Headlights cracking
 

What are some ways you gentlemen keep your headlights from cracking?

It seems like I have a bulb crack and go out ever few months under normal use. My last bulb cracked after being turned on once and mowing the yard twice. I've had a few break because the bolts came loose and let them rattle, but they crack just the same when I tighten them up.

Is there some trick to help them live longer of is this just a fact when owning an older cub?

:bigthink: In the 15+ yrs I have had Cub Cadets, I have never had that happen.

You make no mention of the model of the tractor that this is happening on nor posted any pictures.


:bigeyes:

Sorry about that. It keeps happening to my 127. In the year I've had it, I've replaced both bulbs 3 times. At first, I thought It was because of cold slush freezing on them when throwing snow but it also happened this spring and again in the last month since I replace all the electrical including the wiring harness, VR, switches, and lights.

I'll take a picture tonight when I get home. Most of the time it cracks right down the middle of the lens but the rest of the time it breaks on the back silver side by with the terminals. I found a picture on google that looks similar to how they crack. I've attached it below.

ive never had one crack or go bad either, the ones in my 108 are 4yrs old and still work.

I have had this happen with cheap 4411 sealed beams.

I don't recall ever having any of the GE ones crack.

There are also others besides the GE ones that hold up for a long time.

That is a really odd problem... My 1450 still has the original bulbs in it from the 1970's..

Maybe you should try a different brand... I think the last ones I bought were Wagners? They have been in my 128 for several years with no problems.

Aren't they the same as older farm tractors? Rarely have I seen one break in a farm tractor. Are you using name brand as others have asked? Is it possible the bulbs don't fit as they should, putting severe stress on them when clamped down?

Never had this problem, but if I was you, then I would remove my headlight assembly and inspect it. Look for anything, like rust or gunk that would allow the headlights to move while mounted. Also, I do not have a 127, so I am unsure about the mounting brackets on it, but on my 123 I notice there is a rectangular notch in the mounting brackets on back that fit around an embossed rectangular notch on the back of the headlights. It could be that you are not "seating" the headlights in properly causing them to vibrate with the tractor and resulting in this problem. My cubs are many miles from me.....sorry, pics are not possible to further explain this situation. Lay the mounting bracket flat, face down on something, then as you put two new headlamps in, inspect their mounting to make sure that it is "even" and secure with the notch in the bracket around the embossed rectangle on the back of the headlamp, then replace the entire assembly into your cub and you should be off and running.

Cub Cadet 123

^^^^^ yes sir re right there.:beerchug:
In all my years, I've only had two bulbs break/crack. They fell off my lap onto the floor, they don't like that it seems...:biggrin2:

The right lens is broke down the middle of the front side.

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8294/2...16004bc4_z.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8359/2...1e2c3890_z.jpg
https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8327/2...424c1c25_z.jpg

The back of the lens is also cracked.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7468/2...5c64e04d_z.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8302/2...72bc0cdc_z.jpg
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8085/2...687fc41c_z.jpg

I think your over tightening them. I see nuts on the broken side, not wing nuts. Easy to overtighten when you have to use tools. :bigeyes:

Check the rings
 

It also looks like maybe one of the rings is upside down. If you look at the one shown on the left you can see a notch in it at the top. You don't see a notch on the other one. Now I haven't seen one of these particular tractors in person, I would venture to say that the notch should be on a "key" tab, on the back of the lamp.

After going back and looking at the photos, you definitely have one of the rings on upside down. the ring on the left shows the notch at the top the one on the right shows it at the bottom.
As I said there should be a "key" boss on the rear of the lamp, this is to keep it from spinning in the mount. If that Key is not lined up in the notch, it loads all the pressure into that point rather than around the whole diameter.

I believe if you put a new lamp in it and make sure hte rings are located correctly you won't have any more issues.

Switch to wing nuts, check for any high spots on the rings causing a pressure point, and as an added precaution, a bead of clear silicone around the rim of the bulb where it meets the ring will stop any rattling or wiggling that might be going on. Mine are going on 6 years without issue.

I did some more looking at my lights. One was cracked all the way across, but the other was just burnt out. I swiped some thumb screws from a 149, locked them in with blue Locktight, put a bead of silicon around the front of the lights and metal ring, and installed a set of vstar lights. Here is to hoping this set lasts. Thanks everyone for your input. I'll keep you posted if anything doesn't last.

https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8268/3...dc226952_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8416/3...fd1d7ecb_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5642/3...834bd910_c.jpg

If you look at the elevation rectangle on the headlight.....about where your left wrist is and match that up with the depressions in the headlight ring (where you did not use sillycone :biggrin2: caulk), along with wing nuts, then you should no longer have any problems with your headlights.

Cub Cadet 123

I've had the notch matched up every time and I'm still not sure why they cracked so many lights.