Don't break your headlight

[lil_country]

Well, my son lifted some lengthy metal with the FEL and swung it into the right headlight, cracking the lens. I thought no big deal, I'll pick up another lense for $30 or so. In my dreams - They sell the headlight assembly as one piece. I was quoted about $150 from two dealers. I guess we'll be a little more careful from now on.

 

[chrisjbell]

The headlight assemblys are pretty steep.

This reminds me...I just replaced two headlights on one of the tractors at work. Someone suggested building a metal screen to try to protect the lights from getting broken again. I thought that was a good idea and then promptly forgot about it until I read this thread.

Has anyone done something like that? It would need to be heavy enough to protect the lights effectively yet not so bulky as to be a huge impediment to either the light or mounting.

Any ideas?

 

[lil_country]

That sounds like a good idea, given the cost of replacing the lights. Maybe something out of expanded metal?

 

[Northland]

The headlight assemblys are pretty steep.

This reminds me...I just replaced two headlights on one of the tractors at work. Someone suggested building a metal screen to try to protect the lights from getting broken again. I thought that was a good idea and then promptly forgot about it until I read this thread.

Has anyone done something like that? It would need to be heavy enough to protect the lights effectively yet not so bulky as to be a huge impediment to either the light or mounting.

Any ideas?

jeez.....that is a good idea. Snow pushed into one of my B7800 headlights causing it to turn off until I clean out the snow and tap the headlight. Wy wife's Subaru Forester has plastic grill guards over her driving lights and she still has the orginal lights after 6 years. She's gone through 3 or 4 windshields from taking rocks from the logging trucks on our road.

Maybe some heavy duty chicken wire?

 

[Sully2]

Well, my son lifted some lengthy metal with the FEL and swung it into the right headlight, cracking the lens. I thought no big deal, I'll pick up another lense for $30 or so. In my dreams - They sell the headlight assembly as one piece. I was quoted about $150 from two dealers. I guess we'll be a little more careful from now on.

...I did exactly the same trick last summer..and yepper..$150 bucko's!

Which side did you break out? The clear plastic lens CAN be removed and a different one installed..EXCEPT you cant BUY the **** things. I broke the left one out.....if your has the right side broken...well...

 

[Sully2]

The headlight assemblys are pretty steep.

This reminds me...I just replaced two headlights on one of the tractors at work. Someone suggested building a metal screen to try to protect the lights from getting broken again. I thought that was a good idea and then promptly forgot about it until I read this thread.

Has anyone done something like that? It would need to be heavy enough to protect the lights effectively yet not so bulky as to be a huge impediment to either the light or mounting.

Any ideas?

Ive got a partial roll of 1/2" mesh wire..thats vinyl coated ( so it wont scratch my litle baby all up...) and Im going to cut it to fit the "FEL radiator guard frame" and cable tie it into place.

 

[Northland]

Ive got a partial roll of 1/2" mesh wire..thats vinyl coated ( so it wont scratch my litle baby all up...) and Im going to cut it to fit the "FEL radiator guard frame" and cable tie it into place.

thanks for the tip- I am going to do that as well

 

[lil_country]

Mesh on the radiator protector frame would not have helped me. It was hit from the side.

I broke mine on the right side. I haven't examined it closely, but I think the lens is one piece that covers both sides.

 

[Bob_Young]

Didja yell at the kid? Put him on notice; the next one's on him.

I used to sober up quick when Pappy came down on me like that. No matter how careful I thought I was being or how unavoidable the accident, I always found I could be more careful and avoid more problems.

Prov. 19:18
Bob

 

[Sully2]

Mesh on the radiator protector frame would not have helped me. It was hit from the side.

I broke mine on the right side. I haven't examined it closely, but I think the lens is one piece that covers both sides.

The LEFT side is broken on mine...

Nope..each individual light is covered by a seperate lens..and if your careful you can "squeeze" the clear lens and remove it. Problem is...as we both have found out...you CANT buy a replacement!!!

