I have wanted to fabricate a bucket level indicator on my BX, since as everyone knows, the factory indicator on the bucket is rudimentary at best.
So, I came up with an idea for one based on an indicator I saw one time on a piece of construction equipment a long time ago. Don't remember anymore what it was on. Probably a loader or backhoe.
I formed a piece of 1/8" X 1" strap into a circle about 6" in diameter, cut another piece of strap to weld on it across the diameter. I drilled a hole in the middle and then cut a 1 1/8" long piece of 3/8" I.D. tube and welded it on for a bearing. I cut another piece about 5" long, drilled a 3/8" hole to mount it to the pivot bolt and bent a 90° about an inch from the end for a pointer. I made a couple of 45° cuts on the bent end to make a pointed end.
I painted to pointer Kubota dark gray and the indicator Kubota orange.
I had a couple of 1/4" Heim ends with studs in my parts bin and a piece of 1/4" rod stock to use for a connecting link.
It took a little experimenting to get the location for the link on the bucket and ended up putting the indicator up on the reinforcing piece in the middle of the right loader arm. On the bucket, I drilled and tapped the hole 1/4" X 28 as there was not enough clearance to put a nut on the inside of the pivot plate, and used a jam nut on the outside. For the indicator mount, I drilled and tapped a hole for a 3/8" X 16 bolt for the pivot.
Since I had to bend the rod to clear the cross brace between the arms I cut a piece of 1/4" rod, bent it into a J shape and threaded the long end. I drilled and tapped a hole 1/4" X 20 in the cross brace and installed it with a jam nut to hold it in position.
I assembled everything and cut the rod to the correct length and threaded both ends, assembled the ends and adjusted it to get the proper amount of rotation on the indicator for the full range of motion of the bucket.
Once that was done, I cut some pieces of black electrical tape and applied them to the indicator at the pointer position corresponding to level, 45° and 90° of bucket angle.
Since I used only what I had on hand, my cost out of pocket was $0.00, and should aid a lot when I use the bucket for digging in the dirt or pushing snow.
So, I came up with an idea for one based on an indicator I saw one time on a piece of construction equipment a long time ago. Don't remember anymore what it was on. Probably a loader or backhoe.
I formed a piece of 1/8" X 1" strap into a circle about 6" in diameter, cut another piece of strap to weld on it across the diameter. I drilled a hole in the middle and then cut a 1 1/8" long piece of 3/8" I.D. tube and welded it on for a bearing. I cut another piece about 5" long, drilled a 3/8" hole to mount it to the pivot bolt and bent a 90° about an inch from the end for a pointer. I made a couple of 45° cuts on the bent end to make a pointed end.
I painted to pointer Kubota dark gray and the indicator Kubota orange.
I had a couple of 1/4" Heim ends with studs in my parts bin and a piece of 1/4" rod stock to use for a connecting link.
It took a little experimenting to get the location for the link on the bucket and ended up putting the indicator up on the reinforcing piece in the middle of the right loader arm. On the bucket, I drilled and tapped the hole 1/4" X 28 as there was not enough clearance to put a nut on the inside of the pivot plate, and used a jam nut on the outside. For the indicator mount, I drilled and tapped a hole for a 3/8" X 16 bolt for the pivot.
Since I had to bend the rod to clear the cross brace between the arms I cut a piece of 1/4" rod, bent it into a J shape and threaded the long end. I drilled and tapped a hole 1/4" X 20 in the cross brace and installed it with a jam nut to hold it in position.
I assembled everything and cut the rod to the correct length and threaded both ends, assembled the ends and adjusted it to get the proper amount of rotation on the indicator for the full range of motion of the bucket.
Once that was done, I cut some pieces of black electrical tape and applied them to the indicator at the pointer position corresponding to level, 45° and 90° of bucket angle.
Since I used only what I had on hand, my cost out of pocket was $0.00, and should aid a lot when I use the bucket for digging in the dirt or pushing snow.
