Chains and lights. Bring it on!

[Marveltone]

Okay, after many false starts and interruptions I finally got my tire chains resized and installed. A couple of hours with a ViseGrip, a ball-peen hammer, a couple chisels, a railroad iron and a retired father with nothing else to do yields perfect results!

Now, with the traction issues fixed, we moved to the next phase. Lights! The old Ford had the headlights mounted in the fenders. Bad placement when using a FEL, as no light makes it past the loader mounts. I picked up a couple tractor lights from the local Fleet supply for $15/ea. and mounted them high on my winter cab. Viola! Light where I need it!

Once evertything was installed, I fired up old Blue and started plowing the drive. The traction is just about perfect, as the chains don't slip until the little 22hp diesel really digs in and almost lugs. BTW, this is plowing uphill on gravel with a 60" rear blade in about 8" of two week old snow. Third range, first gear. About 20F, so the snow is quite heavy. And it only pulls that hard when I'm widening out the road and pushing back the old packed snow berms. Good match-up, I'd say. :thumbsup:

I plowed for a couple hours, when suddenly the lights went out. I popped the cover off the fuse box, and sure enough, I blew the light fuse. A quick examination revealed the fuse to be only 15 amps. With the addad lights, I'm running closer to 21. I'll upgrade fuses when I get back into town.

Still, I'm rather pleased.

The pics show a couple views of the chains, sand a before and after of the lights.

Joe

 

[Don87]

Okay, after many false starts and interruptions I finally got my tire chains resized and installed. A couple of hours with a ViseGrip, a ball-peen hammer, a couple chisels, a railroad iron and a retired father with nothing else to do yields perfect results!

Now, with the traction issues fixed, we moved to the next phase. Lights! The old Ford had the headlights mounted in the fenders. Bad placement when using a FEL, as no light makes it past the loader mounts. I picked up a couple tractor lights from the local Fleet supply for $15/ea. and mounted them high on my winter cab. Viola! Light where I need it!

Once evertything was installed, I fired up old Blue and started plowing the drive. The traction is just about perfect, as the chains don't slip until the little 22hp diesel really digs in and almost lugs. BTW, this is plowing uphill on gravel with a 60" rear blade in about 8" of two week old snow. Third range, first gear. About 20F, so the snow is quite heavy. And it only pulls that hard when I'm widening out the road and pushing back the old packed snow berms. Good match-up, I'd say. :thumbsup:

I plowed for a couple hours, when suddenly the lights went out. I popped the cover off the fuse box, and sure enough, I blew the light fuse. A quick examination revealed the fuse to be only 15 amps. With the addad lights, I'm running closer to 21. I'll upgrade fuses when I get back into town.Still, I'm rather pleased.

The pics show a couple views of the chains, sand a before and after of the lights.

Joe

Be careful when going to a higher amperage fuse. Make sure the wiring will handle the load, otherwise it can catch on fire.

I installed a seperate wire, and switch for my worklights(with an inline fuse), because I wasn't sure about the wire that ran to the back of my tractor.

 

[Marveltone]

Be careful when going to a higher amperage fuse. Make sure the wiring will handle the load, otherwise it can catch on fire.

I installed a seperate wire, and switch for my worklights(with an inline fuse), because I wasn't sure about the wire that ran to the back of my tractor.

Good advice, and well put. My dad, who helped with the installation is a retired master electrician, so he knows a thing or two about wiring. He said he saw no problem with the present wiring handling this load. Although with the little 35 amp alternator, I wouldn't want to add any more!

Joe

 

[Don87]

Good advice, and well put. My dad, who helped with the installation is a retired master electrician, so he knows a thing or two about wiring. He said he saw no problem with the present wiring handling this load. Although with the little 35 amp alternator, I wouldn't want to add any more!

Joe

Glad to hear it was checked, that makes me feel better. I hate to hear of people losing thier toy.........er i mean tractor, because of an overheated lighting circuit.

I really like your tire chains, BTW. Good job

I have ladders, with 2 link spacing on mine............I can still get it to slip on the asphalt while pushing, but at least I won't slide down the driveway onto the highway like my neighbor did last year with R4 tires on the backhoe.