Lights on NH TC24D

[jwstewar]

I'll try to get some better pictures later. This is how I mounted the light on top of my ROPS. It is actually centered. I went with a single light as that would keep me within the amp rating of the aux. light wire that NH provided. Since I'm not the fabricator that most of you are I took the easy way and used 2"X2" square u-bolts from TSC, fit the ROPS perfectly.

 

[jwstewar]

This is a picture of the back worklight. This was a $10 cheapy from Wally World, but it mounted real secure and works great.

 

[jwstewar]

This is the wiring on back of the tractor going over to the rear worklight. You can also see the wire loom going up the side of the right fender up to the top light.

 

[jwstewar]

I mounted the switches on the plastic panel on the right fend by the 3PH controls and the 4WD selector. Everything is done with quick connect fittings so if something gets broken it won't be a big deal to swap out the broken piece. All in all probably 1 1/2 hours.

 

[Mrwurm]

Another job, well done /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JerryG]

Jim,
Looks good and should give you plenty of light. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Sorry guys forgot to bring the pictures w/ me yesterday so I can't do an edit now w/ the better pictures. Here is a picture looking at the front of the lights.

 

[jwstewar]

Another shot looking square on at the front.

 

[jwstewar]

A better shot of the switches.

 

[jwstewar]

Now you can actually see the wiring at the back of the tractor and how I had to run it up both of the fenders and underneath the mounting bracket for the seat - hey it was good enough for NH to do, good enough for me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jwstewar]

A shot from the back showing both lights and the "natural" curve the wiring takes which allows me to fold the ROPS w/o any trouble.

 

[jwstewar]

Here you can see the wiring come back up from under the tool box to go under the plastic cover on the fender to go to the switches as well as the ground wire connected under the seat.

 

[jwstewar]

After almost a year of using the lights in this configuration I thought I would post an update about my lack-of-happiness. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I still wasn't real happy with the quality of light I was getting out front. It seems my head was also always in the way. Another problem I figured out while I was doing the upgrade, I had forgotten to turn the lens back upright since I had the light mounted upside down. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif By the time I realized this, I was already half way through the process and decided to continue. A couple of weeks ago I had run the wiring to add a relay. I knew I had to do this for 2 reasons. The switch I had used wouldn't carry 2 55 lights, the other reason is the factory fuse I was only is only 10A. It couldn't carry the 2 fronts + the rear work light. I forgot to get a picture of where I mounted the relay, but it is under same cover that I put the switches under. It ended up being right under the 3PH control. You can see the wires a little bit through the hole, but that is OK.

Here is a shot of the lights on the top of the ROPS after the upgrade. I had a chance to try them out last night - SUCCESS!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Here is a 3/4 few of the lights from the front.

 

[jwstewar]

Here is a rear picture of the lights. I went with the same attachment method of using 2" X 3" square u-bolts. That had actually worked pretty well. The one thing I like about the way they are mounted now is if a tree limb does catch them it should tear them off. Should just push them back to the ROPS. I did catch a couple of limbs yesterday while I was mowing and they seemed to "hold their own." /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jwstewar]

While was in there messing around, I added another little goody too. Wonder what this button does? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Here is the wiring coming up to my surprise. All of the wiring including for the relay for the lights is enclosed in the black wiring loom as best as possible, even clear up to the starter. BTW, everything is fused within a couple inches of their source.

 

[jwstewar]

OK, worse then a TV show and the cliff hangers. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Here is finally my surprise. You can see how I ran the wire across the top of the hydrostat cooler. But there is my surprise on the left of the picture. I added a horn!!!! Makes it nice trying to get someones attention because with the tractor running and the MMM going it is impossible to get someones attention to move something out of your way. Also makes it nice to give someone on the road a friendly toot-toot as they wave when they go buy.

I bought the momentary switch from Radio Shack (2 of them for $3.29). Had the relay laying around the house, and bummed the horn from a buddy of mine that runs a junk yard. Total Cost $1.50 and about an hours time running the wires. Oh and a little bit of fear drilling a 1/2" hole in the dash of my tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[PBinWA]

Great posting. I just bought some 55W lights ($7 @ Harbour Freight) for my tractor (Mahindra 2615) and am planning on doing the same thing. With a FEL on there is no light hitting where I need it.

I'm trying to figure out a way to mount the lights so I can swivel one 180 degrees and get some rear light when needed. I might just mount one front and one back but thought it would be nice to be able to swivel them as needed.

Anyone done a swivel mount for auxiliary ROPS lights? I'd like to see how you did it.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Jim, nice looking job. I mounted lights to my ROPS last summer and am also unhappy with the results. In my case I used yellow fog lights because I was worried about bugs swarming my head in the summer evenings, but what I found was that the yellow lights, while they provided a nice spread pattern did not provide great visual contrast in the grass while mowing. So I am planning on swapping out my yellow front facing lights for some white ones. I also have yellow rear facing lights on the ROPS as well as a white rear facing AUX light, those will all remain. But the front facing lights have to go as the yellow light doesn't show enough detail for mowing, and that is what I mounted them for.

I also thought about putting my switches where you put yours, but I have 3 switches mounted, and figured I might want more someday so I used the left fender, I figure I can actually fit 5 switches in there if I want?!? I don't know what I'd want them for, but just in case /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anyway, your post has now inspired me to get off my rear end and swap out my front facing lights for some white ones!

Nice job on the install. And I think you might need to work out some sort of horn "code" to let the little wifey know when you need her to run out with a fresh cold beer!