Snow JD 2305, Original Tractor Cab - LED's and what heater and how to mount it?

[cast_and_blast]

Hello from not-snowing-yet Minnesota!

Just ordered a Original Tractor Cab for my JD 2305, been blowing snow without it for 4 years and finally decided that enough was enough. Last winter in MN was especially snowy and it pushed me over the edge. Got the cab, safety glass windshield and electric wiper and will be working over the next couple of weeks to get them installed. Curtis Cab was more of a "permenant" install than I wanted - I'll be taking the cab off in the Spring every year.

3 questions:

1. I've read the stories of difficult installations of the Cab- any tips or suggestions?

2. I want to add a heater and have pretty much dismissed any electric only heater or in-cab propane heaters - I think the best solution is to use the heat from the liquid cooled diesel. To that end, I've found a heater that I'm iterested in here: Model 4000 Heater
Are others using something similar and, if so, how did you mount yours with the Original Tractor Cab? I was thinking I would install on the left side and run the heater hoses through the oversize slot for the brake pedal. Just not sure what I could mount the heater on or to?

3. Also want to add at least 2 forward cab-mounted LED lights (probably 1 rear facing too) along with switches for them. I've seen the LED's from Northern Tool for $40 each - are they bright enough and are they decent quality? Any other reasonably priced LED's that folks recommend and/or have had good luck with?

Thanks for your help and advice!

Scott

 

[cttractor]

I can't speak to the heater, but I bought the Northern Tool LED light for $40.00 and it's really lousy. It throws very little light. In frustration, I spent three times that to get this one:

SoundOff Signal EWLC1400TBDF0W 5" Rectangular LED 1400 Lumen Flood Light

It's $120.00 from Amazon, but it's really bright, yet uses only 3 amps. You only need one for the front and one for the back. I'm very happy with it and have since forgotten the price because it works so well. It's supposedly often used to light the sand chute on snowplow trucks.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would think whatever heater core fan box you choose needs to be configured so that you can point the louvers towards the windhield as best possible.

Good luck with the project.

 

[dhyayi]

I can't speak to the heater, but I bought the Northern Tool LED light for $40.00 and it's really lousy. It throws very little light. In frustration, I spent three times that to get this one:

SoundOff Signal EWLC1400TBDF0W 5" Rectangular LED 1400 Lumen Flood Light

It's $120.00 from Amazon, but it's really bright, yet uses only 3 amps. You only need one for the front and one for the back. I'm very happy with it and have since forgotten the price because it works so well. It's supposedly often used to light the sand chute on snowplow trucks.

If you are looking for a bright light to light up your path or just use them for more light down dark roads at night these are what you want!!! so much brighter then i had imagined!!

 

[dellwas]

Check out these guys for LED lighting. Can't remember if they are a vendor here or not, but they are on other forums for sure, and they are designed to work with tractors and heavy equipment.

Work Lights, HID Work Lights, HID Lighting, Work HID Lights, LED Work Lights, MobileHID offers it all!

 

[cttractor]

Check out these guys for LED lighting. Can't remember if they are a vendor here or not, but they are on other forums for sure, and they are designed to work with tractors and heavy equipment.

Work Lights, HID Work Lights, HID Lighting, Work HID Lights, LED Work Lights, MobileHID offers it all!

Dellwas, thanks for the lead!

Have you tried any of these products yourself? I ask because I've been disappointed by many of the LED products out there. There are some great ones, but there are also lots of underpowered and lousy items. The only thing I've come to trust are those products that someone has actually bought, installed, is happy with, and is recommending.

Thanks!

 

[aczlan]

1. I've read the stories of difficult installations of the Cab- any tips or suggestions?

I recently installed one on a Cub Cadet GT3200. It took about 4 hours to get it all done (still have to add the lights). The directions are passable other than the fact that there is no picture key with the name of each piece on it, so I had to guess which piece went where from their illustrations.

We are going to leave the roof and uprights in year round (to keep the roof mounted lights, but without the windshield, doors or any of that stuff). I think that the cab could be removed in about an hour if you were storing the cab as one piece (would require removing about 10 bolts on the Cub version, 4 in each footrest and 2 in the back).

Aaron Z

 

[etcallhome]

You'll be pleased with your cab much better than setting out in the wind ,snow or rain.. Here is the way I mounted my heater ... and then used 3/4" hot -cold water line to put air on windshield.Drilled about 18 holes apx 1/4" or larger to give air on windshield.. Last winter I ran another 3/4" line from bottom of heater starting with a T fitting pointed down on left side and then around dash to the right side to give some heat on floor.. Works fair , I can plow or blow snow with light weight boots now instead of my best insulated ones.
I'm also leave frame work on tractor yr around.. remove back ,doors, and front lower curtain... Last few yrs I have been leaving the windshield in place.

At Advance Auto they started selling led lights that look something close to these..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Watt...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1fa9fd71

They flash 3 different patterns .. I've seen them on road construction sites. Didn't know this when I bought them ($40.00) also lights can be burning solid not flashing.. There 's 20 led lights on each light.. I mounted them on back of tractor and just having them on I can back in my bldg and see very well ..
Just my take on this !!

 

[cast_and_blast]

Got the cab mounted and with the help of my father-in-law we were able to get it completely assembled in about 4 hours including the safety glass windshield and electric wiper.

Have used it a few times since (moving some landscape rock, mowing, bagging of leaves) and it gets downright warm in there with the sun and outside temps in the low 50's. No heater yet, but I'm contemplating...

Did order two Maxxima LED's model MWL-07SP (Maxxima LED Lighting and Accessories) for the front of the cab. Also ordered several LED lighted switches, a project box to mount them in, some terminal blocks and a amber led strobe. Still need one LED worklight for the back, but I want to see how the front LED's work first before deciding if I need one, two or ??.

