Where's the tell-tale?

[Vern1]

Greetings,
First post, long time lurker.....

OK, so I'm not a machinery newbie but this is my first Kubota.
It seems that EVERY machine I ever ran before that had a front-end loader also had a tell-tale indicator for the bucket.
It usually had two locations: bucket level and bucket slightly down (light digging) but there isn't one on the front end of my L35TLB.
Did Kubota have one or do I need to fashion one?
It won't be hard to built something but if it had one already on the automatic bucket leveler assembly and I am just missing the indicator part that would be easy.....the machine is used and may have had it "removed" by a tree limb or something...
SO far, I have taken the cheap approach and put two marks on the arm with a "magic marker" and they are sorta close....

Also, a THANKS to the other folks who have posted "how-to's" here that have helped me out!
Gotta tackle one of the outrigger cylinders on the hoe as it was uncovered and the sun ate the seal.....and the instructions and hints posted by others have made it sound easy enough!

 

[texasjohn]

Welcome to TBN as a poster!

My LA853 loader has a bucket level rod... which I marked with a marks-a-lot for level and digging slightly. I'm not sure if your FEL has such a rod or not, will let someone more familar with that particular FEL respond.

Suggestion: when you post, clearly put the topic of the post in your subject so that it will catch peoples eye... tell-tale isn't very explicit as to the subject of the post.

 

[Vern1]

Welcome to TBN as a poster!

Greetings,
Thanks texasjohn from another Texan!

I went back thru the manuals and only found parts pertaining to the automatic leveling linkage adjustment but this seems to have more to do with the angle of the bucket as you go up with the load to keep it from dumping off the back of the bucket onto your hood....
I haven't tried to just drop the boom/bucket in "float" to see if the bucket itself "self levels" or not...if so, that would be a nice feature but don't have hopes up!
It gives me another chance to play with the L35.
I can fashion an indicator and put it on the inside the arms where it will be protected and also act more directly on the cylinder.

 

[texasjohn]

I looked for a photo of a bucket level indicator rod... this was the best I could locate... somewhere on TBN this has been discussed extensively some time ago and photos and build information was in that thread...maybe you will be successful in finding it, I hope so.

 

[Vern1]

Greetings,
Thanks John...
Yeah, pretty much EVERY other FEL I ever operated had the indicator installed from the factory.
It seems like with all the other nicely thought out features on most of these tractors they would have remembered to install something like this.
My main concern was that it had one installed but got itself removed by a tree or something.
I am most familiar with the JD version as I have owned and ran 350/450/555 trackloaders and 210/310/500A tractors with hoes and a sprinkling of other brands including Case, Cat 4X4 (man, I _WISH_ I could afford one of those as I think my Kubota would fit _IN_ the bucket..), AC, etc.

It won't take but an hour or so to fashion one up so.....

Thanks again!

Edit: Central Texas? I'm about halfway between Bastrop and Lockhart...sound familiar?

 

[KennyV]

I saved these pictures from someone? On this forum… they looked very nice … KennyV.

 

[Vern1]

Greetings,
Thanks Kenny!
That's the general idea......
Since the L35 already has the bucket level feature, I will attempt to use some of the existing linkage and simply addon the indicator somehow.....
and try to keep it from getting knocked off.
The one in the picture looks like it could be bent or removed by a fast moving limb or something!
Thanks again!

 

[texasjohn]

Vern1, I'm 1 mile outside Jarrell, just off I35 and 15 miles N. of Georgetown.
You are down in the land of good BBQ... I'm envious! Drop in some time when you are this way.. PM me and we'll connect.

 

[Vern1]

Vern1, I'm 1 mile outside Jarrell, just off I35 and 15 miles N. of Georgetown.
You are down in the land of good BBQ... I'm envious! Drop in some time when you are this way.. PM me and we'll connect.

Greetings,
Yep, only about 15 miles to Lockhart......and BBQ!
Have the choice of Blacks, Kreutz or Chisholm Trail.....all less than a mile from each other - now you did it.....mouth is watering!

 

[texasjohn]

I've been to Kruz, Blacks... my favorite is Cooper's in Lanno .... my #1 vote for best BBQ in all Texas

I don't get there but a couple of times a year