Snowblower front-mount snowblower & worklights

[44trxfun]

Hello All,

I've been poking around here for a while. I've enjoyed reading the posts and have a couple questions for you.

I have a MF GC2300 with front-mount snowblower. I live in western NY (just east of Lake Erie) and get quite a bit of blowing snow. We just moved here in August, so I haven't been through a winter yet, and this is my first tractor. Question is, I'd like to mount some work lights because it's already clear I'm not going to have the luxury of clearing snow only during daylight hours. Any of you have a setup you particularly like? By the by, I'm not sure I want to mount them directly on the blower as I may want them for other seasonal tasks, but what I don't want is to light up blowing snow such that I can't see the area I'm trying to clear.

Also (feeling kind of dumb here), how do I officially join/contribute to this board? I've looked all over, but can't find how to do so.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( how do I officially join/contribute to this board? I've looked all over, but can't find how to do so. )</font>

44trxfun,
I would say that you just did. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Welcome to the TBN.
To help answer your question, I will blow my own horn.
This link will tak you to a thread on how I did my lights. Maybe it will help you get some ideas.

Auxilory Light project

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Also (feeling kind of dumb here), how do I officially join/contribute to this board? I've looked all over, but can't find how to do so. )</font>

One of the best ways to provide financial help to the board is to support the advertisers and tell them when you make a purchase where and how you found them. I have made several purchases from the advertisers and found them to be very professional and worthy of my trust..... that is more than I can say for a local dealer that will go unnamed.......

 

[Inspector507]

44trxfun,
You've officially joined and contributed. Welcome to TBN. The great TBN Guru's do not charge to belong here. We just welcome any advice that you may have to offer. Or if it's all questions for right now, someone will help you out. That's the beauty of this board.

Jerry

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Welcome to TBN /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I'm over south of Rochester and it is snowing as we speak. A suggestion that I found on this board (can't think of the thread right away) is to use the magnetic welding grounding blocks (can be purchased at Harbor Freight for about $4). They are round, have a very strong magnet with a spring mounted screw post right in the middle to which you can mount your light. Then you can take them off and move them around to wherever you want. Just and idea, not mine, a fellow TBNer who will identify himself in due course I am sure. Best of luck.
Larry

 

[snowbound]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have a MF GC2300 with front-mount snowblower. I live in western NY (just east of Lake Erie) and get quite a bit of blowing snow. We just moved here in August, so I haven't been through a winter yet)</font>

Hoo boy I was born and raised about where you are now. And I can tell you that real winter there is very real I can't imagine living there of my own choice - even where I am now is way too much snow, and it's not much compared to what you can get. As I recall you don't get nor'easters like we do but if you live in the snow belt you will get really good at snow removal.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Question is, I'd like to mount some work lights because it's already clear I'm not going to have the luxury of clearing snow only during daylight hours. Any of you have a setup you particularly like? By the by, I'm not sure I want to mount them directly on the blower as I may want them for other seasonal tasks, but what I don't want is to light up blowing snow such that I can't see the area I'm trying to clear.)</font>

As far as lighting goes, I suggest not having really high mounted lights otherwise you won't be able to work well in blizzards which is a condition you will probably get a lot.

As to the type of lighting, I am a big fan of Xenon HID lamps in bad outdoor conditions. I found a place that has a Xenon HID utility light that I might try.

http://www.aerovisions.com/hid/hid_worklights.html

I think you have to be careful about using Xenon lights on the road but I don't go on the road with the tractor.

 

[Wildman1]

I installed the flood JD worklights on the front of my cab under the roof. I've blown snow 6 times in the last 2 weeks and they have provided superb lighting.

 

[kwahl]

Off subject , but I saw the 2 bay garage in one of the pictures, I'll call it temporary for lack of a better name. How has it worked for you. I can't afford to build the pole barn this year and did alot of research and came close to buying one, unfortunately it wasn't warranted aganst snow and we get a fair amount here in WNY. Any and all comments are appreciated.

 

[bigpete]

Yikes, Snowbound /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Did you check the pricing page on those Aerovisions Xenon lights? Prices

I think I'll look around for another source /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[44trxfun]

Wildman,

I noticed on another forum that you didn't think you'd need additional lighting for the blower because it sits below the headlights of your 2210. Have you changed your mind on that? Do you find the extra lights make a big difference, especially blowing snow in high winds?

 

[snowman]

I had (have) one floodlight mounted on the ROPS ; it hangs down, not up (dealer installed in). I can swivel it so that it faces back or front.

Works great. the headlights on the tractor just aren't good enough. The blower and blowing snow will block the lights too much. You do want the lights up high.

 

[lamarbur]

Oh come on,
Clip em and Jip em, stolen tractor sales over there in Buzzards Breath Mass isn't all that bad to deal with. Just kind of have to re-read their funny looking paper work.

 

[snowbound]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yikes, Snowbound /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Did you check the pricing page on those Aerovisions Xenon lights? Prices

I think I'll look around for another source /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )</font>

Yeah they're a little bit spendy. But on the other hand have you used Xenon HID lights before? "Like night and day" just about covers it for the sorts I've used. Lighting is one thing that I treat more in the way of safety than convenience. I'm still in the thinking about it stage, but given the past two night's plowing I'm leaning more toward adding lights than not.

 

[drcollie]

I've installed a set of lights on my ROPS (Rollover protection bar) on my Kubota BX22. Two are Hella Halogen fog lamps tha face forward and one is a sealed beam rear utility lamp. I have all three bolted into the rollbar on the underside of the hoop, and all three are switched via a Bosch relay.

The lights are up high (and work great) so I can use my front end loader (or backhoe) in the dark and still see where I'm going. My first attempt at doing this was to run the wires outside of the rollover hoop and tie off with nylon ties. This was unsatisfactory, and a wire was always being torn off or ripped and grounding out. Eventually, I spent the time to thread the wires inside the hoop itself and thats the right way to do it.

If you go this route, here's a great site that shows how to wire up a relay :

http://www.classictruckshop.com/clubs/earlyburbs/projects/bosch/foglites.htm

Good Luck!
-Duane

 

[44trxfun]

Well, the dealer installed the lights (2 55W on top of the ROPS and 1 35W on the rear fender). We talked about it quite a bit and he said they've mounted lots of 'em in those spots and they haven't had a complaint. There's enough wire in the harness they built to turn the top ones under the ROPS for summer mowing when I'm not likely to be using them. He said they thought about mounting them there, but when they tried it they didn't think I'd like it very well because the beam was pretty much straight out. Thanks all for your suggestions.