flashing my D-14

redjohn · Feb 15, 2013

I have a D-14, that I use to blow snow, and mow hay, and any other little chore I need it to do.
Being on a busy road, I want to put an amber flashing light on it, so I can be seen better.
I wired it up like I've done on other tractors ( I am pretty good at this) but I can't make the flasher work.
This is the first negative ground tractor that I've tried putting flashing lights on, and I can't seem to make the flasher work.
Is there something I need to know, or am I not putting enough load on the flasher, to make it work? (I read this in another article).
Any input would appreciated.

Bob M · Feb 16, 2013

If you are using a generic thermal (ie. cheap) flasher unit, most likely the lamp is not drawing enough current to cause it to flash. (2 lamp thermal flashers generally require at least 4 - 5 amps to flash, equivalent to a pair of 1156 bulbs)

Solution is to can wire another lamp in parallel to put more load on the flasher. Or swap the flasher for an "electronic" flasher that's not current sensitive.

JMS/.MN · Feb 16, 2013

If for some reason that unit doesn't work- there are magnet mount flashers available with their own battery- handy to move between machines, too.

redjohn · Feb 16, 2013

(quoted from post at 11:47:27 02/16/13) If for some reason that unit doesn't work- there are magnet mount flashers available with their own battery- handy to move between machines, too.

Thanks to those who took the time to give me some good advice. I went out to the shop this morning, for whatever reason I hit the switch, and the flasher started working. I shut it off and turned it on half a dozen times and it worked.
So I tidied everything up, and when I went to try it again, it didn't work. I used an ohm meter to check continuity, and I had it. I even checked for 12 volts and I had it, but the darn thing wouldn't work. Got a new flasher, and bulb, and that didn't work either.
Of all things, what I did find, was that the fender on the tractor, was not making a ground to the tractor. I installed a short ground strap between the two, and it works like it should.
Before installing the flashing light, I ground the paint and primer off the fender, so the light housing would ground to it. Apparently not.
So if anyone else has this kind of problem, check your grounding. That may be all it is.

John B. · Feb 19, 2013

Maybe you have a 12 volt light on a 6 volt system. Is this the problem possibly? If this is the first negative ground system you've put a light on it should work if the correct voltage. Negative ground system is today's common.
I would run a both wires to the battery thru a switch. If it only has one wire I would install a ground wire directly to the battery.

redjohn · Feb 20, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:25:40 02/19/13) Maybe you have a 12 volt light on a 6 volt system. Is this the problem possibly? If this is the first negative ground system you've put a light on it should work if the correct voltage. Negative ground system is today's common.
I would run a both wires to the battery thru a switch. If it only has one wire I would install a ground wire directly to the battery.

The flasher is working fine now. The tractor either was or has been switched to 12 volts. Just looking at the battery would tell one that.
I'm afraid I may not have quite enough resistance on the flashing light system though, because after sitting outside for a day, when I turn the flasher on, it takes a good 30 seconds or so, before it starts flashing.

flashing my D-14

redjohn

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Bob M

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JMS/.MN

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redjohn

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John B.

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redjohn

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