I had mine removed when I called the dealer..and the parts guy tells me "its one piece..cant remove it?? I told him its ( cant print that here...lol) I said IVE GOT IT OUT!!! Thats when I found out you have to buy BOTH clear lenses AND the Kubota orange piece in between and you even get a new "Kubota symbol" on the front ( whoopie!!...lol)

The clear lens has 4 "tongues" on it..2 on the top and 2 on the bottom that fit into slots...so when you squeeze it..the tongues will ..??.."shrink in" and come out of the slots

 

[RobJ]

I'm not sure a little cable tied mesh will protect something that will also damage the lense. A piece of swinging iron will go right through it. So the problem is to fully protect it you might end of blocking to much light. And if you are more careful, you might not end up needing anything. Besides, one light still works right?

I'm going to file this next to my ain't getting fixed stuff. $150 for a lens when I never move around much at night is right next to replacing my $550 broken alternator. Besides, if the lights are on the front like mine, they are useless for anything but driving down the road. If trying to FEL work they are to high and point to far up. Best thing for that is some mounted on the ROPS like some have done.

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[Sully2]

I'm not sure a little cable tied mesh will protect something that will also damage the lense. A piece of swinging iron will go right through it. So the problem is to fully protect it you might end of blocking to much light. And if you are more careful, you might not end up needing anything. Besides, one light still works right?

I'm going to file this next to my ain't getting fixed stuff. $150 for a lens when I never move around much at night is right next to replacing my $550 broken alternator. Besides, if the lights are on the front like mine, they are useless for anything but driving down the road. If trying to FEL work they are to high and point to far up. Best thing for that is some mounted on the ROPS like some have done.

Good Luck,
Rob

To me they are useless....I wont work when its dark enough that i NEED lights on.

Had I used BOTH FEL hooks..instead of only the one...the tree trunk couldnt have "swung" when I lifted it up. I bought the replacement assy about 2-3 days after I broke mine...but Im not installing it until Im done landscaping...because it COULD hapened again??..who knows

 

[RobJ]

I found a shot of an old 4230 like my Granddaddy use to have. I think the 4 lights on the fenders is a nice placement. Back there they are fairly protected and you can at least see your front wheels. You can also see the 2 rear lights on the rops to watch the implement.

Rob

http://www.tractorhouse.com/images/Tractor/fullsize/01296621.jpg

 

[InlineDieselFan]

For $150 mine will remain cracked.

I cracked the thing with about 20 hours on it.

steve

 

[rdsaustintx]

Didja yell at the kid? Put him on notice; the next one's on him.

I used to sober up quick when Pappy came down on me like that. No matter how careful I thought I was being or how unavoidable the accident, I always found I could be more careful and avoid more problems.

Prov. 19:18
Bob

Within reason

Eph. 6:4

 

[ByronBob]

The problem is a mold like that might cost $50,000 to make. Sure the polycarbonate material is only $10 but they need to recover the mold cost.

And a machine is huge that molds that thing too.

Trust me I know. It's what I do. =)

 

[lil_country]

Well, I couldn't jump on him too much. He probably did $5000 worth of work for me while he was home on summer break. That was between his jobs. It was a lot easier to get him to work with that new tractor.

The light still works, and I don't use it much anyway. The only time I think it would be an issue is if the tractor is in the rain - and that shouldn't happen. It just won't be repaired for right now.

 

[icecreamhauler]

Breaking things goes with the doing stuff. It goes hand in hand.

 

[Sully2]

The problem is a mold like that might cost $50,000 to make. Sure the polycarbonate material is only $10 but they need to recover the mold cost.

And a machine is huge that molds that thing too.

Trust me I know. It's what I do. =)

The PROBLEM is..they dont need to try and recover the full cost from "ME" !!!

IM fully familiar with molding machines as a good friend is a mamager at Cincinati Milacron who is the largest maker of molding MACHINES ( not the dies) in the world.

The base design is "poor" to start with..and when I broke mine the people I ordered it from looked in the Kubota database and at that time there were (5)...count them FIVE of those assemblys in the whole united states!!!

Id have "happily" have forked over about $30 as a lesson to myself for the polycarbonate lens ITSELF....its the concept of the $150 for the whole shooting match that PI**** ME OFF ( its NOT all one mold!!)

Next time you have a headlight go out in your personal vehicle I sure hope they dont tell yo that you need a new hood and front fender and grill!!!!