Stupid Question - What is that rod on the loader?

[RoMad]

o2batsea, Just wondering how long it took to remove it ?? Was that a $90 job or more ??

Please can't we let that one go.

 

[Marveltone]

I've been toying with the idea of adding a level indicator for my old Ford. It wouldn't be hard to make one and it could be a nice addition when doing loader work. I just have to decide how bad I want to add something else to snag on all the brush.

Joe

 

[CurlyDave]

I am very careful about not bending mine. I am particular about doing nice dirt work and having the bucket flat and level is a must for me.

Plus its a time saver when going from scoop to dump and back you can have the bucket level before you get back to the pile.

+1

It is invaluable when do any kind of dirt work, backdragging, or even trying to scoop a rock into the bucket.

 

[soulasphil]

There is such an indicator on my JD 3520 and I've managed not to get it caught in the brush or branches so far. I've tried putting color marks on it corresponding to various positions of the bucket but have never found it really useful. I've done quite a lot of dirt work, but, at least on an open station, there is nothing like looking at the top edge of the bucket to control its position. Besides the indicator emits all sorts of squeaking noises I could do without.

 

[skipmarcy]

My Mahindra has the typical rod/tube indicator too and when the tractor was new I got on a nice level concrete pad and set the bucket down nice & level and marked the rod accurately even with the top of the tube. I removed the rod and carefully ground a shallow groove around the rod at this point and then painted inside that groove with some bright yellow paint - my tractor/loader are red so I had a clearly visible mark to go by for a perfectly level bucket to learn loader operation on.

The two loader pins that my rod/tube mounts to have large "E" clips that remove easily so the rod/tube assy comes off quickly & easily for those repairs when needed. They also stay greased well since they are the loader pins. You can leave the rod inside the tube and straighten the tube with a hammer on a nice flat metal surface - I've used the top edge of my boxblade and my bucket before to hammer it straight in the field. Then you can remove the rod and do a final straightening on it the same way. I quit painting the groove quite a few years ago, after 9 years and right at 2000 hours I can just glance at the amount of rod exposed and know where my bucket is at and yes, I use it all the time still instead of looking at the bucket itself.

 

[o2batsea]

o2batsea, Just wondering how long it took to remove it ?? Was that a $90 job or more ??

Wait, wait, i gotta stop laughing!
I would say it took a lot less time to remove than for you to think up that post.

 

[PA hayseed]

You may need to spray that rod every once in awhile, kinda a metal on metal issue. Mine has a squeal detector on it, when it starts to squeal when I curl the bucket it means it is time to lubricate it again. A little wd40 or other spray lubricant will work just fine.

 

[tulenutn2o]

I have a friend that just shouldn't have access to tools as he breaks everything. If a little is good, a lot is better..................right? We do not let him near our tools, or machinery anymore.

 

[IslandTractor]

Yes, that is it. Anyone else have issues with it getting stuck on tree branches, etc. ? I do a lot of my own firewood collecting and in the trees a lot.

Yep. I completely destroyed the first one and have managed to bend the replacement. It's coming off and I don't think I will reinstall it except when I specifically need it to grade with the bucket.

 

[IslandTractor]

I bent the crap out of it and took it off. It was annoying that I had to stop what I was doing and take time to remove it. I can't say that it was any help when it was there as I never looked at it. Now that it is gone I don't miss it.

What he said x2