Kubota light choices confuses me

GS1100GK · Jul 3, 2017

I currently own a 2015 BX2370 and will be taking ownership of a 2017 B2601 in a few days. So, here is what confuses me:

- Headlights - BX2370 has 37 watt halogen units; B2601 has 23 watt standard bulbs. The BX2370 lights look almost as good as car headlights.
- ROP rear work lights - BX2370 comes with 2 large lights (presuming close to 50 watts each); The B2601 comes with a single light (not known how bright yet).

Now, I know that how the headlight reflector is designed can make a huge difference in how much light is thrown. But, this is confusing me. Could it be that the BX series is a newer design so brighter lights were designed for it? And why would you only have 1 ROP rear work light instead of 2? I currently have my 2 ROP lights pointed forward to light up my way with my bucket on since the bucket tends to block the normal headlights. But, with 2 lights I can point 1 forward and the other behind if necessary.

Could it be the B has a smaller alternator capacity necessitating lower watt usage? I did see where you can get the higher capacity alternator installed. I spoke to my dealer and he said that is really not necessary.

I believe I saw where you can buy LED replacements for the B series lights that draw less watts and throw more light, but cannot remember where I saw them.

I am buying a tractor with almost double the lift power and a bigger bucket, yet I get lower capacity lighting?

Let me know your thoughts folks...this is driving me crazy.

And I do work into the night on occasion so I appreciate good lighting.

JWR · Jul 4, 2017

I cannot shed any light on your situation, so to speak. I do know that all the BX tractors I've worked with (two BX2200's, one 2230) plus 2 older B2150's all had worthless lights. Plastic lenses that were fogged before the rest of the tractor showed any wear, very little output. You said "look almost as good as car headlights..." -- I'd say mine all looked almost as good as a glove compartment map lamp. I just added aftermarket LED's or Halogens. It is handy that the Kubota wiring and switches all work quite well by just adding lights to the same circuit. Minimal wiring to do. Fuses apparently stay happy.
Alternators and wiring capacity are NOT an issue at all.

BX23S-1 · Jul 4, 2017

Personally, i wouldnt let the lighting issue bother me. I would just install LED`s where i need them and be done with it. I wouldnt let the factory dictate where YOU would want the lights to shine. Safety first... install them where YOU want them to shine. After-all, its YOU that needs/wants GOOD lighting, your running the tractor at night, you got to see what your doing...thats called smart & safe. If you feel you need more lighting, add more lights..! The alternator like JWR says, is not an issue, especially if your installing low draw LED`s.

lakeside · Jul 5, 2017

PaPow said:
Personally, i wouldnt let the lighting issue bother me. I would just install LED`s where i need them and be done with it. I wouldnt let the factory dictate where YOU would want the lights to shine. Safety first... install them where YOU want them to shine. After-all, its YOU that needs/wants GOOD lighting, your running the tractor at night, you got to see what your doing...thats called smart & safe. If you feel you need more lighting, add more lights..! The alternator like JWR says, is not an issue, especially if your installing low draw LED`s.

I wouldn't fuss the lights. I have a B26 and swapped out the OEM lights (back and front) for LEDs three years ago. I bought them off EBay for maybe $60 total. Installation was easy and all the original switches and wiring work.

Personal opinion, but I prefer the intense white light from LEDs rather than the warm light from incandescent lights. I live in snow country and I also find the LEDs seem to be much brighter when there's snow on the ground.

GS1100GK · Jul 5, 2017

lakeside said:
I wouldn't fuss the lights. I have a B26 and swapped out the OEM lights (back and front) for LEDs three years ago. I bought them off EBay for maybe $60 total. Installation was easy and all the original switches and wiring work.

Personal opinion, but I prefer the intense white light from LEDs rather than the warm light from incandescent lights. I live in snow country and I also find the LEDs seem to be much brighter when there's snow on the ground.

Thanks for the input. Do you recall the part numbers for those lights? I believe I will do the same thing .

Doug

kcender · Jul 5, 2017

I replaced the filament bulbs in my B2650 headlights with LED's.I got them from an RV dealer.They are a definite improvement but still not that great.The LED lights I replaced the cab lights with do most of the lighting.

RjCorazza · Jul 6, 2017

I rarely use the OEM lights. I installed front and rear led spot / flood combo lights and use them almost exclusively. When I operate on the road I use the OEM lights so I don't blind people.
As others have posted, replacing the oem bulbs with leds is a nice upgrade. I didn't try led with the headlights though...

BX23S-1 · Jul 6, 2017

This mainly pertains to headlights.... and its just food for thought.
There are mixed reviews about installing LED`s in the incandescent headlight housings. Mainly because the reflector inside the headlight housings wern`t designed around LED use. So you`ll want to make sure you buy the correct LED headlight bulbs so that they shine within the OEM headlight reflector`s, otherwise, you`ll end up not having your lighting not reach out in front of your tractor very far. And another issue is, improper LED`s cause ALOT of scatter lighting. A scattered light beam actually makes things worse. Keep in mind too, LED`s wont likely melt snow off the light assemblies... incandecent bulbs burn hot, thus keeps snow from building up on the lenses.

There was an article i saw not long ago...
A person had bought a snowmobile trailer to haul his sleds... long story short, he was rear-ended from behind because the LED lights on his trailer had become snow covered. The LED`s dont get hot enough to keep the snow off the lenses. The person is now suing the trailer manufacturer for not telling him of the potential issue involved in winter driving with a LED equipped trailer. If you take a look at trailers going down the highway during the wintertime, you`ll seem them out there with snow covered tail lights everywhere. I`ve never been a fan of LED lighting, personally i think its way over rated a lot more than it should be.

Keep in mind, that brighter dosent always mean better.

CHDinCT · Jul 6, 2017

GS1100GK said:
Could it be the B has a smaller alternator capacity necessitating lower watt usage? I did see where you can get the higher capacity alternator installed. I spoke to my dealer and he said that is really not necessary.

You answered your own question. The BX comes standard with a 40 amp alternator while the B has a 15 I believe, with the option to upgrade to a 40 amp alternator. Not too many years back, before LEDs became more affordable and available, that upgrade was highly recommended. If you ever plan on adding a cab with heat, I would definitely go for the upgraded alternator. You may get by with switching to LEDs for additional light, but if you want to be sure you'll have all the light you want while not draining your battery while running, get the upgrade.