Installing Brake/Tail Lights on LA150

[piratesignal]

My tractor has reflector stickers for tail lights. Call me crazy, but I think a fun project would be to take the tail lights from an X700, and cut them down to size for the LA150. Then dremel out the reflector area. Haven't figured out the electrical yet.

My local dealer has a x700, so I am going to stop in and do some measuring to see if they would work after being cut to size.

Has anyone else done this?

 

[jinman]

If you wanted to put in some flashing/blinking lights on the rear of your LA150, it would have some function, especially if you cut grass along the street. However, brake lights are useless in my opinion. The only time you use brakes on an HST is when you park it or stop mowing (PTO off) and get off the mower with the engine still running. Of course, you could make it really irritating and put in a backup alarm (Meep! Meep! Meep!) and tie that into the reverse HST pedal after bypassing the RIO switch.:confused2:

 

[piratesignal]

The 'meep, meep, meep, would be hilarious.

Actually, I was thinking of skipping brake lights, and going with just running lights. I don't want to have to put a switch on the brake lever. It wouldn't have the white back-up lights either. Just all red, and they only turn-on when the ignition key is set to headlights.

When I have the tractor out at night, it just seems too dark on the rear. The glow of red running lights would look nice.

Thx!

 

[Gonerafting]

A person could do the complex and with brake light switches commonly used on cars make brackets and tie it into the the electrical system or just buy tail lights and tie it into the wiring for for the headlights , but no back up lights. The backup lights are easy though by making a bracket and getting a which to place somewhere near the rear brake pedal, but I do not see it as being worth the effort. I just looked under my X744 and the bracket and light switch idea seems out of the question. I would just find a nice set of red lights and attach them to the back.

 

[jinman]

I'd look at trailer running lights. They come in amber and red and are oval shaped. I think some of them actually have double sided adhesive to just stick them in place. If you want steady light, it's a piece of cake. Just wire it directly into the headlight circuit. If you want flashing lights, you might wire in a automobile directional signal flasher and get them to alternate left/right or both at the same time.

 

[piratesignal]

I'd look at trailer running lights. They come in amber and red and are oval shaped. I think some of them actually have double sided adhesive to just stick them in place. If you want steady light, it's a piece of cake. Just wire it directly into the headlight circuit. If you want flashing lights, you might wire in a automobile directional signal flasher and get them to alternate left/right or both at the same time.

Yes, that is a good idea. Trailer lights would also be far cheaper than anything from Deere. Part of the goal of this project is to make the lights look factory, and the exact same size of the cheap reflectors. So I will need to dremel, cut and, reassemble the lights to the shape and size needed, then carefully cut-out the fender to the appropriate size for recess-mounting. I will end-up essentially rebuilding the whole light and tons of work, but kind-of fun too! Yes, I want just simple steady lights, so the headlight circuit is the connection.

I'll post pics when I get started!

Thx for the comment

 

[Gonerafting]

Yes, the John Deere Tail lights for an X700 series cost $62.50 shipped on E-Bay, just do a Search for "Tail Lights X700" through a dealer I have used in the past. It seems a bit steep, but if they have the same fender contour might be easier in the long run. You could also do a search on E-bay for tail lights and then when you find what you want, buy locally. I often do that, people often leave the Manufacturers Name in the description and I go the their Website and find a local dealer. Good luck on you project, sounds like fun. Jim:thumbsup: