Lights on NH TC24D

[jwstewar]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( And I think you might need to work out some sort of horn "code" to let the little wifey know when you need her to run out with a fresh cold beer!
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You're funny /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif A few weeks ago I was working on the car all greasy and dirty from working on it in my yet floorless garage. She was just sitting there on a charge at her yard lack-of-sale. I ASKED her to go make me a sandwich so I could keep working on the car and try to get it back on the road. She said no, I thought she was kidding and would do it anyway. I went back to work and forgot about it until a little while later I couldn't figure out why I was so hungry? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I realized, she wasn't kidding. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

At least I got the car back on the road. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Good luck with the lights. I'm much happier with mine now. Funny you mentioned where I mounted my switches. I also looked at yours when you posted your pictures and wished I had ordered the switches that you had used. I really liked those, but I ended up taking the lazy, quick way out and used switches found locally.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="blue"> I also looked at yours when you posted your pictures and wished I had ordered the switches that you had used. I really liked those, but I ended up taking the lazy, quick way out and used switches found locally.
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Funny, I couldn't find any switches I liked locally and got tired of looking so I took the lazy way out and ordered mine over the internet because it was easier for me to do it that way.

As it all turned out, I'm glad I put mine where I did, originally I had 2 switches in place, one for the front lights and one for the rear ROPS lights. My Aux Light is tapped into the NH Aux wire and has a switch built into it so it didn't need to have a fender mount switch. But then I added a 12-volt outlet on the back of the tractor and I added a 3rd switch in the middle to power the 12 volt outlet. I figured I could leave it hot all the time, but then figured it would be better to be able to control it with a switch, something I am very happy I did.

Jim, or anyone else who might know, one thing that I see used all the time to hold wiring onto the ROPS are "zip ties." I used them with my install too. But does anyone know if they are "UV Stabilized" or will they degrade and become brittle from being exposed to the sun?

Personally I hate the things but they are so darn handy! But if you cut them down they are like little sharp points that can tear your skin, and if you leave them they look sloppy, and nobody has been able to tell me how long they will last when exposed to the sun.

I've often thougth of using a rubber "cord runner" for concealing the wires. It would give a smooth hidden conceal to the wiring. I went so far as to buy it, but I never got around to cutting it to fit, etc.

 

[Inspector507]

Bob,
Several companies make UV stabilized wire ties. Two companies come to mind Panduit and 3-M. They are usually black. That does not mean the black ones you can get at Harbor Freight are suitable for outdoor use though.

 

[Inspector507]

Jim........nice job on the lights /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Thank you very much. Sure is nice being able to see what you are doing. Now by the time I get home dark isn't far away. Pretty soon it'll be dark even before I leave work. Oh well, one of the disadvantages of working 4/10s - but I get to make up for it with 3 days off. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jwstewar]

I have no clue if they are UV stable or not, but worst case scenario in 2 or 3 years I put new ones on in about 5 minutes. I ended up cutting a few off in the process of redoing the wiring, they looked just as good as the day I put them on. So from that standpoint I think they could last several years. Since my garage didn't have walls (just a partial roof) until a few months ago my tractor had sat in the sun since about last October.

 

[Inspector507]

<font color="blue"> but I get to make up for it with 3 days off </font>

Not gonna go there......too much. We tried it when I was one of the "rank and file". Management kept calling everyone in on their day off to do a few calls and loaf the rest of the day. Made it look like it cost more because of the overtime they had to pay out. Lasted a year at best before they ditched the program. I would love to see it again, except for one thing....NOW I'm IN management and the managers still had to work 5-8's back then.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Jim, you just cost me another $40 and now the lovely Mrs_Bob is mad at you. Yup, I blamed you. I've often found that passing the blame to an unknown 3rd person deflects some of the crap that I get. So what did you do? Well you inspired me to go out and buy a couple of new 55 watt lights for my ROPS. They will replace the 35 watt units that face the front. Of course, I really did NOT NEED them right now since grass cutting season is rapidly drawing to a close, but your re-install sort of inspired me to get off my lazy rear end and fix what I did.

So when I came home with a bag in my hand and it was more than the gallon of milk that I was sent to buy the questions started flying . . . and I said " but Jim just rewired and repositioned his ROPS lights on his tractor and . . .

 

[jwstewar]

ROFLOL!!!!

Good luck with your upgrade. At least it wasn't a whole tractor that you had to upgrade. That would have cost a little more than $40. You mentioned grass growing is slowing down, but now you have to start worrying about snow removal. That was my inspiration/justification.

