Kubota Headlight Bulbs

[TimP]

Hi.

I've got a B2150 and the bulbs in the headlights are very strange.

I don't know the Bulb "number" but it's known as a "15/15" bulb.

Does the 15/15 mean it's a TOTAL of 15 watts, or a total of 30 watts ?

My headlight switch has two on positions, a Low and a High. When I turn on the headlights to the Low position does one filament of 15 watts come on, and when I swith to High, does a second filament of 15 watts come on in addition to the first 15 watt filament ?

I want to order some 35/35 bulbs in hopes that my light output will be a lto better.

I have just finished doing an alternator upgrade on my B2150 and should have plenty of power to run more wattage.

Thanks, Tim

 

[kuboman]

Hi.

I've got a B2150 and the bulbs in the headlights are very strange.

I don't know the Bulb "number" but it's known as a "15/15" bulb.

Does the 15/15 mean it's a TOTAL of 15 watts, or a total of 30 watts ?

My headlight switch has two on positions, a Low and a High. When I turn on the headlights to the Low position does one filament of 15 watts come on, and when I swith to High, does a second filament of 15 watts come on in addition to the first 15 watt filament ?

I want to order some 35/35 bulbs in hopes that my light output will be a lto better.

I have just finished doing an alternator upgrade on my B2150 and should have plenty of power to run more wattage.

Thanks, Tim

15w for high 15w for low but not at the same time.

 

[KennyV]

Not both at the same because the plastic lenses will not stand the heat...

 

[TimP]

15w for high 15w for low but not at the same time.

Thanks KoboMan.

I wonder how they Hi/Low beams adjust ? When I flip to the High beam, it definately projects higher and further out front.

How does it accomplish this ?

 

[TimP]

Not both at the same because the plastic lenses will not stand the heat...

Oh-Oh... so it's NOT a good idea to put in higher wattage bulbs ?

I just ordered some 35/35 bulbs. And they weren't cheap.

I had to order them on ebay and they are coming from England.

I have read of others replacing the oem sized bulns with something larger, but I don't know if it was on a B2150 or not.

And it may be that the Halogen bulbs have been the culprit.

But I don't want to risk having to replace the entire headlight assembly if it melts !

 

[kuboman]

Thanks KoboMan.

I wonder how they Hi/Low beams adjust ? When I flip to the High beam, it definately projects higher and further out front.

How does it accomplish this ?

The two filaments project the light on a different part of the reflector giving you either low or high beam depending on which one is lit.

 

[TimP]

The two filaments project the light on a different part of the reflector giving you either low or high beam depending on which one is lit.

Ahhh.... That answers that.

Thanks !

Tim

 

[KennyV]

Oh-Oh... ... I don't want to risk having to replace the entire headlight assembly if it melts !

Depending on How cold it gets where you are during the winter... you 'May' get away with a higher wattage bulb inside the light assembly during the cold season, but you will be taking a chance of distorting the plastic... If you can find a Super Bright LED lamp, it will put out More light at a lower actual temperature... KennyV

 

[TimP]

Depending on How cold it gets where you are during the winter... you 'May' get away with a higher wattage bulb inside the light assembly during the cold season, but you will be taking a chance of distorting the plastic... If you can find a Super Bright LED lamp, it will put out More light at a lower actual temperature... KennyV

I'd prefer to put in some LED bulbs... but the bulb in my B2150 is a very weird one.

It has a round flange on it. I have looked around wiht no luck... so if you have any sources or suggestions I'm all ears.

I have attached a picture of what my bulb looks like.

Thanks, Tim

 

[kuboman]

Ah yes one of those!!
I did put in higher wattage bulbs in my B3200. Went from 35 to 50 watt with no ill effects. Not sure what your lights are like. You might have a time finding lights to fit those sockets.

 

[TimP]

Ah yes one of those!!
I did put in higher wattage bulbs in my B3200. Went from 35 to 50 watt with no ill effects. Not sure what your lights are like. You might have a time finding lights to fit those sockets.

The only place I was able to locate a similar bulb with that goofy flange, was on ebay with a site in England and they sell bulbs for Motorcycles.

I went ahead and ordered two 35/35 watt bulbs and I can try them and keep checking the temperature when I install them to see if the plastic lens gets any hotter than with the oem 15/15 watt bulb.

I have always been disappointed by the light output of the headlights on the B2150.

In addition to ordering these 35/35 bulsb, I just completed an alternator upgrade ( to 40 AMP ) and have some LED worklights to install.

