C-125 Headlights (and Tailights?)

[Tach-a-matic 357]

The original plastic seat pan held reflectors only and I cannot see any taillight wiring under the pan to indicate otherwise.  However the parts breakdown shows taillights. Was this an option? The switch on the tractor has two tabs - one for power and one going to the headlights.  Yet the manual shows three wires going to a two pole switch (huh?) 

 

Think I can splice into the existing headlight wire and run it to the rear for a small LED spotlight? Or should I add a three tab switch?

 

 

 

Edited March 22, 2021 by Tach-a-matic

[ebinmaine 67,626]

15 minutes ago, Tach-a-matic said:

small LED

There's your key.

Most all LEDs have such a small amp draw you should have no issue. Definitely need to confirm specs on whatever you buy.

 

 

[pfrederi 17,741]

As for your connector they probably crimped both wires into one terminal. Or you could use a piggy back connector like one of these.

 

 

 

 

[Tach-a-matic 357]

Never saw that piggyback style connector before (I learn something every day!)

 

I am installing LED front bulbs as well so the total load on the switch should be decreasing even if after I add an LED light in the rear

[SPINJIM 1,981]

If you're installing a SPOTLIGHT that you will want to use independently of the headlights, I would install a separate switch, and run a fused line back to the spot light. 

I installed tail lights on my C-85, and just spliced them into the line coming off of the headlight switch.  No problem.

   Jim

[Mickwhitt 4,642]

I fitted new led headlights to Fred, they take their feed from the headlight switch but have a separate switch wired into the system to allow an automatic flash function.

Mine was fitted with tail lights but on a roll over frame so probably not original. They are the same type of light as I've seen on other WH models. I stripped out the bulb interior and fitted in an led marker light which works great under the original light lens.

Well worth upgrading the lights.

 

[midpack 866]

One thing I found out about LED's last winter. 

 

Electric lift, Electric PTO, and LED add on headlights can eat up your battery charge quicker than it can be replaced... but what a difference they make

 

Anybody have a 25 amp stator for a Magnum 18 they want to part with?    

[SylvanLakeWH 25,600]

I just tied in an led trailer light to the head light / tail light wire and wired it for the “brake” light... got quite a nice red flood light for night plowing...

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,626]

3 hours ago, midpack said:

One thing I found out about LED's last winter. 

 

Electric lift, Electric PTO, and LED add on headlights can eat up your battery charge quicker than it can be replaced... but what a difference they make

 

Anybody have a 25 amp stator for a Magnum 18 they want to part with?    

 

@OldWorkHorse Steve and I have talked about adding a small alternator a time or two. 

 

 

[pfrederi 17,741]

3 hours ago, midpack said:

One thing I found out about LED's last winter. 

 

Electric lift, Electric PTO, and LED add on headlights can eat up your battery charge quicker than it can be replaced... but what a difference they make

 

Anybody have a 25 amp stator for a Magnum 18 they want to part with?    

 Something is wrong here.  Electric PTO draws 4-5 amps, Engine draws nothing running (Magneto) Head lights even old incandescent  35watts x2 (5.88 amps) you are still less than 10 and i doubt you run your lift continually..  Have you load tested your battery lately???

[Tach-a-matic 357]

Tonight I replaced the 72 watts of halogens with 24 watts of LED's.  

 

 

...and picked up some piggyback connectors (thanks for the tip!) and ran a wire from the switch out to the back for a 6W light. I "sacrificed" the real estate of a p-side reflector and mounted it in its flat mounting area.  It seems to work okay, no probs, and puts out decent light 

 

 

Yesterday I painted the seat pan Regal Red but it looked awful because it was so pitted. Went a little "out there" and painted it with bedliner paint to hide all the pitting and get some kind of uniform finish going.  I know its not red, and I dont really like it in black myself, but its what I got to work with.  The rear light is now where the right reflector was

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Tach-a-matic

[Daddy Don 905]

I put running lights on my c-125 front and back and never have had any problem with them. did not use leds.  Use the  wiring that is shown on the start of this  question.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,047]

I added an automatic back-up led lamp to the C-120 8-Speed. Used a 20 amp relay to control it powered by the original light circuit so the original lights need to be on for the back-up lamp to work. That way the back-up lamp will not get accidently left on. The led back-up lamp is powered by the battery.

It has worked flawlessly for about 6 years now. A magnet is clamped to the shifter and when it gets close to a chassis mounted reed relay on comes the light.

Great for plowing snow in the dark.

 

Garry

[midpack 866]

12 hours ago, pfrederi said:

 Something is wrong here.  Electric PTO draws 4-5 amps, Engine draws nothing running (Magneto) Head lights even old incandescent  35watts x2 (5.88 amps) you are still less than 10 and i doubt you run your lift continually..  Have you load tested your battery lately???

It was a brand new 300 CCA  battery last fall. Soon as I unplugged the LED's, no more problem with the charge. Now that it's not freezing cold I can dig into it more

[Tach-a-matic 357]

relocated the light a la Mr Sylvan Lake's spot

 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Tach-a-matic

[Tuneup 1,433]

My 125 came with rear lighting, not that the pan was in any shape to be retained.

 

That krinkle finish is a nice base for a Regal Red overspray, right? I'm assuming that finish can be painted - maybe not.

 

Nice job on the lighting!