420 Crawler Headlight Wiring

Bookman · Jun 26, 2018

I have a 420 crawler with a rock guard in front of the grill and the headlights on top of the rock guard. The wiring was probably removed years ago and I am in process of replacing and rewiring the headlights.

From the headlights where does the wiring go? From pictures I do not see it going down either side of the tractor. is there a hole for the wiring somewhere in the grill? Thanks in advance.

jCarroll · Jun 26, 2018

IIRC, the headlight lead is with the ignition power past the right side of the valve cover, just above the plugs.
Then a connector somewhere close to the coil feeds the lights.
Look for that connector to plug in your new wires to the lights.

Bookman · Jun 26, 2018

Found the plug, but do I just feed the wires from the headlights around on the outside of the sheet metal of the tractor? Thanks

James Howell · Jun 26, 2018

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]From the headlights where does the wiring go?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Take a look at the [b:654c4848f0]Lamps and Ignition Wiring[/b:654c4848f0] diagram below.

Note the [b:654c4848f0]GREEN[/b:654c4848f0] lead wire from the head lights to the HEAD LIGHTS terminal on the ignition switch.

Take a look at the location of the HEAD LIGHTS terminal on the ignition switch below.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]is there a hole for the wiring somewhere in the grill?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

No.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]From pictures I do not see it going down either side of the tractor.[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Take a look at the wiring harness photo below.

Note the [b:654c4848f0]GREEN[/b:654c4848f0] lead wire from the head lights goes through the wiring harness to the ignition switch.

Hope this helps.

pcsaw · Jun 27, 2018

For the headlights on top of the brush gaurd you almost have to drill a small hole in the grill or run the wire around the outside of the grill which to me would not look right

M-MAN · Jun 27, 2018

No. Headlight wire is attached to the top radiator support bar. It runs along it and the light mounting bar that is attached to the end and then to the light. It is only exposed a few inches from the light & the rest is under the hood.

Bookman · Jun 27, 2018

The headlights have always been on the top of the rock guard, but I do not remember how the wiring went. My grandfather purchased it new in 1958 but the time I got it about 15 years ago, the lights had been disconnected. Now the there is a wire that is the light wire that runs from the switch up to about half way across the engine. I thought maybe I was missing something....like a hole in the grill or something, but maybe not. To me it does not look right to run the wire outside clear from the lights and around the sheet metal to the wire by the engine. Thanks

Bookman · Jun 27, 2018

For this crawler the lights are on top of the rock guard, not on the sides. So the wires appear to be exposed more. I thought I might be missing a hole or something on the grill , but I guess not. Thanks

PJH · Jun 28, 2018

Last night as I walked past my 420C, I thought of your question and looked it over. There are two holes in the top of the sheet metal nose piece, right under the light mounts. Surely those holes were intended for the headlight feed wiring. Unless your sheet metal was changed, those holes should be easy to see. I can send you a picture if you need it.

My 420C has the heavy guard on the front of it too, but the lights and light guards were gone when I bought it.

BlaineM · Jun 28, 2018

I also have two holes in the sheet metal nose piece under each light. The holes look nice and neat (factory?) The wires go through these holes on my 40-c to the lights.

Bookman · Jun 29, 2018

Thanks, but I sure do not see the holes on my 420 crawler. Took a light this evening and shined from both sides thinking if there were holes anywhere, the light would shine through. Nothing. Color me puzzled.

Thanks

PJH · Jun 30, 2018

These holes are very easy to see - you don't even have to lean over to look. Approximately 3/8" diameter - they probably had a grommet at one time. They would be easy to duplicate - let me know if you need a picture or measurements.

Bookman · Jun 30, 2018

I would like to think if they were obvious I would have seen them, but there is a possibility I did not. Sure, if you want to send a picture along, I would appreciate it. Thanks

PJH · Jun 30, 2018

Here's some pictures. The holes will pass a 23/64 drill bit, but not a 3/8. They are exactly five inches from the back of the grill guard, and between 3 1/4 and 3 5/16 from the center ridge.

Bookman · Jul 1, 2018

PJH, Thanks very much. Yep the holes are there, plain as day, but not on my crawler. I checked the shipping information from John Deere, and the special equipment the crawler came with include rock guards, grille and light guard and special bumper. No mention of lights---if they were special equipment; and no mention of blade, which I assume would be special equipment. I wonder if the dealer put on the blade since it is painted the construction John Deere orange/yellow and not light yellow of John Deere agriculture tractors. It was shipped April 21, 1958 and my grandfather purchased it from the John Deere dealer in Alliance, Nebraska. I don't think anyone is around now who remembers him purchasing it or how the lights were originally connected...if they ever were. One more mystery in the history of an old crawler.

Thanks again. Now I got to decide if I want to drill holes in my nicely painted grill or run wires around to the side or leave them disconnected.

PJH · Jul 1, 2018

I have a set of headlights off of a JD 50 that I have always thought I'd put on mine, and make some guards to protect them, but I believe the old crawler would shake the filaments loose the first time you moved it. I've always wondered how the radiator held up with all of that track vibration.

Many years ago I built an erosion control dry dam in the week of the full moon, at night, with no lights on the crawler. I did have lights on the tractor pulling the dirt scoop. The dam turned out looking real good, thanks to the bright moonlight.

Bookman · Jul 1, 2018

I guess it would probably be a very rare occasion that I would need lights on the crawler. Just thought I would to restore the old girl to close to original, but now I wonder if the lights were ever connected. I have done a fair amount of dirt work and snow moving with the crawler. I never had too much snow in front of the crawler to stop her. Now with dirt, as long as I work within the limits of the crawler it is okay. A little patience and a lot of dirt can be moved. A few weeks ago I filled in a washed out draw for a neighbor and smoothed off the banks of it so he could mow it. He has planted grass and it is beginning to come up. I had helped him do a controlled burn of the old grass since he could not mow it. Once I saw what was there, I just told him I could fill it in and knock down the banks. Took me a few hours and I ended up using the crawler and two other tractors to smooth it out just right. It was work but fun but I would not want to make a living doing it. About wore out my arms pulling those levers on the crawler. Thanks for the help.

420 Crawler Headlight Wiring

Bookman

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jCarroll

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Bookman

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James Howell

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pcsaw

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M-MAN

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Bookman

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Bookman

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PJH

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BlaineM

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Bookman

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PJH

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