Idea for rear work light...

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 1, 2002

Finally, we got some snow.. albeit not much. It was enough that my neighbor asked that I clear his driveway, and if possible that I push the snow up his sloping driveway rather than leaving a mound at the bottom where it would eventually obscure vision when pulling out.

Boy, was this fun! I didn't use my 4WD at all, and didn't even need the diff lock. I have about 600 lbs hung out back on the 3pt, in the form of a bunch of sand bags in a dirt scoop, and R4's. I thought I might have a problem, but no slippage at all. I'm amazed. While we were at it, we also did some leveling of his driveway.. it had too much center crown, and simply leaving the front blade in float position took this off perfectly. We're both happy! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Say, I had an idea. In another thread I commented on how the dealer (as opposed to factory) installation of my rear work light causes this light to be on even in highway position.. something the manual says shouldn't happen. I thought of wiring in a switch, but then it occured to me that I could simply fashion a cover to slip over the light when on the road. It would be translucent, so that I would have one more colored light on the back to get drivers attention. If I need real rear working light, just pop it off and put it in the toolbox. Anybody got any ideas for how to fashion such a thing. This rear light is bright, and would blind drivers if I just left it as is. I'll bet I can find something to cover it with that really makes it unique and noticeable. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bob

Robert_in_NY · Jan 1, 2002

You could angle the light down to your implement. This way oncoming traffic could see the light but not be blinded by it. I do this with my TN when plowing snow as I am on Rt. 20 and get a lot of traffic, I clear my driveway and two neighbors so I am on the road a lot in the mornings. I have about 2 feet of snow now and finally had time to clear the road down to our back pens which is 3/4 mile long, got all done and the wind drifted the snow over the clearing by the end of the day.

Bird · Jan 1, 2002

Bob, there are some covers in different colors made for that purpose (ever see a red lense over a clear one on a police car spotlight?). However, be careful that you don't put something over it that will melt from the heat or trap the heat in the light and burn it up.

TerryinMD · Jan 1, 2002

Bob,

Here is a photo of my rear facing light. I mounted it on a bracket just under the top of the ROPS. It is a 50w flood and puts out tons of light.

The front facing lights are 50w trapazodal lights.

My friend and myself just finished the wiring this past weekend. Excuse the 200mph tape. It's holding the switches in place until my friend spot welds the brackets.

Terry

jdkid · Jan 1, 2002

Hi ya
i don't know bout the law in the US but in Kiwi ya can't have a "white"light faceing /working backwards on roads it must be red or orange some spotlight makers (night shooting spotlights)make covers that can take the heat a switch may be ya best bet or someone who can back track ya wires and wire it to full beam so on dip ya just have front work lights and diped mains
catch ya
JD Kid

Bird · Jan 1, 2002

<font color=blue>can't have a "white"light faceing /working backwards on roads</font color=blue>

Same law in Texas, JD, and I assume most likely in all the other states.

tanuke01 · Jan 1, 2002

My 4300 has wires that are hooked to the swich. It's only on in position "D" . It's on page 61 in my manual. If you don't need it on you use position "B" or "C". The extra wires for the back light are already there not attached to anything.

DPR

beenthere · Jan 1, 2002

Maybe a revisit to your dealer, as he needs to educate whoever he has hooking up lights. As mentioned, there is a wire already there for the rear work light to be connected to the correct switch position. I found mine, and it wasn't too hard to hook up. Good luck.
In this area, it is also illegal to have such a light on the rear of a tractor, as well as it is illegal to be plowing snow on the county or state roads (this includes pushing snow across the road to the opposite side with truck or tractor). Maybe it has to do with liability, or safety, or something like that.

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 1, 2002

<font color=blue>...Maybe a revisit to your dealer, as he needs to educate whoever he has hooking up lights. As mentioned, there is a wire already there for the rear work light to be connected to the correct switch position. I found mine, and it wasn't too hard to hook up. Good luck.</font color=blue>

You and DPR both said this.. where is the wire? Is it already back in the ROPS somewhere all set to go? I think maybe I need a new dealer, as I spoke to both the mechanic and the owner, and both felt it could only be done that way at the factory (which seems weird, to say the least.) Actually, I have a new dealer in mind. Wish I'd known about him prior to my purchase, as he'd have gotten my business. But I did buy a Land Pride spreader from him, and he said no problem about future service. Maybe I'll call him tomorrow and see what he says about this light issue. Then he can do my 50-hour service in a bit and get all my future business (not like that will be enough to really thrill him.. but.. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif )

For those who mentioned that covers do exist to change the light color, do you have any links or suggestions where to find them? I spent a fruitless hour searching Google for this.. found all kinds of kinky stuff, but nothing like what I needed.
I thought of just asking my wife to sew me a small bag to put over it.. but something designed for safety, to avoid rear-end collisions, would be perfect.

Thanks, Folks!

beenthere · Jan 1, 2002

As I recall (3 year recall is not easy!), the wire connector is under the seat (looking from the rear, it is just right of center), folded and taped with some other wires. Your 4300 is newer, so maybe there has been a factory change. Hope you can find it. I will also look for mine tomorrow in the daylight (and supposed to get up close to 20 degrees) and feed some more exact information to you. I may even get by my JD dealer and ask about it there too. Even then, I don't expect but one or two there would know about it. Doubtfully the dealer, but likely one of the mechanics. We'll give it a shot.