My B2920 Light Project

jambx · Oct 19, 2009

Yes another light thread but I felt I had to show it off since I scoured this site and used the search tool to death to get ideas on how I may tackle my light project on my new B2920.

I used these lights from my BX22 days I felt duals both pointing front and back were a priority. Also when I plow my driveway in the winter I like to use a strobe on the top of the ROPS as I live on a main road and at times find myself in the line of fire so to speak so any advantage my lights give to warn drivers I am out there is always a plus.

When I ordered my 2920 I had them install the high cap alternator so getting juice was not going to be a problem however I felt adding relays to the main lights was prudent so I went with two standard bosch relay one can get at any automotive store.

Wiring was easy since you guys pointed me to the leads under the rear fender. These came on with the ignition so it was a no brainer. Used wire wrap to make it look very clean - almost like it came from the factory!

My lights were the run of the mill flood light from Northern tool (~$15) and was just recenlty given a bunch of LED lights (these were potted in a block of plastic) from a friend who works in the light business - when I hooked them up I was shocked to see just how bright these things were and used so little a draw. So I said what the heck lets use them! And mounted these on the angled piece of steel off the lower part of the ROPS next to the rear turning lights my thinking here is since I plow perpendicular to the street the angle would give a noticeable effect to approaching traffic.

As for mounting location of the main floods I like using the ROPS since it offers a clear unobstructed view both front and rear and the idea of using the stake pockets (purchased mine from Tractor Supply for a few dollars) to mount them works like a charm. A little rustoleum and you have yourself a low cost light assembly!

When it came to the switch location I was all set to use the dash itself right next to the hazard switch but the idea of drilling into the dash turned my stomach so I opted for the dummy panel besides the driver where the rear remotes are suppose to go.

Over all I am very happy with the install. The light switch assemble really came out nice and neat (got to love the rubber covers), the flood lights flood the front and rear exceptionally well, the LEDs are blinding and when I have the strobe flashing it all looks like I am about to take off!

Thanks to all those that posted in the past you help me with this project!

Dano5509 · Oct 19, 2009

That is a really nice install! I would be interested in seeing some nighttime snow plow pics to see how well those LEDs light up the front and back when you are plowing.

It looks like a factory install, great job!

iplumb · Oct 20, 2009

( about to take off ) To funny! Looks good are those LEDs white or red? Night pictures would be great....

jambx · Oct 20, 2009

The LEDs are RED although I also was given some Green ones (thought the red was more fitting). I'll take some night shots and post then - as for some snow plow pics I am doing the snow dance as we speak

DELInstallations · Oct 20, 2009

Good deal, similar to what I've got to do, but I've got a canopy to work with. I'm hoping someone posts a nice picture of the wire leads under the fender and how they're up there.

So that's the panel the rear remotes go?

JUBILEE1953 · Nov 27, 2012

Did you fab the straight piece or did you find it at TSC also?

jambx said:
Yes another light thread but I felt I had to show it off since I scoured this site and used the search tool to death to get ideas on how I may tackle my light project on my new B2920.

I used these lights from my BX22 days I felt duals both pointing front and back were a priority. Also when I plow my driveway in the winter I like to use a strobe on the top of the ROPS as I live on a main road and at times find myself in the line of fire so to speak so any advantage my lights give to warn drivers I am out there is always a plus.

When I ordered my 2920 I had them install the high cap alternator so getting juice was not going to be a problem however I felt adding relays to the main lights was prudent so I went with two standard bosch relay one can get at any automotive store.

Wiring was easy since you guys pointed me to the leads under the rear fender. These came on with the ignition so it was a no brainer. Used wire wrap to make it look very clean - almost like it came from the factory!

My lights were the run of the mill flood light from Northern tool (~$15) and was just recenlty given a bunch of LED lights (these were potted in a block of plastic) from a friend who works in the light business - when I hooked them up I was shocked to see just how bright these things were and used so little a draw. So I said what the heck lets use them! And mounted these on the angled piece of steel off the lower part of the ROPS next to the rear turning lights my thinking here is since I plow perpendicular to the street the angle would give a noticeable effect to approaching traffic.

As for mounting location of the main floods I like using the ROPS since it offers a clear unobstructed view both front and rear and the idea of using the stake pockets (purchased mine from Tractor Supply for a few dollars) to mount them works like a charm. A little rustoleum and you have yourself a low cost light assembly!

When it came to the switch location I was all set to use the dash itself right next to the hazard switch but the idea of drilling into the dash turned my stomach so I opted for the dummy panel besides the driver where the rear remotes are suppose to go.

Over all I am very happy with the install. The light switch assemble really came out nice and neat (got to love the rubber covers), the flood lights flood the front and rear exceptionally well, the LEDs are blinding and when I have the strobe flashing it all looks like I am about to take off!