Will post pics after this weekends install of the lights and switches.

Scott

 

[cast_and_blast]

WOW are those Maxxima's bright! Very, very happy with the light they are throwing!

Pictures to come...

Scott

 

[cttractor]

WOW are those Maxxima's bright! Very, very happy with the light they are throwing!

Yeah, the SoundOff light I identified above is also bright and has a just slightly lower lumen level and current draw that the Maxima. Is the case on the Maxima steel, stainless, plastic, or something else?

And are you facing one forward and one back or both in the same direction? I ask because I have only one facing backward. It's good as it is, but if I get a backhoe, I'm afraid I'll have shadows that'll make it hard to see if I don't have a light on each side. When using bigger machines, I often will work into the darkness to finish a project. I'm sure I'll want to do the same with the tractor. Thanks!

 

[Pipestone Kid]

I have the "Original" on my 4110. In the Spring I just remove the doors and the canvas part below the windshield. Gives plenty of air and saves a whole lot of work. It only takes about five minutes to take off or put on. :thumbsup:

 

[cast_and_blast]

Is the case on the Maxima steel, stainless, plastic, or something else?


And are you facing one forward and one back or both in the same direction?

It's a surprisingly heavy light, the case is metal but I don't believe it's stainless. The mounts are all stainless including the bolts.

I have two facing forward and I just ordered another one (smaller model) to face rearward. If I was to run a backhoe I'd want two facing rearward.

Scott

 

[cast_and_blast]

I have the "Original" on my 4110. In the Spring I just remove the doors and the canvas part below the windshield. Gives plenty of air and saves a whole lot of work. It only takes about five minutes to take off or put on. :thumbsup:

I'm guessing that is what I'll do as well, we'll see.

Scott

 

[cttractor]

Mine is metal and quite heavy also. Based on the application they use as an example (plow trucks), I'm hoping they truly last.

One concern that I have is that my 2320 and your 2305 both have only 20 amp alternators. These lights take about 3.5 amps each, so that's 14 amps for four of them. While that's lower than incandescent lamps, that only leaves 6 amps left for headlights and tail lights. I've measured the current used and my headlights and taillights take 8.1 amps, so that will put us over the continuous output rating of our alternators. And if we use the flashers or add other safety warning lights, we're even more over.

Therefore, while the LED lights give us more room with their more efficient electricity to light conversion, we really need a bigger alternator and JD's option IS NOT cheap. I think I'll look around to see what more economical third-party options might exist.

 

[cast_and_blast]

Mine is metal and quite heavy also. Based on the application they use as an example (plow trucks), I'm hoping they truly last.

One concern that I have is that my 2320 and your 2305 both have only 20 amp alternators. These lights take about 3.5 amps each, so that's 14 amps for four of them. While that's lower than incandescent lamps, that only leaves 6 amps left for headlights and tail lights. I've measured the current used and my headlights and taillights take 8.1 amps, so that will put us over the continuous output rating of our alternators. And if we use the flashers or add other safety warning lights, we're even more over.

Therefore, while the LED lights give us more room with their more efficient electricity to light conversion, we really need a bigger alternator and JD's option IS NOT cheap. I think I'll look around to see what more economical third-party options might exist.

Could always change your headlights and tail lights over to LED bulbs - cheap and easy. My headlights are pretty much an afterthought after turning on the new LED's in terms of the amount of light they bring to the party.

THe LED I'm putting on the back is a bit smaller, only 1.5a draw. So, I'll be at 9.5 with all the LED's on at once.

Good luck!

Scott

 

[cttractor]

Could always change your headlights and tail lights over to LED bulbs - cheap and easy. My headlights are pretty much an afterthought after turning on the new LED's in terms of the amount of light they bring to the party.

THe LED I'm putting on the back is a bit smaller, only 1.5a draw. So, I'll be at 9.5 with all the LED's on at once.

Good point on the headlights! Have you come across any sources for LED bulb replacements for headlights? Thanks!

 

[whbrittain]

Did order two Maxxima LED's model MWL-07SP (Maxxima LED Lighting and Accessories) for the front of the cab. Also ordered several LED lighted switches, a project box to mount them in, some terminal blocks and a amber led strobe. Still need one LED worklight for the back, but I want to see how the front LED's work first before deciding if I need one, two or ??.

Will post pics after this weekends install of the lights and switches.

Scott

I'm so glad you can get Maxxima lights. I tried their website and they only sell those lights through dealers. My closest dealer is almost 2 hours drive away. Maxxima told me that they may not stock these lights, but the dealer would be glad to order them for me. Both dealers will only deal with me in person. Anybody got any other sources????

 

[hizoot]

Did order two Maxxima LED's model MWL-07SP (Maxxima LED Lighting and Accessories) for the front of the cab. Also ordered several LED lighted switches, a project box to mount them in, some terminal blocks and a amber led strobe. Still need one LED worklight for the back, but I want to see how the front LED's work first before deciding if I need one, two or ??.

Will post pics after this weekends install of the lights and switches.

Scott

went to the link you posted....no price listed or local dealer look up. What /where did you buy these and how much? Thanks...

 

[cast_and_blast]

went to the link you posted....no price listed or local dealer look up. What /where did you buy these and how much? Thanks...

Bought them here: Maxxima Lights,Lights MAXXIMA,Light,

No affiliation, have only used them one time and it went well. Everything as advertised, quick shipping, well packed.

The MWL-07SP were $119 each (these are the two on the front), the MWL-05SP was $74 (this is the one on the back).

Not cheap, but VERY bright and 5 year warranty.

Scott