Low Budget Bucket Position Indicator

[Rockyridge]

Attached are pictures of my bucket position indicator.
It痴 easy to make and doesn稚 cost much. It seems to work pretty good though I haven稚 had a chance to use it a lot yet.
I used a pulley that I got a Home Depot, some clothes line and a 36 inch bungee for supplies.
I had to make the bracket rather than just putting it into the available hole because without it the pulley hit when the loader was raised to the top.
I wrapped black electrical tape at the appropriate spot on the rope for the indicator. When the tape is at the end on the pulley the bucket is flat.

Probably the next thing that I will have to do is figure out how to get a light to shine on it for plowing snow in the dark winter nights that are coming our way.

See what you think.

 

[BTDT]

You might be a redneck if your bucket level indicator is powered by a bungee cord . Nice job. One drawback might be working around trees and brush where limbs might alter your design.


Forgot to mention, welcome to TBN.

 

[GMtb42]

Attached are pictures of my bucket position indicator.
It痴 easy to make and doesn稚 cost much. It seems to work pretty good though I haven稚 had a chance to use it a lot yet.
I used a pulley that I got a Home Depot, some clothes line and a 36 inch bungee for supplies.
I had to make the bracket rather than just putting it into the available hole because without it the pulley hit when the loader was raised to the top.
I wrapped black electrical tape at the appropriate spot on the rope for the indicator. When the tape is at the end on the pulley the bucket is flat.

Probably the next thing that I will have to do is figure out how to get a light to shine on it for plowing snow in the dark winter nights that are coming our way.

See what you think.

Maybe you could mount a small LED to make light ?
Those Counter Strike fonts always look weird .

 

[Egon]

That's very innovative.

Now go for some seat time so you can chuck it!

 

[Grrrr]

Thats pretty neat

Is it not possible to see the bucket position from this tractor? I have never operated a loader on a tractor of this size but on bigger ones it is normally possible to see the position on the bucket.

 

[SPYDERLK]

How does it compensate for the position of the loader arms as they pivot up/down. Is it only correct at ground level??
larry

 

[Egon]

Grrr; you can see the top of the bucket. That's all you need.

 

[Grrrr]

Grrr; you can see the top of the bucket. That's all you need.

That's what I was thinking

 

[Crash101]

You can see the top of the bucket on the LA463 but that's all. Until one gets used to reading the leveler, it's very difficult to know when the bucket is at or near level.
Good idea and nice job with the level indicator. As a user of the same loader I can easily see where it would be handy to have.

 

[DiezNutz]

Another drawback is how bungee cords deteriorate, especially when kept under tension and/or exposed to the sun alot. Either you need lots of replacements or lots of electrical tape for "recalibrating"

 

[Rockyridge]

I finally got a little seat time using the loader and this work great. It is much more accurate than the leveler on the bucket.

As I use it more I discover that I can have the bucket at the correct angle (level with the ground when the bucket is all the way down) while it is still coming down and then just move right into the dirt pile without stopping.

While I was using it to do some clearing in the woods, brush did come over the top of the bucket a couple of times but had no effect because everything is protected between the cylinder and the loader frame.

The only time bungee deterioration has any effect is when it will no longer pull the rope back all the way. The distance from the front of the cylinder (bucket top), as measured by the rope moving, is what indicates the position of the bucket, no relation to the bungee tension.

Since I attached the rope to the bungee with a loop knot (slide the hook out of the way) and used the hook on the other end, it takes less then a minute to replace the bungee when necessary and no need to "recalibrate" either.

 

[Texas Dodge]

I just look at the top edge of my bucket and I can tell when it is level or not.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I just look at the top edge of my bucket and I can tell when it is level or not.

Yep. Inherent, works at any height, unbreakable, no maintenance, no clutter.
larry

 

[rdsaustintx]

Might be kind of gnarly if that bungee ever lets go

 

[TalonDancer]

Cool design that provides a bucket level indicator very close to the operator AND allows marking level for more than one implement (bucket, fork lift etc.).

FWIW the fancy metal rod bucket indicators on an L39 or the Grand 40's FEL only mark level for one implement (at a time) at one position (e.g.when it is on the ground). They are adjustable but you need a wrench.

Talon Dancer

 

[Berniep]

I just look at the top edge of my bucket and I can tell when it is level or not.

Personally I can't tell a half degree off level and that makes the difference between a bucket full of snow and a yard full of gravel come spring time.
You guys probably don't own sprit levels or plumb bobs either.