Headlight Assembly peeling

[GMtb42]

My headlight assembly is peeling in sheets of thin plastic. Not exposed to direct sunlight it is under a carport.
Have never seen this before on anything, like mica (mineral) peeling.
Any way to stop it?

 

[GMtb42]

Did some searching and all I can come up with is sanding or use 3M product.
It's a tractor not driving it on the roadway so just let it peel is my approach.
Assembly is $250+ that is not an option.

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

I would guess your only option is replacement or sand it down and spray paint it silver. I would think a good coat of paint should stop the peeling.

 

[GMtb42]

Yeah it is the clear part or the lens that is peeling.
If I can get out today I will try and snap an shot or two of it.

 

[Lloyd_E]

The reflector - back inside of light - peeled on mine. haven't attempted to fix it yet.

 

[two_bit_score]

My headlight assembly is peeling in sheets of thin plastic. Not exposed to direct sunlight it is under a carport.
Have never seen this before on anything, like mica (mineral) peeling.
Any way to stop it?

How much work do you do after dark?

 

[ritcheyvs]

Between the loader and the brush guard, I find the factory headlights on my DK45 to be all but useless. I wouldn't spend much of my own money to "fix" these factory lights if this happened to me.

 

[GMtb42]

How much work do you do after dark?

Some, I agree the peeling is cosmetic, but it looks bad. I mean if my wife's skin started peeling I would not like it because I do use her a lot after dark, I mean she would still be the same person and all, but the look would be distasteful. :thumbsup:

Between the loader and the brush guard, I find the factory headlights on my DK45 to be all but useless. I wouldn't spend much of my own money to "fix" these factory lights if this happened to me.

Good point!

The reflector - back inside of light - peeled on mine. haven't attempted to fix it yet.

Kind of the attitude I am having here, it looks bad and is a defect but does it hurt the tractor other than esthetics.

 

[Lloyd_E]

I installed 2 front and 2 rear (55 watt each) lights just below the original cab lights. They are better than the factory supplied units. Plus the hardware is better quality as well. The brackets for the original cab lights rusted within the first 2 years - doesn't help living next to the ocean...

 

[Coyote machine]

If you wife starts peeling, that's when you would turn the lights OFF
The headlight itself, the outer lens is peeling, or the surround that holds the lamp in place- I couldn't tell from the pic?

 

[rider7767]

My headlight assembly is peeling in sheets of thin plastic. Not exposed to direct sunlight it is under a carport.
Have never seen this before on anything, like mica (mineral) peeling.
Any way to stop it?

There must have been a bad batch of headlight assemblies. My CK20S headlights were peeling also. My Kioti dealer sent me the whole headlight assembly with lights and wiring by mail strait to my house as a warranty item. I polished my old ones out when I bought the tractor, but like you said, the peeling looks bad. It also dims the light. Plus, it is a new tractor, so it should look new for a little while.
This is my old lights setting by my new lights during the swap.After the swap. As far as the 55 watt bulbs; for me, they are so bright, they reflect off of the bucket loader cross brace which blinds the crap out of me. I just stayed with the stock bulbs when I swapped out.

The swap was easy enough. I think it was about 6-8 small bolts and plugging in the wiring harness.

 

[Gary Fowler]

It seems this may be a known defect. Kioti may swap them out even though it is out of warranty. Wouldn't hurt to check.

 

[GMtb42]

There must have been a bad batch of headlight assemblies. My CK20S headlights were peeling also. My Kioti dealer sent me the whole headlight assembly with lights and wiring by mail strait to my house as a warranty item. I polished my old ones out when I bought the tractor, but like you said, the peeling looks bad. It also dims the light. Plus, it is a new tractor, so it should look new for a little while.
This is my old lights setting by my new lights during the swap.After the swap. As far as the 55 watt bulbs; for me, they are so bright, they reflect off of the bucket loader cross brace which blinds the crap out of me. I just stayed with the stock bulbs when I swapped out.

The swap was easy enough. I think it was about 6-8 small bolts and plugging in the wiring harness.

I agree needs to look new for at least a year or so. :thumbsup:

It seems this may be a known defect. Kioti may swap them out even though it is out of warranty. Wouldn't hurt to check.

Thanks guys will contact dealer near here, only thing is the dealer here is so flaky I don't anticipate a favorable answer from them on this.

 

[Coyote machine]

So if your dealer doesn't seem too interested, maybe show him some of the pics and text from the poster who got them replaced as a known defect. And if that's not enough to jump start their butts into gear, then tell them you plan to take it to corporate 'cause the way they're flaking is not acceptable to you, especially on an item, your tractor, which you spent a ton of money on instaed af buying used/abused.
JMTCW.

 

[rider7767]

Have you had a chance to contact the dealer about your lights? I was wondering what year your tractor was built in?

 

[GMtb42]

Yeah, he said no dice. It is a 2004.
Guess I will look around and see if I can come across one used or something. Heck I might get creative and try to make a light kit or something.
If you had to design one what would you recommend to do to make it more effective/useable? Placement? Angle?

 

[Coyote machine]

Why not see if the 3M lens refinishing kit would get it done for you? You could call them and send pics for them to look at to see if it would work. I just bought a kit today for my son's '03 Taco, which has really oxidized lenses.:confused3::thumbsup:

 

[Lloyd_E]

They say toothpaste with soda in it(Arm and Hammer etc.) will polish the lenses to almost new condition.

How To Polish Hazy Plastic Car Headlights Cheap - YouTube
How do you clean headlights - the easy way - YouTube

 

[rider7767]

Why not see if the 3M lens refinishing kit would get it done for you? You could call them and send pics for them to look at to see if it would work. I just bought a kit today for my son's '03 Taco, which has really oxidized lenses.:confused3::thumbsup:

They say toothpaste with soda in it(Arm and Hammer etc.) will polish the lenses to almost new condition.

How To Polish Hazy Plastic Car Headlights Cheap - YouTube
How do you clean headlights - the easy way - YouTube

If his is like mine was, it will not work. My lens was not turning only hazy, but it was breaking down. The lens was separating in tiny sheets. I polished it out the best I could and sealed it, but is still kept separating.

 

[GMtb42]

Yeah it is like rider7767 says, but thanks for the tip on the toothpaste.
Either I am stuck with it, buy a new one, which is highly unlikely, or make something to replace it with I am thinking LED.