M-series aftermarket headlight source?

[GinNB]

Has anybody found a place to buy the Kubota headlight bulbs from a place other than the dealer? I'm looking to put some serious light on the tractor and the factory bulbs don't quite cut it. They'll have to stay street-legal but a brighter and whiter alternative would be very nice. The last time I burnt a bulb out and took it around to the local auto parts places nobody had ever seen anything to match it.

 

[art]

We've run into the same thing!

 

[rbargeron]

Are your bulbs like these? They are made in 35w and 45w sizes by Eiko. They have what's called a "Y base", having three spring-loaded lugs. My L345 uses Eiko 35watt, the L5450 has 45 watt bulbs (Eiko 6245Y).

 

[GinNB]

Certainly looks like 'em! Thanks. You find any place online or local to buy them? If memory serves, mine had the 35 watters in it.

 

[GinNB]

Just answered my own question.

http://www.libertylightbulb.com/pro...tID_E_172_A_subCatID_E_889_A_productID_E_9682

$1.02/bulb! I paid close to $20 each from the dealer for the last two I bought.

 

[GinNB]

Aaaannnnnd a bunch of years later I need more bulbs and liberty lightbulb has gone under...

 

[PILOON]

B4 I went LED I hunted for bulbs for my CUT.
I discovered that those CUT bulbs could be found at motorcycle shops.

However I now am all LED equipped and never look back.
Brighter, better, longer life and vibration proof.

 

[GinNB]

Where did you find LEDs bright enough for headlights that fit an 1157 socket? Tons of them out there, but even LED blinker lights aren't THAT bright and I'd worry about the duty cycle on the bright element that isn't meant to run for hours on high.

 

[PILOON]

Where did you find LEDs bright enough for headlights that fit an 1157 socket? Tons of them out there, but even LED blinker lights aren't THAT bright and I'd worry about the duty cycle on the bright element that isn't meant to run for hours on high.

I did not simply replace bulbs last time but installed a small light bar ($40. ish) that solved al the frontal lighting issues. The old reflector sockets were removed and I blanked off that space.
My light bar has 4 forward spots flanked each side by 4 floods.
I'm on 3 rd winter and no issues at all.
It's 'day and night'.

 

[GinNB]

I went LED and HID on cab corner and loader lights. Hood lights are less important because they light up the buckets but I'd still like them working if needed. Mini light bar in the bash guard would be good though. I just bought a big one to try between the front cab corner lights but haven't had time to mount it yet. It just chaps my butt to pay over $20 for a lousy candle to keep the hood lights lit.

 

[m1garand762]

Look at a motorcycle shop. If it’s the same as my l series I bought led on Amazon for 10 bucks or so but I took the original to a bike shop to match up

 

[Fallon]

Not really an issue for tractors like with cars but... Hallogen housings are designed for halogen bulbs where the element produces light in a specific spot. LED bulbs produce light in different spots & directions than a filament does. That causes the reflectors to improperly aim the light. In a car that causes glare to oncoming traffic. In all cases it causes the light to focus differently than designed. It usually means less usable light. If possible put in a whole LED assembly as they are designed to focus properly & get maximum light where you want it.

The other factor is heat. LEDs put off a lot less heat. But they are also much more sensitive to heat & cook themselves. LED bars & cubes have a the back as a big heatsink to keep things cool. Bulbs don't have much to cool them. Some have a heating on the back, but they are small & poorly connected due to the bulb formfactor & connectors.

Generally you'll be way better off getting one of those $35 4" cubes & mounting it to the ROPS/cab/fender/whatever than retrofitting a LED into a halogen housing.

 

[GinNB]

Not really an issue for tractors like with cars but... Hallogen housings are designed for halogen bulbs where the element produces light in a specific spot. LED bulbs produce light in different spots & directions than a filament does. That causes the reflectors to improperly aim the light. In a car that causes glare to oncoming traffic. In all cases it causes the light to focus differently than designed. It usually means less usable light. If possible put in a whole LED assembly as they are designed to focus properly & get maximum light where you want it.

The other factor is heat. LEDs put off a lot less heat. But they are also much more sensitive to heat & cook themselves. LED bars & cubes have a the back as a big heatsink to keep things cool. Bulbs don't have much to cool them. Some have a heating on the back, but they are small & poorly connected due to the bulb formfactor & connectors.

Generally you'll be way better off getting one of those $35 4" cubes & mounting it to the ROPS/cab/fender/whatever than retrofitting a LED into a halogen housing.

I used to retrofit HID bulbs into the cab corner lights in the really early days of LED but they're good enough now and a lot simpler. Mounting the ballast under the roof was neat but makes initial installation and replacing them a pain. Between the front cab corner lights and loader lights the front will fry vampires and really annoy oncoming traffic. And yes on the replacing whole bulb and assembly if one is really serious about the hood lights. Cops and the DOT like giving out tickets for non-working lights though so I do prefer to keep the hood lights working even if not needed.

 

[Fallon]

I used to retrofit HID bulbs into the cab corner lights in the really early days of LED but they're good enough now and a lot simpler. Mounting the ballast under the roof was neat but makes initial installation and replacing them a pain. Between the front cab corner lights and loader lights the front will fry vampires and really annoy oncoming traffic. And yes on the replacing whole bulb and assembly if one is really serious about the hood lights. Cops and the DOT like giving out tickets for non-working lights though so I do prefer to keep the hood lights working even if not needed.

I retrofit HIDs into my old Tacoma. Cut a hole in the back of the stock reflector & glued/bolted in a projector assembly that properly focused for HID bulbs. It was a lit of work I'd likely not do again, but was a cool project. Gave me a good appreciation for lighting design & things you don't necessarily consider. LEDs have kind of made HIDs moves towards obsolescence.

I put a whole new fuse/relay assembly in the L4060 to support a pair of huge bars front & rear. Will fry vampires as well. But again, ended up being overkill. On the next tractor I'll probably just put 4 cubes or mini-bars on the stock mounts & stock wiring. My tractor has moved from a cool project to just a tool so I'm not as worried about the best of the best, just good enough.

 

[dstig1]

This may help:

Headlight bulb source?

I tried searching but didn't find anything. Is this headlight bulb some special Kubota-only thing, or should I be able to find it at an auto parts store? It doesn't say much on it as far as identification and it doesn't look like a normal bulb to me... This is for the Grand L 3130

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[bdhsfz6]

I gave up on the worthless Kubota front headlights. I saw no reason to spend $$ on bright bulbs that just light up the back of the FEL bucket.

Instead, I replaced the halogen cab lights with LED's. I now have more light than I really need. I realize they aren't street legal but it's only a minor issue for me. When on a public road, I use them as "high beams" and switch them off when there is oncoming traffic.

 

[Fallon]

I gave up on the worthless Kubota front headlights. I saw no reason to spend $$ on bright bulbs that just light up the back of the FEL bucket.

Instead, I replaced the halogen cab lights with LED's. I now have more light than I really need. I realize they aren't street legal but it's only a minor issue for me. When on a public road, I use them as "high beams" and switch them off when there is oncoming traffic.

Ya, that the biggest reason to not bother. Up high gives better coverage, range & no glare.

 

[5030]

Put LED's in both my M's grill mount headlights so I have 4 good bulbs sitting in my parts box. I remove my bucket when roading anyway. LED's are much better than the OeM filament bulbs ever were and less load on the alternator as well. In fact, every bulb on both my M's are now LED.

Kubota's have the crappiest headlamps of any tractor.