Maybe you could put the yellow ones on the front of her new Echo you bought her? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif That way she gets something out of the deal. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="blue"> You mentioned grass growing is slowing down, but now you have to start worrying about snow removal. That was my inspiration/justification. </font>

I actually have plenty of light to the rear. I have a 55watt Aux Light plus 2 35watt fog lamps. The combination is plenty of light for snowblowing the drive and roadway. In fact if the snow is really heavy or wet, I tend to use the 2 35watt fog lights mounted up high on the ROPS. But when the snow is light and blowing hard I often just use the low mounted AUX light. The lower light is not as good becuase the blower chute casts a large shadow, but under some conditions it works out better.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Jim, I just mounted the new 55 watt front facing lights onto the old light bar. (I posted some new pictures in my gallery in the PHOTOS section of TBN) I was able to use existing holes and simply swapped out the lights. The wires were a little different story as the new lights had shorter leads so I had to make some jumpers to reach the lights, but the white light is much better for mowing, I'm just wondering if they will draw flocks of flying & biting little bugs to the area around my head???

 

[jwstewar]

I haven't used both of mine together yet for mowing, but when I had the one directly above/behind my head, it did attract enough bugs that I thought they were going to carry me away. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Not too mention the sunburn from light beating down at the back of my neck. That was another plus for moving the lights out to the side. Heading over to take a look at the pics now....

 

[jwstewar]

Looks like they turned out pretty well. Since your lights are a little smaller then mine, they end up being about the same distance from the sides of your head, you'll probably be OK. Maybe we just need to speed our tractors up so the bugs can't keep up with us. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

When I mow the open areas (and I don't have much open land) I mow in HIGH range with my foot all the way to the floor. At least I do that until I hit a bump! Actually I think it will be a minor problem as I don't do too much work late into the evenings anymore. But since I was inspired to "keep up with Jim" I just had to do it!!!

And it may come in handy this winter too because I just picked up a 100# capacity 12-volt salt spreader. I plan on removing the FEL for the winter and making a mount for the spreader to mount on the FRONT BUMPER. I have a 3pt 60" blower for the rear, so rather than blowing snow and then swapping implements, I figure I'll blow snow, then simply turn around, flip on the front lights, flip on the salt spreader and drive around spreading salt on the drive and parking area.

At least that is how I justified it to the lovely Mrs_Bob after she caught me with the extra goodies in the bag /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif because somehow telling her that "Jim on TBN just upgraded his lights. . . " didn't seem to work very well for me /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Maybe I should have picked up some jewelry too?

 

[jwstewar]

Bob, Bob, Bob, man what are we gonna do with you? You seem like a pretty intelligent man, but you haven't figured out yet if you go buy something for yourself, you have to get jewelry for her too? It doesn't matter if you spend $10 on a new chalk line or $400 on a new miter saw, you still have to reward her with jewelry. BTW, you spend either at least $100 or the same amount that you spent on your new tool/gadget - whichever is more. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Why do you think I haven't purchased more attachments (including a backhoe /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) for my tractor? I can't afford the attachments to go along with the attachments. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Inspector507]

So.......I need to see Monica's stash of jewelry after the Truck, Tractor, Bush Hog, Garage.........oh yeah HOUSE too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Truck & house were pre-Monica - so I'm off the hook for those - now the garage & tractor & stuff - well lets just say I didn't need a backhoe attachment to dig me outta that hole that I've dug myself in to. I still get grieve because I didn't buy here the Wedding Precious Moments statue for our wedding - even though she has since gotten them. I didn't buy them so she had them at the wedding. Jees, What is a Man to do /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Junkman]

It is obvious that you and Bob haven't learned that if you leave the "goodies" in the garage, that they will not draw attention and you will be able to continue living a normal life with the wife. Why draw attention to something when you can hide it and not have to get any grief. I bought a car this summer and it was 2 weeks before the wife realized that it was on the property. That is another advantage of having a lot of acreage. Plenty of places to hide things. She still hasn't noticed the back blade that I purchased this past spring. Even when she does find these "treasurers", I point out to her that it isn't cutting into her ability to maintain her life style. I even bought her another new vehicle this past week. In fact, I paid extra to get a beautiful yellow and black 2 tone model. I hope that she doesn't hit a tree with this one like she did with the old one. I solved the jewelry problem by saying that if you don't wear what you have, then why do you need more?

 

[jwstewar]

Man, you are a trip. I'm not supposed to be laughing this hard this early in the morning. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Junkman,
Jim's garage just recently got siding, and still has no doors. So whatever he buys, is in plain site /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif