I have read in these coulmns that some folks have done that, and they say it works great. I haven't done it, but i think it will work!

Let us know how it goes. I'd like to do that.

I try NOT to cut my grass at night.

I usually have my hood connector loose
so it doesn't get hung up when I remove
the hood for service. Like every other
week.

Thanks Guys. I think I'm going to try 'em.

I actually only use my rider for doing leaves in the fall and plowing slush in the winter. This time of year it's dark by the time I get home from work and living in a heavly wooded area I need to keep on top of the leaves and get out there 2-3 times a week. Thus, having effective headlights is a must for me.

I use my Honda walk behind for cutting the grass.

Thanks again,
cm

I think it's a great idea and led's run cooler and use less watts for the same amount of lumens. Can someone recommend a place to purchase both 1156 and 1157 replacements as I want to change the tail lamp in my XJ650 to go along with the brake light flasher and be seen.

Just type 1156 led into Google and there are lots there. You might need an electronic flasher for any turn signals.

Be careful of what you are getting, as LEDs vary tremendously in their output quality. For example, I have a Fenix TK20 flashlight with one CREE LED that will out-throw/out-shine probably any LED (single or multi-led) flashlight you can find at your local chain store for under $50. It runs 1.5 hours on high (150 lumens) and 8-10 hours on low (45 lumens) - oh, and it runs on 2 AA batteries.

You might consider getting a good LED flashlight that you can rig up to the tractor, then remove for personal use when not using the tractor. They make adapters for putting flashlights on bicycles, you could probably rig something up for the tractor.

See candlepowerforums.com for more info

Here is a link that might be useful: Candlepower Forums

I've always found that LED lights are extremely dazzling to look at, and you'd EXPECT them to be effective illuminators but they just... aren't! They don't work well with reflectors and don't throw light very far.

The room I'm sitting in right now has a 3-lamp ceiling fitting, with one normal 50w halogen bulb, one mini-fluorescent and one LED unit with no less than 20 LEDs. And the LED unit throws out about as much light as a glow-worm. Even the mini-fluorescent bulb illuminates its third of the room about 10 times as well.

Some of these multi-LED units have a total wattage of about 1.5 and that's just hopeless. There are some new single LEDS on the market that are up to 9 watts and I'd expect to have to buy one or more of those to get enough light to mow safely.

LED lights are pretty directional, not much light to the sides.

I have one that uses 2 camera-type batteries, a single bulb and easily illuminates a narrow area 200 feet away. Well enough that you could see a chipmunk.

Yeah, I have an LED handlamp that throws a narrow beam quite a distance. It seems quite impressive till you push the switch the other way and the halogen bulb comes on instead!

LED lights are an emerging technology. That means that the LEDs are advancing very quickly, and the market is flooded with a LOT of poor LED lights. However, there are some very good LED lights if you know where to look (see the link I posted further up in this thread).

My Fenix TK20 with 2 AA batteries will THROW further than my 3C Maglite incandescent, but it will NOT THROW further than a 4-5-6D Maglite. The beauty of LED lights is their efficiency. The little TK20 will shine 4x longer than the 3C Maglite and still out-throw it. Yes, the 6D Mag will out-throw the TK20, but is much harder to carry around.

Most multi-LED lights, at least the ones you find at your local store, have poor-quality LEDs - they try to make up for poor output by adding more LEDs; this will make them appear much brighter, but they can't throw worth a damn. The reflector is what allows a light to "throw", and the best reflectors are found on dedicated single high-efficiency LED lights. A deep reflector will give you more "throw". This is why the new LED Maglites are a little longer than the incandescent Maglites - they need a longer reflector to achieve the same "throw". Btw, Costco has a pretty good deal on a Maglite combo package.

Rumor has it that much-improved LED lights will be coming out in the next few months; however, you will likely need to look into niche markets to find them (again, check out candlepowerforums).

Yeah, this is a technology that makes big leaps every year and I'm expecting a major step-change soon. The multi-LED sets will be a thing of the past - although, having said that, in this transitional period some high-end manufacturers are using three big LEDs - and asking around $400 for the privilege.

In 2002, I tried the latest technology in LED flashlights. The name on the light is "Infinity Ultra", made by OMG, or CMG, it's hard to tell anymore. I've used the same light, numerous times a day since then and it works like new.

It said it would illuminate 30 feet away, and that's exactly what it does. On one bulb and AA battery, which seems to last for many months.

You want a bright flashlight, just buy a LED Maglite, i have a 4-D cell. Honestly, 100 yards is nothing to lit up

The LED Maglites are OK, but there are better LED flashlights out there. Maglite is a little slow at adapting new technology, which isn't always a bad thing...

I keep a Streamlight penlight in my shirt pocket. It was a priceless tool to have at a late night car accident... alas not a life saver. I machine steel for a living and the penlight really helps my old eyes check fine details in dark corners.

John Deere has LED headlamps on the front of my fall cataloge.

My garage door opener now has a single 3 watt LED ($10). Not enough light to work with but plenty to get out of my truck an into the house. My cats like to play in the garage (mice = catfood) and I can leave the light on all night without running up my electric bill.

I started my tomato plants last spring under a 45 watt LED light made for plants. Funny color light but the tomatoes thought it was great.... amazing and much better then flouresent.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/led_prods.htm

This is a link for leds. They have multiple listings for the 1156 as well a wide variety of other leds. They also have a lot of technical info regarding wiring applications and adapters

good luck.

Superbrightleds.com - great prices and "Auto bulbs" has many types available - wide angle, narrow, real bright, different colors etc. On the flashlight - best 1 led is Inova X03 - 250 ft working distance, 3 mile visability, 2.5 hour run time - but a little pricy. Get at military stores.

I purchased a few 9-led flashlights, $3.99 for two. They are 1 inch in diameter and 3 inches long. Each takes 3 AAA batteries. Individually they are not too bright, but 3 in a cluster is bright enough to replace one 30W headlamp on my older garden tractor. If I did a little math I could figure out the resistors needed to make them run off 12 V but I'll start with the triple-As.

No reason to find a bulb-shape. One of those 12v LED shop light bars with 30 LEDs should work.

measure_twice - if you make two clusters of 4flashlight/cluster and hook then all in series and you won't need any resistor to run on 12V.

Those 3AA flashlights are probably running 4.5v to the LEDs. They are overdriving the LEDs to make up for poor-quality (low-efficiency) LEDs and lack of a true reflector.

I'm guessing if he wired a cluster of three (13.5v), he would be getting slightly less bright lights at 12v, but with improved LED lifespan. The Achille's Heel of LEDs is heat dissipation, and overdriven LEDs get hot - you can bet that his $4 flashlight does not have a well-designed heatsink and the LEDs won't last too long anyway. There are good reasons why a durable high-efficiency LED flashlight will cost you a C-note or more (or half that price if mfr'd in China)...

gdj204 - You are absolutely right about wiring three in a(series) cluster to use the 12V battery. I do not know what I was thinking when I posted previously!

I've wanted to upgrade my tractor to LED headlights, but there probably isn't a direct plugin that would work on my mower. That's because my old Wards Signature 2000 headlights are driven off an (approximately) 12vAC winding in the alternator. These headlights get brighter with engine speed, and go off when the engine stops. Since they are incandescents they don't care if it's AC or DC, but LEDs of course would care.

I don't actually do that much mowing at night, but when I do use the headlights it's mostly just to finish up some area after sunset. The existing headlight setup on this Wards is susceptable to collecting dirt and dust behind that big wraparound lens up front, which reduces the light output. It will put out a little 'pool' of light on the ground immediately in front of the mower, just enough to barely see where you're mowing, but not always enough to reliably see hazards the grass. Just once I'd like to enjoy some really decent light out there, for those rare occasions I mow in the dark.

I suggest you just get a GOOD 1-AA or 2-AA LED flashlight and strap/velcro it to the tractor when you need it - a GOOD flashlight will put out more than enough light for your needs. You may also consider a headlamp. Either way, you will be able to use the light much more than just on the tractor. Get a couple long-life rechargeable NiMH batteries (eneloops highly recommended) and you're good to go.

Look for a floody light. As a jumping off point, Fenix and Zebralight both offer some very efficient flashlights.

Here is a link that might be useful: candlepowerforums