I need to light almost exclusively for nighttime snow blowing with my rear blower, but if I have better li[ght, I may be incluined to finish cuttint grass in the summer even after it gets dark.

It's been a real challange to do anything in the dark with the stock lights.

Thanks, Tim

 

[kuboman]

The only place I was able to locate a similar bulb with that goofy flange, was on ebay with a site in England and they sell bulbs for Motorcycles.

I went ahead and ordered two 35/35 watt bulbs and I can try them and keep checking the temperature when I install them to see if the plastic lens gets any hotter than with the oem 15/15 watt bulb.

I have always been disappointed by the light output of the headlights on the B2150.

In addition to ordering these 35/35 bulsb, I just completed an alternator upgrade ( to 40 AMP ) and have some LED worklights to install.

I need to light almost exclusively for nighttime snow blowing with my rear blower, but if I have better li[ght, I may be incluined to finish cuttint grass in the summer even after it gets dark.

It's been a real challange to do anything in the dark with the stock lights.

Thanks, Tim

I doubt the higher wattage will be a problem unless your bulb come close to the lens. And yes Kubota headlights leave a lot to be desired.

 

[TimP]

I doubt the higher wattage will be a problem unless your bulb come close to the lens. And yes Kubota headlights leave a lot to be desired.

Thanks...! I'll report back on how it works out.

Regards, Tim

 

[KubotaEd]

I solved the poor headlight problem on my B7200. I went to Tractor Supply and bought two accessory lights and took the Kubota lights out and made new brackets to hold the new lights where the Kubota lights were. They work great, and I have been using them for 15 plus years without a problem. There has not been a problem with the lights drawing too much from the battery.

The factory lights on my B2410 are very good, but the B7200 had really dim lights.

KubotaEd

 

[psdx]

I solved the poor headlight problem on my B7200. I went to Tractor Supply and bought two accessory lights and took the Kubota lights out and made new brackets to hold the new lights where the Kubota lights were. They work great, and I have been using them for 15 plus years without a problem. There has not been a problem with the lights drawing too much from the battery.

The factory lights on my B2410 are very good, but the B7200 had really dim lights.

KubotaEd

Have any pictures so I can see the light installation on the B7200? Does it look "factory" with the hood closed?

 

[KubotaEd]

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures, but the lights I installed sit under the hood excatly where the old lights were, and I don't think anyone would be aware that they were not the lights that came on the tractor. They fit up tight against the headlight openings and the modifiacations I had to do were just to construct brackets to hole the new lights in place. I had to make the brackets because the new lights were thicker than the original ones.

They look good, and work wonderfully.

 

[TimP]

I know it's a pretty old thread.... but I wanted to let everyone know that I did put the 35/35 watt bulbs in to replace the 15/15.

But I am paying the piper now..... I just spent $180 to replace BOTH headlight assemblies because the added heat from the higher wattage bulbs did, in fact, melt the plastic.

It took a while, but it melted the plastic enough that the bulb contacts were not aligned properly in the socket and kept blinking off and on.

So I will be putting in my new headlight assemblies and keeping the oem bulbs.

I bought 4 really good LED lights which make up for the poor lumen output of the oem lights.

I bought the "Rigid" Dually driving lights. And they do the trick without a lot of amp draw.

Although, I did do the alternator upgrade so the Amp draw was not a huge concern anyway.

 

[KennyV]

Right about the heat... You May get away with it during the Cold winter mths... but summer will cook you.
Only way to Increase the lighting a Lot without generating a Lot of heat is to find a LED replacement lamp.

 

[TimP]

Right about the heat... You May get away with it during the Cold winter mths... but summer will cook you.
Only way to Increase the lighting a Lot without generating a Lot of heat is to find a LED replacement lamp.

I keep searching for an LED that will fit, but so far.... no luck.

I did get 4 RIGID LED work lights that put out a lot of light. So I've ordered and recvd a new set of headlights with the oem bulbs in them.

Until an LED bulb becomes available, I'll be leaving the original bulbs in place.

Thanks.

 

[Bluest]

I'd be interested in your feedback when the LEDs arrive. I wanted to upgrade but am not sure now. I understand that lights rely on the accurate position of the filament to throw the light. As an LED emits light from a number of points all over the place the light doesn't go where intended by the designer of the reflector/lens. Apparently it is not uncommon for the light to look brighter, but performance to actually be worse.