myself in a situation where I don't want the bucket bottom to be parallel with the tractor frame. I want it to be angled in reference to something else other than the tractor frame...

So what am I missing? Are these things really, overall, that useful? I do get it that if moving snow on a surface you might find them useful, until the surface angle changes and the bucket edge either digs in or effectively raises when the surface drops away.

ITs called living on the edge.....

 

[beowulf]

Thanks for the thread - a reminder that I need to reinstall my bent up rod that came with the tractor and which I did learn how to use before I bent it and took it off. There are those times when I am just guessing if it is level. . . and making mistakes. This gives me something to do with the tractor today. If I can find the rod.