Welding onto the ROP

[MikePA]

Rat,

I haven't installed mine yet, the picture was a composite. My problem with mounting lights on the ROPS is that my ROPS is probably folded more than it's up since I have to fold it to get it into the garage and for some of my mowing in order to get under trees.

Mounting the lights on the fixed portion of the ROPS seems too low and too far back for lighting in front of the tractor. I was also thinking about mounting the lights on the vertical portion of the FEL.

Which of the 3 positions in the attached pic is best?

 

[Jeff396]

I just gotta wonder what good the lights on the FEL will be when it is in any other position than all the way down. It'd give you a pretty nice view of the trees though. What we really need is lights on the ROPS with one of those helmets they have in the Apache helicopters where they will aim wherever we are looking. But I suppose cost may be a bit of an issue.

Jeff

2001 B7500HSD, LA302 FEL, 60"mmm, grass catcher

 

[JimMorrissey]

rbargeron, what kind of lights did you buy and where did you get them? Also, exactly how did you fish the wires up through the ROPS? Both lights are mounted off the one work light wire under the seat?

 

[JimMorrissey]

Rat, That's exactly what I wanted to do....mig weld a little bracket on there. Done in minutes.

 

[MikePA]

With the lights on the horizontal FEL arms, the relationship between the lights and the bucket would stay the same. IOW, if the lights are aimed to point just over the bucket they would always point just over the bucket even as the FEL is lifted up and, as you mentioned, could end up pointing skyward /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Thinking out loud here...this would mean the lights would illuminate whatever you're plowing or loading into the bucket. As you raise the FEL, for transporting the load (low to the ground) they'd illuminate the path ahead of you. The only time they'd be useless is when you raise the FEL.

Thoughts/comments?

 

[JimMorrissey]

Mike, You highjacked my post

 

[MikePA]

Hmmm, I do seem to have a number of posts in this thread! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif What else are fellow MCSEs for?

Not being a welder, I am looking at attaching the lights with screws (ROPS) or using double sided foam tape. Many of the aftermarket driving/fog lights use this tape as does the new Tiltmeter mounting bracket.

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya
well like alot of people with FEL's where to put lights is a prob years ago i though of sticking lights up front on the loader mast but like someone else kinda hinted ya will hit them with sticks etc etc unless ya mount them in a bit of box steel and mesh the front also when ya take ya loader of there goes ya lights too..mid mounting on the loader frame(part that stays with tractor)is ok but ya get a bit of glear (?)off the side of ya tractor but lights stay with ya loader on or off..on top of ROPS good place but same kinda deal with trees and if in wrong place ya get some funny shadows being cast on buildings if ya head gets in the way ie with earmuffs and from a certian angle ya look like mickey mouse!!!or batman's call sign depanding on haircut....kinda a tough one with no loader no probs stick them above front axle on side of tractor ,no glear and light where ya want to go very well ....with loader on 99%of the time maybe a steel mounting box to protect lenes and mounted on loader mast could be a winner light when ya working and follows bucket for tipping ,if moveing tractors main lights will replace addon lights when loader is rased
catch ya
JD Kid

 

[JATO_RaT]

Mike, oddly enough, I rarely use my tractor when its dark, but I'm sure that when one does, you cannot have to much light. I think just quickly looking at your picture with the 3 lights, either the one right at the loader/lift attachment point would be good because you have quick access to readjust, I could see several problems though from glare off the hood and possible view blocking. I don't see why you could not attach them to the folded part of the ROP's since you will use the ROP's in the up position whenever your using the tractor at least I would assume. You could easily route the wire to handle this. Good ideas you have, Rat...

 

[rbargeron]

Jim - answering your question above, the lights are inexpensive little utility lights - sealed beams, about 4" diameter bulbs, in rubber housings with a pivoting metal mount, I think they came from Harbor Freight or Northern Hydraulics or some such source - have had them on the shelf for years. They are about 30 watts each - not a huge amount of light - but quite adequate. They are both powered by the one red wire - on my tractor this is a heavy wire fused with 15a so could handle 150 to 180 watts. Each is separately grounded to the ROPS. I drilled a small hole at the bottom of the ROPS tube just above the flange and fed the wire up and over. My ROPS had two 5/8" holes on the sides - useful for fishing a smaller pull-wire through. For mounting the lights, I drilled a 21/64" hole and ran a 3/8" tap through it - worked fine. Drilled another smaller hole for the power wire at each location. Guess I better get a digital camera so I can post some pics. I used some rugged wire with thick insulation so grommets weren't needed where it passes thru the ROPS.