magnetic lights (again)

GrayBeard · Dec 22, 2003

I've read most if not all the archived posts about lights that I could find.
My question is : ( I never really saw the answer I was looking for.)
Do the magnetic lights ( Wally World) stay in place on the ROPS ? Or should I just go with the mech. fastened ones?
I was only going to use one , then turn it depending on the job.
I don't want them (it) vibrating all over.
Thanks,
GrayBeard

Deerlope · Dec 22, 2003

Magnetic's will vibrate lose at some point in time & just when you don't want it too. I have one on my truck and on a rough road(gravel) it will move and it is a good heavy magnet on it. on a tractor I would mount it solid.

chim · Dec 22, 2003

I tried WW magnetic lights and they don't hold very well. Now I keep one of them with my truck, and the other at home for use as stationary auxiliary lighting to work on things. Just a few weeks ago I had a project at home and ran out of daylight. Solution - park the 'Bota nearby, stick the light on the FEL, raise FEL and have enough light (where I need it) to finish...............chim

rockyridgefarm · Dec 22, 2003

OK, that's the Wally World light. What about those that folks made by attatching a light to a welder ground magnet? Will they hold up to the vibration?

Thanks for the answers on the WW unit, I was wondering about it as well....

kevincook · Dec 22, 2003

Have you searched for the infamous Chalkley Cup ?

I think the only way you will get the lights to stay in place is with this TBN inspired technology.

Where is MChalkley anyway? He needs to get another Kubota so we can hear all about his modifications.

Kevin

bmac · Dec 22, 2003

Did you check this thread?

Magnets

GrayBeard · Dec 22, 2003

Thanks for the comments.
I went to W World today at lunch and got the following.
2 rolls of # 12 wire
20 amp toggle
assorted wire connectors
1 fuse holder ( #12 wire tails)
12' of flex conduit

No lights yet. I looked at both mag lites and mech fasten ones.
I was going to remove the mag. from the pack and try it on a column in the store but didn't.
I did notice the bracket on the mag. " job" where "one" could put one of those removable "zip" ties on to the ROPS so it would'nt hit you on the head when it fell... (lol)
Well I'll get the wiring done then pick out the lights.
Thanks again,
GrayBeard

JerryG · Dec 22, 2003

The magnetic lights stay on pretty well. When I sell chickens, I put one on the top of the truck and usually drive about 20 miles back and forth on rough roads with it there. I have stuck it to the roll bar on the same roads, just not as many miles.

OkieG · Dec 22, 2003

Here's a pic of my worklights. They are bolted to Harbor Freight magnets, which were purchased separately. They hold tight and do not move.

OkieG

OkieG · Dec 22, 2003

This is a closer view (from behind) of the light and magnet. The magnet is pretty big and quite powerful. It "sticks" to the plate part of the BuckTop canopy bracket, which is bolted to the ROPS. It sticks tight enough that I can't pull it loose by hand. It prys loose easily though with a screwdriver. The worklight bracket doesn't allow the light to rotate 180 to face backward, so spinning the magnet allows rear illumination.

"Rear Lighting" from March '03 discusses this topic.

OkieG

OkieG · Dec 23, 2003

A hole drilled in the bracket plate where the magnet is would allow me to dispense with the magnets and bolt directly to the tractor. I am sure that arrangement would work just fine. In fact, I may just do that. If the flexibility of a magnet system would work better for you, there are definitely magnets out there that will hold and not slip and slide too much.

OkieG

GrayBeard · Dec 23, 2003

Those look like some magnets !
I think one light will suite my needs and like the idea of easy rotation for various "chores".
I did start the wiring last nite. It'll be heavy enough for 1,2 or even 3 lights if I want.
GrayBeard

MikePA · Dec 23, 2003

When I sell chickens, I put one on the top of the truck and usually drive about 20 miles back and forth on rough roads with it there. 
When I first read this, I thought, "Why does he put chickens on top of his truck?". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

shoppintractors · Dec 23, 2003

When I first read this, I thought, "Why does he put chickens on top of his truck?".

A. To get them to the other side of the road.
B. To ruffle their feathers.
C. To check their magnetic /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif like qualities. (sticking /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif to the topic of this thread).

Don

surfran · Dec 23, 2003

Well I must say that I recently purchased the Wally World Magnet base lights and am very pleased. I will also admit that I do not have really bumpy areas to use them in, but I have backed under my oak tree and had the branches catch them and not knock them off either. I don't know what kind of work you would be doing, but I wouldn't think that on the tractor you would be knocking them off that easily.

I also like the idea that I can put my lights on and off in 2 minutes. I will only use mine in the Winter for plowing, so typically trees and such don't come into play (in fact I didn't think that I would hit the branches that I did so I will be trimming those as they startled me when it happened).

So for $14.88, I think the magnetic lights are a decent deal and they provide a nice amount of light for plowing. My first outing, I used one forward and one back, I have since switched to two forward and installed one of my Harbor freight specials pointing backward (I originally purchased two fog lights from Harbor Freight but didn't like the light output, so I ended up with the Wally World lights).

I also ended up cutting the cigarette plugs off and installing a trailer lighting plug set that I had so I could have all three fed from one plug and easily remove with out removing all of the wiring.

Well that is my 2 cents, take it for what it is worth. I don't have pictures because my camera has been broken for a couple of months and I'm debating on getting a new one for Christmas.

Good luck,

BXMMCC · Dec 23, 2003

Again, I have the magnetic Walmart lite and it works well, it doesn't move at all on my BX2200 with bar tires and a rough stone driveway. Maybe I got a good magnet with mine.

OkieG · Dec 24, 2003

Years ago, I remember shopping on Christmas Eve until stores closed. Shopping skills have not improved with the years, but now I both start and stop shopping about a week or so before Christmas. I just never get around to buying many gifts.

Anyway, since I stopped shopping a week ago, I had time today to drill holes for a direct mounting of the work lights to the tractor. Hopefully, the wingnuts will allow easy changes from front-lighting-to-back-lighting. Picture attached.

I will try this setup for a while and see if I can live with it. My needs don't require being able to move the light to different locations, so direct attachment may work just fine.

OkieG

frank_f15 · Dec 24, 2003

MIKE; we both have a warped sense of humor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif i was thinking the same thing, and i never saw a chicken that came with magnets? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif