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Winter Lighting

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Fireball, Oct 29, 2021.

  1. Oct 29, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    We bought this LS MT347 Tractor back in March:
    [​IMG]

    We love it and have been using the heck out of it. We'll get even more use out of it this winter with the front mount snow blower.

    However..... Daylight isn't lasting long anymore and the factory lighting sucks. Not only are the lights dim to start with, but they are in the hood and constantly get blocked by the bucket.

    Time for more lighting.

    Since we bought the no-cab poverty spec tractor, there are plenty of blanks for switches:
    [​IMG]

    Luckily the holes fit standardized L-series switches:
    [​IMG]

    I made some quick brackets from some u-bolts and scrap aluminum angle:
    [​IMG]

    I mounted a big LED light in the front:
    [​IMG]

    And two smaller LEDs in the back:
    [​IMG]

    Then it sat for a week waiting for some wire and split wire loom to show up.

    Tonight, I got it all wired up. I built a new harness that's completely protected by split loom and zip tied it to the existing rear harness. I used heat shrink crimp connectors throughout:
    [​IMG]

    I didn't do relays since the big light draws about 8 amps and the switches are rated for 20. The roll bar does not have a good ground, so I ran ground wires back through the new harness to a ground lug under the dash. The front and rear lights are on independent circuits with their own fuses.

    Hooray :bananatool::
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    It was well after dark when I finished so I took it outside to see the improvement.

    Front before with the high beams AND work lights on:
    [​IMG]

    Front after:
    [​IMG]

    The puny rear work light before:
    [​IMG]

    And after:
    [​IMG]

    The difference was so big it made me giggle. I like it when a project has great results

    This will make plowing after dark MUCH easier.
     
    Stakebed, AKjeff, 47v6 and 12 others like this.
  2. Oct 29, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
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    5,407
    add the white stuff , and you'll need sun glasses too
    nice comparison (y)
    snow blower.huh :D
     
    Fireball likes this.
  3. Oct 29, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Awesome! That’s quite a difference.

    That reminds me, I need to wire up some lighting on my plow jeep. It released the smoke last year.
     
    Bostonbob and Fireball like this.
  4. Oct 29, 2021
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2003
    Messages:
    2,133
    nice use of the roll bar.. I may have to go that way..
     
    Fireball likes this.
  5. Oct 29, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    Having them up high like that really helps with the bucket blocking things and lights up the area well. I did the same thing on the previous tractor too:
    [​IMG]
     
    Stakebed and Ol Fogie like this.
  6. Oct 29, 2021
    bigjohn

    bigjohn Active Member

    Kelso Wa
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2010
    Messages:
    1,054
    That looks great! I may need to copy that for my little kubota. Does your rops fold down? So the lights interfere with that at all?
     
  7. Oct 29, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    Yes it does fold. I made sure to leave extra wire slack at the hinge point and that the lights clear the back of the seat when hinged down. I do have to remove the pop-off triangle reflector though.
     
    bigjohn likes this.
  8. Nov 29, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    More winter prep for the tractor.

    We bought a front mount snow blower with the tractor last March but haven't had appreciable snow since buying it. It requires a mounting frame under the tractor and drives from a mid-mount forward facing PTO. Unfortunately the rear bracket for the mounting frame interferes with the front bracket for the backhoe frame so you can't use both at the same time. Yesterday was the day to do the swap. No backhoe work until spring.

    First we needed to drop off the front end loader. We hadn't done that before, but it was pretty easy:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Looks naked without it:
    [​IMG]

    Then we unbolted and swapped the backhoe/blower frame brackets, installed the blower frame, and mounted the blower. It's a beast and everything seems to work. It uses the bucket controls to raise/lower the blower and rotate the chute:
    [​IMG]

    Yeah, I know I should have gotten a heated cab, but it's expensive and more things to go wrong. Things like the heating/AC system, door latches, wipers, and the breaking of windows. I'm good at bundling up since all my previous plowing has been on the quad.

