What good is a "true" level indicator anyway?

[Henro]

What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

In a thread elsewhere Junkman posted a picture of his loader bucket showing its simple level indicator...

Some seem to think this indicator is kind of "crappy" to say the least...

Myself, I think it is great. Why? Because where I live nothing is level anyway.

I need to angle my bucket according to the grade I am dealing with. This kind of indicator works very well for me.

The only thing I wish for and will accomplish sometime when I get around to it, is to have one of these type indicators on each side of the bucket.

I can't see ever wanting one of those level indicators that is a rod that moves up and down with bucket angle. I need to know the angle of my bucket, not if it is level or not!

Am I in the minority here? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[thcri]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

Henro,

I have the rod and like it. If you are on unlevel ground your tractor is going to be unlevel right along with the bucket. What I did do was put colored tape on the rod to give me an idea of where the bucket is and I can pretty much tell where it is in relationship to the ground without looking around the sides to the bucket.

murph

 

[johnk]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

I think after using the loader a lot you get used to "eyeballing it." I get my quite level just from using it a lot. Who cares if its not perfectly level as long as it gets the job done. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

I normally curl my bucket forward, use float to drop the FEL to the ground, with your loader control still in the float position start tilting the bucket back till it levels with the ground where you are working. You can also watch your loader arms with peripheral vision and you will know when they are at their lowest arc, go too far and they start to raise once again. Try it a couple of times and it will become second nature quickly. You will be surprised how much less you will even glance at the factory supplied level indicator.

Of course if you have a tractor with a hood that prevents you from seeing your bucket easily than this idea is a moot point. Love those curved New Holland hoods! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[NIXON]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

Bill , I never even look at the level indicator . To me it means Squat . If I look at anything it's the back of the bucket. If the Back of the bucket is up .. I'm digging . If it's flush .. I'm not . Maybe not the best way to do it . But for me it works .
John

 

[MicroPilot]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

How does this work?

My loader has the rod, and a "gauge" (really just a strip of metal) on the loader arm. I never use it. I look at the heel of the bucket and can tell from there if it's level or not, and/or use a method similiar to what Pineridge uses.

 

[SPIKER]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

I don't have a level indicator on mine either, the boss's greene one does, but it is not very well thought out. can see it but if the eyes are not so good anymore or you are on a non-level spot then the indicator isn't working.

I look at the bucket, tilt it all way back and drop it to the ground, and tilt it back forward untill the lift arms or back of bucket start to move a bit. there is where the cutting edge starts to CUT and back of bucket starts to raise. level is there no matter what kind of angle the tractor is ON. remembering that if you are working over a hump/knowl or vally then you have to adjust for level anyhow as you move... hard to do with a clutch tractor, but I'm in low range anything I'm doing that type of work anyhow... next tractor will be a shuttle shift probably, not a hydst due to long runs of mowing or tilling though...

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[bczoom]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

Bill,
My tractor is green so the top of the bucket itself is the level indicator.
I do use the level indicator constantly to determine what angle I'm at and adjust accordingly based on what I'm digging into, back dragging etc. I do prefer it on the bucket itself.
Although I don't have a lot of seat time using the rod type level indicator, I didn't care much for it. When using the FEL, I'm instinctively looking at the bucket and what I'm digging into. I didn't care for looking up at a small rod. Age is catching up with me... too hard to see small things at a glance.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

I had the rod type indicator on my tractor and took it off... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Egon]

Re: What good is a \"true\" level indicator anyway?

Henro:

I'm with you. My bucket has the same type indicator on it but seems I never pay much attention to it.

Egon