A Curiosity

[JSinMO]

I went through the wiring on our 648 and cleaned it up. Got the lights working and installed back on the tractor.

. The curious part is both lenses are melted like this one.

. It seems hard to believe a 12V bulb would generate enough heat to melt them since that is what’s supposed to be there. Can’t quite figure what happened to them, there doesn’t seem to be any heat damage anywhere else. What am I not thinking of?

[Doublet]

Nothing wrong with your wiring or bulbs (unless someone has changed them to larger bulbs). They were trying to save money when they got away from the glass 777 speaker lens. Find a set of the glass lenses and they will last forever, unless impacted by something breaking the glass.

Once the plastic gets old (at about 5 years) it starts to deteriorate and becomes weaker and weaker. (Doesn't take much heat to destroy them). They will easily withstand 250º, but some of the bulbs can get much hotter.

Glen Pettit was making the epoxy Plastic Speaker 777 lens for Case,Jacobson,Ford,Oliver,some Sears and many other brands. Not sure he is still in business but his address was

Glen Pettit
1541 N. Michigan Road
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827-9225
Phone: 517-410-5860
GlenPettit@icloud.com
The last ones I ordered were reasonable priced.

Might also check with Dan White (810 348 6311) for used glass ones. He is always reasonable on used parts if he has them
Gaines MI 810 348 6311

Doublet (Terry)

[JSinMO]

Great information! Thanks, I appreciate it.

[propane1]

I got new plastic lenses at, I Save Tractors, a web site that sell garden tractor parts. Then I put led bulbs in. I also sprayed the inside of the buckets with chrome paint.
Sun light ruins those plastic lenses too along with the blub heat.
If I had of still used the regular bulbs, I was going to drill two 1/8” holes in the bucket just above the bulb and two below to allow the heat to escape.
My 1975 Case 224 has the speaker 777 glass lenses. So if you could find and older tractor for parts, it may have the glass lenses.
My 1982 Case 446 had the plastic lenses.


Noel

[JSinMO]

Noel,
The led lights sure do make a difference. At least for now I’m still using the original bulbs. Good ideas on the chrome paint and drilling the holes. Im adding them to my list of things to do!

[Eugen]

@Propane57 that's some good knowledge there Noel, I will use it too! You're quite ingenious!

[propane1]

Im just like Wile E Coyote , super genius.

Thanks, Noel

[myerslawnandgarden]

Nothing wrong with your wiring or bulbs (unless someone has changed them to larger bulbs). They were trying to save money when they got away from the glass 777 speaker lens. Find a set of the glass lenses and they will last forever, unless impacted by something breaking the glass.

Once the plastic gets old (at about 5 years) it starts to deteriorate and becomes weaker and weaker. (Doesn't take much heat to destroy them). They will easily withstand 250º, but some of the bulbs can get much hotter.

Glen Pettit was making the epoxy Plastic Speaker 777 lens for Case,Jacobson,Ford,Oliver,some Sears and many other brands. Not sure he is still in business but his address was

Glen Pettit
1541 N. Michigan Road
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827-9225
Phone: 517-410-5860
GlenPettit@icloud.com
The last ones I ordered were reasonable priced.

Might also check with Dan White (810 348 6311) for used glass ones. He is always reasonable on used parts if he has them
Gaines MI 810 348 6311

Doublet (Terry)

Lowell Scholljegerdes has taken over Glen's plastic molding business, he can be found at:

wheelhorsepartsandmore.com
7029 NE 64th Ave, Medford, MN 55049
(507) 213-3115
wheelhorsepartsandmore@hotmail.com

Bob