Headlight bulb source?

/ Headlight bulb source? #1  

dstig1

Super Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2010
Messages
5,646
Location
W Wisc
Tractor
Kubota L5240 HSTC, JD X738 Mower, (Kubota L3130 HST - sold)
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
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #2  
I bought one from the dealer several years ago for my L2800. It was $18.00. A bulb the size of a nickel. I was not pleased and let the dealer know my feelings, He deducted $3.00 from the price. I use to think auto dealers ripped you off but they ain't got nothing on tractor dealers. Could'ent find them any place else.
 
/ Headlight bulb source?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Thanks (I guess). I am quite surprised they don't just use standard headlight bulbs. Would seem obvious...
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #4  
On my B7500 I just used 1157 single filament bulbs and they work just fine.
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #5  
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

I'm not familiar with what a Kubota headlamp bulb looks like, but for my Mitsubishi I got my replacement headlamp bulbs at a Yamaha motorcycle dealer. He didn't have them in stock, but we compared the old one to the ones in a Parts Unlimited catalog and I had my bulbs in a couple of days. I believe the bulbs were 5 or 6 dollars each.

Ken
 
/ Headlight bulb source?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
They look like this, and I cannot find a darn thing on them. I can't even track down the base style. That is insane for what should be a very easy, common part - a lightbulb!

headlight-bulb (1) (Small).JPG
headlight-bulb (3) (Small).JPG
headlight-bulb (4) (Small).JPG

I had my wife stop at NAPA while she is out to see if they can match it, but I doubt they will have any luck. So I have to waste time going to the dealer or get it online and incur shipping charges that will probably make it ridiculous. Why do they make the simple stuff so hard? <sigh>
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #7  
A little research turns up a part number of 31391-34360. Apparently dealers think that it's okay to severely rodger people over these as they appear indistinguishable from the widely popular 1156 bulb which is available everywhere for far, far less.

Edit: ok, the one you pictured above looks quite different than the Messick's one; you might try an 1157 dual filament bulb and see if it fits the socket. I think the flange is just to keep moisture and corrosion out of the socket, or keep the dielectric grease in.
 
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/ Headlight bulb source?
  • Thread Starter
#8  
HA! Found it! Man was that painful. I saw something close in the Parts Unlimited catalog (Thanks for that idea Ken!) and it was made by Eiko, so I went to Eiko's page and searched there. Found it in a list of motorcycle/snowmobile lamps. The magic number is A-3603, and here is a link to one source of them, but now that the number is known you can search on that:

A-3603 - 25/25 Watt, 13/13 Volt T-6 Recreational Vehicle Bulb | Bulbs.com

$0.69/ea plus $6 flat shipping, so I think I'll get a few...
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #10  
HA! Found it! Man was that painful. I saw something close in the Parts Unlimited catalog ...

LOL, glad I could help you out. I was in the automotive and motorcycle parts/service business for over 35 years and learned a long time ago that what seems uncommon in one application is common in another.

Ken
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #11  
For my Bx, I had to replace one of the marker lights in back. It was the same thing, the bulb from Kubota cost a fortune. I just went to an auto parts store and got something off the rack that looked close, cost something like $2.
 
/ Headlight bulb source?
  • Thread Starter
#12  
Trust me - from my searching, there is nothing close enough to this bulb, and in a headlight you have less ability to use something "close" and still get decent lighting.
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #13  
Here you go. You can find them on Amazon, about $7 a pair. Eiko Light Bulbs - Headlight - 12V - 25/25W - Mfg/N A-3603 - Card A-3603-BP There is also a 30/30 watt bulb that are used in ATV's but are more expensive.
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #14  
For the Bison 650G, the headlight glassy assembly is manufactured by Stanley. The bulb is an Eiko 48008, which is an A-3603 bulb, dual filament, 25w/25w. I found it using the A-3603 number cheapest on Amazon for $1.60 + shipping.

Robert
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #16  
For bulbs that can not be found in auto supply shops don't overlook a motorcycle or ATV supplier as many that NAPA and such term 'oddball' actually are cycle bulbs. (and usually better than 1/2 the tractor dealer's price)
 
/ Headlight bulb source? #17  
HA! Found it! Man was that painful. I saw something close in the Parts Unlimited catalog (Thanks for that idea Ken!) and it was made by Eiko, so I went to Eiko's page and searched there. Found it in a list of motorcycle/snowmobile lamps. The magic number is A-3603, and here is a link to one source of them, but now that the number is known you can search on that:

A-3603 - 25/25 Watt, 13/13 Volt T-6 Recreational Vehicle Bulb | Bulbs.com

$0.69/ea plus $6 flat shipping, so I think I'll get a few...

You sir, IMHO b d man!!!
:dance1::thumbsup:
 
/ Headlight bulb source?
  • Thread Starter
#18  
Just doin' my part for the TBN family...
 

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