Thanks to all those that posted in the past you help me with this project!

oldballs · Nov 27, 2012

Really nice job and good to see another light installation thread.

ericher69 · Nov 27, 2012

Nice work!

Just hope you don't need rear remotes in the future.

Did you get those R4's new? They look almost bald in the pics. If so how many hours did it take to get them to this point

jambx · Nov 28, 2012

JUBILEE1953 said:
Did you fab the straight piece or did you find it at TSC also?

Thanks guys - nice to see a old thread of mine still of some use!

The straight piece is just some aluminum stock from home depot.

Gasifier · Nov 29, 2012

Very nice job jambx. You took your time and made it look nice. How is that 2920 treating after three years?

Tvanharp · Apr 4, 2013

Hi, I know this an old post but now that you have been using these light for quite a while I'm wondering if you are still happy with the setup? Which by the way is awesome! I'm looking to do the same thing for my L4330. Talked with the Kubota dealer today and they recently got in some LED lights the guy said were really nice, very bright and low current. I do plowing as well and almost always in the dark and of course the stock headlights shining on the back of the bucket dont do much good.

boutym · Jul 9, 2013

I'd be curious too about how they're working out. I'm looking to do the same type thing on my Massey 2610 TLB, but on the fence about whether to mount the lights to the inside or outside of the ROPS. I can see them being more protected inside, but I'm afraid it puts too much light near the center of the work area. I'm concerned more with the rear facing lights with the backhoe. Seems the further out to the side I can get the light the better for backhoe work.

boutym · Jul 30, 2013

Here's what I ended up doing with mine. These are 4" Tuff LED Lights I got from Amazon.

I used a piece of 2" angle to make the brackets and the square U-Bolts are from Tractor Supply.

Carry-On Trailer® Square U-Bolt Kit, 1/2 in. x 3 in., Pack of 2 - Tractor Supply Online Store

Got some 1/8" rubber gasket material from the plumbing supply house and glued pieces to the backs of the brackets and also slipped a piece between the U-bolts and ROPS. Cut about an inch off the U-bolts and will probably cut some off the bolts for the lights to give it a little cleaner look. Still have to wire them up and do the final positioning. Once all that's done I'll paint the unpainted pieces and off we go.

Fireball573 · Jul 30, 2013

Nice job, looks like a factory install.

boutym · Jul 30, 2013

Fireball573 said:
Nice job, looks like a factory install.

Thanks. Wasn't really all that difficult. The hardest part was waiting for the paint to dry.

Looks like an A-10 there in your avatar. Spent almost 7 years on those things back when England AFB in Louisiana was a real place and the Flying Tigers were still a real symbol of something special.

Fireball573 · Jul 30, 2013

It is an A-10. The pilots that fly them here do a great job of teaching the Taliban the futility of taking up arms against the United States of America.

boutym · Jul 30, 2013

Fireball573 said:
It is an A-10. The pilots that fly them here do a great job of teaching the Taliban the futility of taking up arms against the United States of America.

I'll bet! Not too many things worse than being on the receiving end of an A-10. To this day they're still an airplane you don't want to tangle with cause you are going to lose.

oldballs · Jul 30, 2013

As far as placement inside the ROPS or outside, I still beat the heck out of mine. It seems that there is always something, somewhere that whacks them. I'm glad that my mounts are spring loaded so that they give a bit in a collision. One of the 55 W Hella lens is cracked. Cheers, Mike

boutym · Jul 31, 2013

oldballs said:
As far as placement inside the ROPS or outside, I still beat the heck out of mine. It seems that there is always something, somewhere that whacks them. I'm glad that my mounts are spring loaded so that they give a bit in a collision. One of the 55 W Hella lens is cracked. Cheers, Mike

I was on the fence about inside or outside the ROPS and in the end outside won. That may change, but for now I've been pretty safe with hitting stuff high up on the ROPS. Down lower is another store entirely. The one thing that does concern me is whether or not the lights being behind me will cause glare in my glasses. I have anti-glare coated lenses on my daily wear glasses, but not on my safety glasses which I tend to wear more when working outside.

boutym · Jan 13, 2014

Well, FINALLY got the wiring finished and fired up the lights last night for testing. HOLY COW!!! It's like a freaking baseball stadium. These babies are bright! I have to run out today to get an inline fuse holder and finish the wiring behind the dash. It turned out to be a bit of a project because I wanted as clean a look as I could get without drilling the ROPS and I think I accomplished it. Used split loom everywhere I could and used existing tie locations and holes where I could. There aren't a lot of options for getting wires from the back to behind the dash on a small tractor, but I found there was just enough room to run along the left side and bring the wire bundle up through the right side where the existing relays sit. I'll get some pics up once I get everything finished up.

The one thing I ended up deciding to do was blow off relays. These LED lights just don't draw that much current, so the 8A switches I used shouldn't have any problems directly switching the load.