remote PTO speed indicator lights...

[KrisHansen]

You guys are going to think I am nuts, but I am in the process of hooking up remote PTO indicator lights on my 33d... I know, I shuldn't need lights to tell me I am over or under speed, but, hey, they are there, so might as well use them. The reason for this of course, is running the rear mount blower, you almost never look forward, so you never get to see the dash. I like to run my engine at the top end of the rpm band, to get the most power at the blower in heavy snow. Having the lights makes this easier.. Anyway..

What I am doing is, I soldered pitgails onto the bulb sockets on the instrument cluster, and I plan on using relays to power the 2 small lights that I will mount on the rear of the tractor somewhere (haven't decided where yet.)

hopefully, this will prove useful for someone else.. I will get some pictures as soon as I have time to actually move forward with this project...

 

[dliston]

If you wanted, you could use LED indicators and not need to install the relays. The LED's use very little current and last FOREVER. Probably need to add a resistor in line to cut down on the voltage, but that is a lot simpler than going the relay route.

Doug /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The reason for this of course, is running the rear mount blower, you almost never look forward, so you never get to see the dash. I like to run my engine at the top end of the rpm band, to get the most power at the blower in heavy snow. Having the lights makes this easier.. Anyway..
)</font>

Kris, wouldn't you just set the throttle so you see 540 rpm on the dash and then not worry about it? Are you saying you have to actively feather the throttle to keep the engine in the 540 PTO rpm band? I guess I'm just confused as to why you wouldn't just set it once and go. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[thcri]

I guess I am kind of confused too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif But it doesn't take much to get me confused. I would set it until you see your red light bump a bit and that is where I would leave it or a bit less. Then when you have a load on your blower you would be just right, I would't be feathering your throttle at all.

Now on my TC29D I run my MMM until I see the red light bumping on and off a bit. Then when I am mowing I am just right, however this summer my red light burned out so now I can run it full speed?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Not really.

murph

 

[KrisHansen]

The reason I can't set and forget is, snow tends to pile up in different depths in different places, I found that with the hydrostat, I would have to vary my ground speed a LOT to keep the engine happily revving along. I could be zooming along, then hit a big drift or something, and the engine would bog.... it's motly a convienence thing I guess... The only place I could use cruise is on the flats, of which I have precious little.

 

[jinman]

I was sure you had a reason. What I know about snow blowing, you could put in a thimble and still have room left. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I think I understand now, but you'll have to pardon me if I don't want any first-hand experience. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Kris I think I would opt for the LEDs like Doug suggested. They are not likely to ever give you any problems and they are quite tolerant of the elements.

I've never felt the need myself to ever look at my dash once the RPMs are set while I'm using my blower but it sounds like a fun project just the same. Please be sure to post a few pictures once you're finished.

Maybe we could also send some snow Jim's way so he might have the pleasure of snow blowing first hand! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[tc35dforme]

Jim, let me be the first to invite you to the Snow Blowing Academy of Central New England. Classes start in mid February. After our day long class, you'll be a snow blowin' expert. We'll call to schedule your class....we need one of those storms with a couple of feet of snow, a temperature of around -10 F, and a 35-40 MPH wind out of the North !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DocHeb]

He could also attend the Michigan Extension Campus - he would have to be available at a moment's notice. There he could get experience with the 30 degree, 6 inch thick, wet, heavy slush that needs to be removed before the sun starts going down and it turns into wheel-wrenching frozen channels of doom! Explore the pros and cons of PAM cooking oil spray, silicone spray, auto wax and teflon paint to prevent snow from sticking to shovels, blowers and chutes. Practice chopping through ice layer to get to the snow below. Discuss varying salt application techniques used by road crews eager to melt the snow rather than plow it. Side lectures available from arborists on pruning after ice storm damage wrecks havoc with trees.

Prerequisites:

1. Medical clearance from your doctor and a clean cardiac bill-of-health

2. Potholes 205 (learn the ability to travel ice-heaved roads)

 

[KrisHansen]

Mike,

I already have some lights which were 'rescued' from the trash heap at work.. since the actual switching is -12v, I am not worried about excessive power draw at the cluster. I still don't know if I am going to go through with this... mainly, can't decide where to put them... anyhoo....

Yeah, Jin, till you have cut a 6 foot swath through a foot or more of snow, you haven't lived!!

 

[PineRidge]

Kris I know you didn't ask for advice but this isn't going to cost you anything and you don't need to use it anyhow. If it were me, I would mount them just below eye level when looking back at your blower. I would also mount them on a rod attached to the blower itself so that when the blower is detached the lights stay with the blower and are no longer a part of the tractor. Actually you only need them when the blower is in action anyway. The rest of the time they would be just something else to get snagged on a tree limb and possibly be ripped off.... I'll keep quiet now, thanks and good luck.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[shoppintractors]

<font color="blue">I will get some pictures as soon as I have time to actually move forward with this project... </font>

Would you say 'moving forward' on this project means always 'looking back'?

Don /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[DVerbarg]

<font color="blue"> The reason I can't set and forget is, snow tends to pile up in different depths in different places, I found that with the hydrostat, I would have to vary my ground speed a LOT to keep the engine happily revving along. I could be zooming along, then hit a big drift or something, and the engine would bog.... it's motly a convienence thing I guess... The only place I could use cruise is on the flats, of which I have precious little. </font>

This is intruiging. Are you wanting the PTO speed indicators so that you can constantly ride the throttle instead of the hydro pedal? Or just wanting a visual indication of PTO speed so that you can adjust your ground speed?

I don't have a series II Boomer but my experience with a TC40D blowing snow indicates that it is easier to set the RPMs at the high end of the 540 indicator and use the hydro pedal to vary the ground speed. There is not much "headroom" past the 540 speed on the throttle to make a whole lot of difference once heavier/deeper snow is attacked. I usually vary the ground speed to keep the engine load consistent, since it is so convenient with the hydro, judging the engine speed by sound and by how far the snow is being thrown. That thrown snow is a pretty good indicator, as long as its not being thrown back in your face by a sudden change in wind direction /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.

It seems that reaching forward to goose the throttle while twisting and watching backwards would be more awkward than using a foot to vary the speed. Why would varying the throttle speed be easier than varying ground speed? Is the rocker pedal difficult to use on the series II?

 

[rambler]

What DVerbarg said - I don't quite understand the need to ever move the throttle. And I live in Minnesota & run a 6' blower on a Ford 7700 or a NH 1720, so I have 'a bit' of blowing experience. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Actually, I hardly look at the tach gauge either, with over 1000 hours a year on the tractors, I just go by sound of the engine...

Nonetheless, sounds like a neat project. Just don't grasp the need for it.

--->Paul

 

[KrisHansen]

Well, the need is not really a need, just a nice to have.. It's more of a visual indicator, like was mentioned.. last year was my first with the blower, still getting used to it.