Fragile, Inaccurate, or Useful? Let’s Talk Bucket Level Indicators!

[Egon]

How do level indicators work when working on an incline?

 

[bdhsfz6]

The tube / rod level indicators show the bucket position relative to the tractor and the ground it's on regardless of slope.

Bubble or pendulum indicators don't do this and are of little use on a slope.

If you're trying to pick up a pallet off the top of a stack with the tractor on a slope, no indicator is going to help. A fork mounted camera is the best bet.

 

[scootr]

How do level indicators work when working on an incline?

A mechanical indicator shows the buck position relative to the tractor. If the tractor is on the slope then a 'level' bucket is parallel to the slope

 

[RjCorazza]

Never had a tractor that had one, I welded a piece of rebar to my bucket so when the top is covered with snow I can still see it. Sometimes I just set the bucket down and rock it to feel where flat is, sometimes Flat is Not the same thing as level though.

I do Really like the self leveling FEL on the TLB though very handy when lifting up high.

My flat top bucket is easy to visually level, but I can't visually level the ssqa snowplow. I think I may use your idea and attach a piece of rod perpendicular to the frame where I can see it.
I like to keep the blade dead level so the 1.25" thick polyethylene edge wears evenly.

 

[kozal01]

I find the level indicator on my Kioti to be very useful. I adjusted it when the tractor was new and havent needed to touch it since, I used a paint marker to mark the rod for my forks, that has worked great as well.

 

[garry1p]

I posted earlier that my rod keeps getting bent and is not very useful and decided to work on this.

My solution cost around $25 and indicates when the bucket is flat relative to the ground at any height.
It also stays with the tractor and is useful with forks.
IIRC Reed switch (pkg 5) was $5, led and magnets (8 magnets, 16 leds) $8, battery holder (3 holders AAA) $8

This is a test set up I need to come up with a permanent solution. Blue led comes on when bucket is slightly below level and goes off when bucket is brought back up to level. This is all adjustable on how to set it up.

B-pos-----LED----reed switch---B-neg The led will be relocated up the lifter arm or dash and probably be red.
........................Magnet............

Battery holder 3VDC
on left arrow reed switch and led
right arrow is magnet.

 

[garry1p]

Unfortunately; the above did not work out as planed. Back to the drawing board.

 

[kabong57]

Thanks, I found that simple flat bar on top of the bucket useful too. My hat's off to Kubota for doing it - and doubly so because they did it without any fanfare or even any explanation. For the longest time I wondered what those flats on top of the bucket were there for. I bet I'm not alone.

And anyone can easily add that feature to their FEL to better judge the angle of the bucket cutting edge. The downside to that simple solution is it still needs well-calibrated Mk II eyeballs to confirm how the level changes when the loader arms are moved. The better the eyeball, the better the leveling.

I am also greatly intrigued by Medonsy's setup back on message #11 - the one where he shows a curved gauge with dual pointers - one pointer showing bucket angle now, and the other pointer showing the angle the bucket will have if lowered at the ground.

That is a one very clever idea. .
rScotty

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Westendorf offers the rotational ones;

Rotational Indicators Parts | Westendorf

Buy parts for Rotational Indicators by Westendorf, including Optional Rotational Depth Indicator - Landscraper, Optional Rotational Level Indicator - Landscraper.

store.loaders.com

I have both on my TA29 Loader. Zeroed with the bucket on, made notes on how much "off" when using the Forks.