Working under the bucket?

[bigdeano]

Just use the 4 x 4 you used last time. Two things would have to fail for it to come down. Not going to happen.

 

[Soundguy]

That is about the smartest way yet.

the older I get, the more craftier I have become to find ways to not get squished.

 

[Looking4new]

It is called getting smarter.

I can't count the number of times I have been stretched across the frame of a dump truck with the box in the air and not supported. Not no more, uh, uh, aint gonna happen any more.
I caught one of my bosses young sons (19) last fall, in between the tailgate and the box on a dump truck. I was all over him right now and explained that he couldn't move quick enough to fall to the ground in order to avoid the tailgate squishing him against the box and cutting him in two.

 

[Soundguy]

I hear ya on the dump bed up and being on the frame. Last time I did it we had a 4x4 there, but I bet it would have sheared lil a toothpick

 

[Looking4new]

If you put a 4x4 across both frame rails and lower the box onto it, then you will see if it will in fact hold the box up.
Even a 4x4 is better than trying to stop the box falling with your body.

 

[Looking4new]

For the OP and his question, I would take a couple of patio slabs 24" square by 2" thick and put them where one end of two 4x4s' stood on their ends would be on the ground and lower the bucket onto the other ends of the 4x4s. You can still pick up the steer axle in that position to put axle stands under then let off the pressure so the axle sits on the stands and the loader bucket sits on the ends of the 4x4s. A helper would come in handy here.

 

[CalG]

It's probably going to be easier just to pull the tractor up to one of the many trees I've got around the drive with the bucket high.
Then chock the rear wheels so the tractor can't slip away.

But I prefer to work on the concrete pad I've got out front of the shop ;-) No need for patio blocks.......

 

[LD1]

Angle iron and hose clamps do the trick for me

 

[2458n]

If you put a 4x4 across both frame rails and lower the box onto it, then you will see if it will in fact hold the box up.
Even a 4x4 is better than trying to stop the box falling with your body.

I did the same with a railroad tie. Bed came about half way down crushing the Ford's frame rail. Very expensive mistake.

 

[kevin37b]

Or a piece of pipe slit in half with a butt welded on each end . That 4x4 is fine until you rock things around a bit and it has bled off . Then you might have a problem .