    You can see the mounting frame and PTO shaft:
    [​IMG]

    After testing we dropped off the blower and put the loader back on:
    [​IMG]

    Now that the blower frame is in place for the winter, putting the blower on is a matter of dropping the loader, sliding this tongue into the blower, and hooking up 4 hydraulic lines. Not too bad:
    [​IMG]

    I hope we get enough snow this year to try it out. Last winter was a bust with small enough drifts the plow on the quad handled it.

    Both years before that we had to dig ourselves out with a borrowed excavator (that's about 700ft of 4ft deep snow in one night). Hoping to be more independent in the future:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2021
  9. Dec 2, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    An update on the lighting.

    It's a great mobile lighting platform for splitting wood after dark:
    [​IMG]

    I love these lights!
     
    Stakebed, Ol Fogie, duffer and 3 others like this.
  10. Dec 13, 2021
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    4,460
    I probably should be looking at a light bar for the Toolcat 5600. It came with four high mounted H3 Speaker lamps but they aren't anywhere close to putting out the light the light bar on the RZR does. It also had two of those high mounted lamps out back which I did swap out for LED's.
    [​IMG]

    That said, if this weather holds, I will not need anything to clear the road again.
     
  11. Dec 20, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    We're getting close to 6" of snow around here but only 3" or so of snow in the driveway because I've previously plowed with the quad. I Don't care. I wanted to test the snow blower after work anyway!

    It works great and is just loafing with this small amount of snow. I just love the light bars.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Stakebed, GillaFunk, 47v6 and 3 others like this.
  12. Dec 20, 2021
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Apr 8, 2008
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    4,717
    Looks too cold without an enclosure.
    Can you get a soft top and heater for it?
     
  13. Dec 20, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    :booo:
     
    GillaFunk likes this.
  14. Dec 21, 2021
    Siskiwit

    Siskiwit Member

    Northern Wisconsin
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Messages:
    67
    I hear if you use amber floods you won’t get snow blind when blowing snow at night. I’m going to try it out I think.
     
    Lockman likes this.
  15. Dec 21, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Report back if it works!
     
  16. Dec 21, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    It was 24 degrees and not really a problem. We could have ponied up another $3600 for a heated/cooled cab but it didn't seem worth it. I'm used to bundling up. I've done lots of plowing with the quad at 0 degrees.
     
    dozerjim likes this.
  17. Dec 21, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
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    5,407
    Hint Hint
    winter heated motorcycle gear
    jacket liner / pants / gloves / socks
    all linked together on one controller
    12 volt plugs into bike
    what can I say . getting old . and like to be warm
     
  18. Dec 21, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Having plowed a ton in both enclosed and open vehicles, the visibility aspect in an open vehicle is priceless. In the trucks and scout I’ve plowed with, I used to end up leaving all the windows open and heater off anyway to keep the windows from fogging up. All the snow you track in just turns to steam. For me, bundling up is just easier in the long run.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  19. Dec 21, 2021
    Dave B

    Dave B Frankenjeep '67

    Northern Minnesota
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    Nov 10, 2009
    Messages:
    650
    Great job on the lights! Nice forward-mount blower.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  20. Dec 21, 2021
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
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    2,698
    Great Job on those lights . When plowing ( Or Blowing ) , out in the open & at night. those lights are gonna be priceless for you. Nothing like be able to see . I've been plowing snow since I was a very young man, up here on Lake Ontario.
    Back in My Marina days , I once was pushing our 1/2 mile in a full on blizzard. I used a Hercules articulating Loader with a 4 yard front bucket . It had one standard headlight ! I actually went ' SnowBlind' for about a minute .........I will never forget that. We've come a long way in snow fighting capabilities , only to see the reduced need for such equipment. Back then, Storms were a once aweek occurrence, throughout the entire 6 month Winter Season.

    Not nearly like that anymore.
     
    dozerjim and Fireball like this.
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