Is It Possible? : To Put Cab / Flasher Lights ON Designated Switch

JasonMac · Nov 14, 2008

One thing that never made sense to me with the John Deere Light Switch Dial is... if you are using your "Work" lights.. you can't use your Warning/Flashers at the same time? Why is this? If you are using your work lights, more likely you are working the machine... and flashers should be used for safety.... When I am out snow-blowing and plowing with the tractor, in a busy parking lot..... I need to have my work lights and flashers going at the same time... yes for extra safety I just ordered the Strobe beacon light. But I still want my flashers to work.

So does anybody have any idea how or if I can designate a seperate switch for the flashers? I have plenty of toggle switch places left in my Right side console?

Has this bothered anybody else but me? Does it make sense?

Jason

I've also thought about doing corner strobes under the flasher lenses of the cab.. I've seen it done you youtube. They show a 3720 Cab tractor with corner strobes... Looks really cool. I wish I knew how to do this, I would...

dirtworksequip · Nov 14, 2008

The reason the work lights cut out with the flashers is.....I don't think they want you running the road with your work lights and blinding on coming traffic. I just ended up installing the beacon light kit and use my work lights, but cut the work lights for on coming traffic.

Sincerely, Dirtworksequip

Spudland_Dave · Nov 14, 2008

I hate the JD Light switch as well...I wish I had more control of it, I know exactly what you mean though...My Dad's L2900 w/Laurin Cab is nice in that regard...you can manipulate any light the way YOU want too.

In my case, I want JUST the Cab worklights on...not the hood mounted headlights, what happens is the light from those headlights just "reflects" off my FEL Blade/Bucket/Forks/etc.. and its not "easy on the eyes" just a big bright blinding reflection, its obvious JD didnt test the headlight functions with a FEL mounted...What I've had to do is literally unplug the headlights so I dont have to deal with it.

On 30K worth of tractor, a person shouldnt have to mickey mouse crap like that. Deere should make a new switch available that allows a person to do what they want with the lights.

nmu98 · Nov 14, 2008

This was not the easiest of projects for me since I had to remove parts of the dash to get aat wires. It could be done without doing so, but would be a bit more messy.

I took a normal JD light switch and mounted it on the side panel in the cab. I found the power wire out of the and into the harness that fires the flashers. I had to make sure to get it before the ossilator so my work lights did not blink. (It would be eaier just to grab power from the front headlights, but i was not thinking then) I ran a wire to the light switch, and back out to the power wire from the switch that fired the work lights. I put a diode in not to backfeed the switch, probably not needed...

So, I can turn on the work lights with the flashers are on buy turning on the light switch I added. I would rather be able to turn them on whenever without the headlights, so I was thinking of finding a switched power lead and running it to the switch.

Spudland_Dave · Nov 14, 2008

nmu98 said:
This was not the easiest of projects for me since I had to remove parts of the dash to get aat wires. It could be done without doing so, but would be a bit more messy.

nmu98.....great idea...my personal objection is not one of what you did or how you did it, BUT one of principal....I do not see the need to have to cut/splice/rewire a big dollar piece of equipment...You cant tell me JD couldnt have used a different switch for the Cabbed models as I dont think the open station guys feel the same as us Cabbed guys do.

Without looking at wiring diagrams and such to determine if this is even feasible.....what I would like as a resolution would be a dash switch that straight up replaces the current one with one we have control over...Just like the one on my Dad's 'bota.... an "outer ring" which controls the flashers on or off, and the inner knob controls the lights.....in our case: Headlights Off, Headlights On, Headlights & Work On, Worklights On.
A Direct swap out requiring no cutting/drilling/wiring, etc... I'll gladly pay for the switch if it was available from momma Deere.

From a safety standpoint the current switch isnt too good... With the flashers/headlights on, I am BLINDED by the reflection off whatever I got on the FEL...not to mention I cant even see where I'm going because of the blocked light. Only other choice is to use the worklights...then I can see just fine, BUT my safety flashers arent on...

LBrown59 · Nov 14, 2008

Spudland_Dave said:
I hate the JD Light switch as well...I wish I had more control of it, I know exactly what you mean though...My Dad's L2900 w/Laurin Cab is nice in that regard...you can manipulate any light the way YOU want too.

In my case, I want JUST the Cab worklights on...not the hood mounted headlights, what happens is the light from those headlights just "reflects" off my FEL Blade/Bucket/Forks/etc.. and its not "easy on the eyes" just a big bright blinding reflection, its obvious JD didnt test the headlight functions with a FEL mounted...What I've had to do is literally unplug the headlights so I dont have to deal with it.

On 30K worth of tractor, a person shouldnt have to mickey mouse crap like that. Deere should make a new switch available that allows a person to do what they want with the lights.

On my tractors you can use the flashers with any of the other lites.

Mech · Nov 14, 2008

On the 790 you have a push button for the flashing lights and a light switch that turns on the headlights/work light and also the turn signals. You can use all the lights at the same time.

Spudland_Dave · Nov 14, 2008

Mech said:
On the 790 you have a push button for the flashing lights and a light switch that turns on the headlights/work light and also the turn signals. You can use all the lights at the same time.

Isnt it ironic....a "Budget" machine has the better switch and the so called "deluxe" models get shafted with a cheap switch...

Mech · Nov 14, 2008

All the money I have in mine now, I don't think I can call it a budget machine anymore, certainly my wife doesn't think so --
* Canopy
* FEL Blade with hydraulic angle and wings
* Box Blade
* TNT
* Tilt Indicator
* Rear work light
* Block Heater
* Front lights on Canopy
* 12v Aux plug
* Toolbox
* Filled Tires
* Power Beyond
* Mirror
* Toothbar
If there was a way to add hydro I would really be in trouble.

nmu98 · Nov 14, 2008

Spudland_Dave said:
nmu98.....great idea...my personal objection is not one of what you did or how you did it, BUT one of principal....I do not see the need to have to cut/splice/rewire a big dollar piece of equipment...You cant tell me JD couldnt have used a different switch for the Cabbed models as I dont think the open station guys feel the same as us Cabbed guys do.

Without looking at wiring diagrams and such to determine if this is even feasible.....what I would like as a resolution would be a dash switch that straight up replaces the current one with one we have control over...Just like the one on my Dad's 'bota.... an "outer ring" which controls the flashers on or off, and the inner knob controls the lights.....in our case: Headlights Off, Headlights On, Headlights & Work On, Worklights On.
A Direct swap out requiring no cutting/drilling/wiring, etc... I'll gladly pay for the switch if it was available from momma Deere.

From a safety standpoint the current switch isnt too good... With the flashers/headlights on, I am BLINDED by the reflection off whatever I got on the FEL...not to mention I cant even see where I'm going because of the blocked light. Only other choice is to use the worklights...then I can see just fine, BUT my safety flashers arent on...

Do you want me to make yo a plug and play harness that you do not have to doo any cutting. Would not be hard. I would just make some pigtails and a connector. With the switch it would only cost about 40 bucks...