Tractor grading with laser Question

[Garrett2006]

Anyone ever simply attached a laser receiver to there tractor front end loader or box blade and some rough grading for pads and roads? Something that could be bought from Lowe痴 or similar & not used gauge wheels on the loader bucket or box blade? Looking for ideas. Have found a few that have done it, but there set up was way more elaborate than what I知 thinking. Wanting to not use gauge wheels and only use the bucket and or box blade for simple rough grade of yards, pads or driveways. Thanks

 

[GSVette]

I have a rotary laser with the receiver mounted on a piece of square tube welded to my back blade-works reasonably well to get a rough grade-can be a bit hard to see the light on the receiver and I certainly can’t hear it beep from inside of the cab.

 

[Aquamoose]

I did use a crude setup with an excavator with the receiver on a pole clamped to the front blade. It can work. Just a matter of being able to see the receiver while operating so use a jig to position the receiver in your sight lines.

 

[Redlands Okie]

 

[Garrett2006]

View attachment 615977

Exactly what I was thinking. How’d it work?

 

[Aquamoose]

Exactly what I was thinking. How’d it work?

Patience and careful manipulation of the controls while keeping an eye on the receiver.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Works fine. The receiver has a large display and large receiving window. Also has a adjustable beeper that can get LOUD. Often use it without looking at it.

Hardest part is knowing how to operate the grading equipment (tractor and attachments) so practice helps. A gauagevwheel off the back of the blade can make things much easier.

 

[Fallon]

The recieve window on the couple I've used has me rethinking a similar plan. You only have a 2-3" or so window where the detector receives unless you get some higher end detectors. I think Spectra makes one with at least a 7" recieve window. Its surprisingly easy to loose track of where the laser is & have to hunt up & down a lot. I'd wager it's more useful for finer grading than rougher grading to stay within the detectors range.

It's definitely been done though. Seen excavators & a few box blades rigged up with that for manual feedback rather than automated control.

 

[3Ts]

View attachment 615977

I see the level you have on your blade, you might find it easier to read one of these from the seat. This is what I have and can be obtained from walmart, camping world, amazon, etc.:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-Level-AccuLevel/29764331?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227021776115&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40838465192&wl4=aud-566049426705la-78651266432&wl5=9027128&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=29764331&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhdTqBRDNARIsABsOl9_z75D5UQdYT2Vagw5MZkazsxz75SN_pp1eUe7ohfk1FOYcrkCY-OAaAmFmEALw_wcB

 

[Redlands Okie]

Thanks for the info about the level.