Kubota paint, lights and alternator questions...

[Toolguy]

Congrats on your new tractor. I think you made the right decision. I added extra lights to my B3030 and installed the alternator upgrade. Not difficult, just takes a little time to get familiar with it. On my B3030 there is a female wire connector under the right fender that is not attached to anything. It is hot when the key is on. I used it to power a 30 amp relay. I ran power to the lights from there. I installed a couple of switches to turn the lights on and off. There should be a similiar "hot with the key on" wire somewhere on your B7800.

If you have not already purchased lights, you might want to think about getting some that come with a mounting bolt attached. That way you could just put them through the existing holes on your ROPS. You wouldn't need any kind of bracket. Maybe some washers, but that is all it would take I believe. Good luck and hope you find a good deal on an alternator.

 

[Sully2]

Congrats on your new tractor. I think you made the right decision. I added extra lights to my B3030 and installed the alternator upgrade. Not difficult, just takes a little time to get familiar with it. On my B3030 there is a female wire connector under the right fender that is not attached to anything. It is hot when the key is on. I used it to power a 30 amp relay. I ran power to the lights from there. I installed a couple of switches to turn the lights on and off. There should be a similiar "hot with the key on" wire somewhere on your B7800.

If its the wires Im thinking of...its for a rear mounted worklight...that has its own "ON/OFF" switch.

 

[LBrown59]

As far as the "dynamo" goes......if your adding anything brighter than a MATCH..you need it..

If the upper edge ( lip) on your FEL bucket is anything like it is on my FEL for my B3030 I 2 x 3...and it makes instead. ( Approx 1" long welds about every 5-6 inches on both edges of the angle iron)As far as paint goes found ANYTHING that Kubota as well as the non faded) to a regular paint can a color gun and mix paint to match...its a LOT BETTER paint..but it aint no cheaper at all!

In most cases ROPS lites are replacements not additions so the up grade isn't required in such situations.

 

[Sully2]

In most cases ROPS lites are replacements not additions so the up grade isn't required in such situations.

This gentleman is ADDING lights to his ROPS..he isnt "replacing" anything???????

 

[Taiser]

Adding...yes. In fact these are what I'm looking at now.

Canadian Tire

They look pretty slick, have low profile but are 55 watts so I may install them now and wire them up later when I get the bigger alternator, or maybe run them with the headlights off. I don't think for the hour or so every once in a while I'll use them will hurt the battery too much.

 

[Toolguy]

I forgot to mention in my above post that the relay I installed is powered by an additional, 14ga fused wire that is attached to the battery cable starter post. I ran this wire to the relay so that the wire under the fender does not have to carry a high load. All it has to do is turn on the relay. Hope that makes it a little clearer.

Here are some pics;
1. Of the alternator and how I was able to use the stock dipstick tube with some careful bending.
2. The fused wire attached to the starter that powers the relay.
3. The relay under the fender.

 

[Taiser]

Nice...

that's probably the way I'll go once I get the alt. Did you remove the tube and bend it with a tube bender, or did you just manage to bend it in place?

Does the wiring just plug into the new alternator as it did in the dynamo or did you have to do some wiring to a new plug to connect it?

 

[Sully2]

I forgot to mention in my above post that the relay I installed is powered by an additional, 14ga fused wire that is attached to the battery cable starter post. I ran this wire to the relay so that the wire under the fender does not have to carry a high load. All it has to do is turn on the relay. Hope that makes it a little clearer.

Here are some pics;
1. Of the alternator and how I was able to use the stock dipstick tube with some careful bending.
2. The fused wire attached to the starter that powers the relay.
3. The relay under the fender.

I was just about to post a question about that item!! I ordered my alternator kit today and got to wondering about just WHERE to make the "tap" to be able to utilize the additional power??? I see you used the "battery cable starter post". Ive got partial spools of 10 ga here..of about every color of the rainbow I think...and I think..??..I'll tap off the same spot and run to a "fuse panel" located ..??..somewhere "safe" and go from there. ( I might have to put it inside a weatherproof box..?? )

I intend on using the same sort of relay tapped into my 4-way blinkers to "operate" my high mounted flashing light.

 

[Toolguy]

Taiser,

I just used a vise and my hands to bend the dipstick tube. Don't bend too much in any one place. Just try to make smooth bends so the tube does not kink. It doesn't take much to make it fit. I just took my time and carefully thought it out before making a bend. They give you a new dipstick to put in the hole in the block where the original distick tube goes. I didn't like the idea of having to remove the side panel just to check the oil. The alternator comes with a new wire harness and everything plugs together. The old wire harness is not used but it needs to be left in place.

Sully,

The starter post is the best place to wire into to get power to run accessories. If you don't use the "toolbox" behind the seat for tools it makes a good place to put switches. Here is a pic of my light switches. One for the front and one for the rear. The wiring is all inside the toolbox, out of the weather.

 

[Sully2]

Sully,

The starter post is the best place to wire into to get power to run accessories. If you don't use the "toolbox" behind the seat for tools it makes a good place to put switches. Here is a pic of my light switches. One for the front and one for the rear. The wiring is all inside the toolbox, out of the weather.

Perfecto!! That "toolbox" is USELESS IMHO. The door panel wont stay shut even after its adjusted...etc..etc. I'll have to look close because it might be a nice place to locate my new "fuse box" that I want to add also.

Thanks mucho!!

BTW: Since I have a welder of my own now..and .50cal ammo boxes out the wazoo...Im going to add a tool box on the right side of the tractor as I saw here on the BB for a BX model. Kinda like a "mirror image" of the left hand step some have installed.