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Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:49 pm
by wxo
Breaking news! I just thought of another upgrade. LED headlights and tail lights! Of course I'll need to upgrade to the wiring to make them work. None of the lights currently work.
New seat is slow coming. I wonder what the holdup is.

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 6:37 am
by GMJohnny
WXO,

LED lights are wonderful! The best part about them is they require almost no voltage. You can wire them
up with very small gauge wire and they are bright. I bought some cheapie round ones at Carlisle for my
Kubota to use on the back of the machine for snow plowing and they are awesome! I was able to buy
LED bulbs to replace the bulbs in the front headlights as well. They were brighter than the incandescent
bulbs that were factory stock bulbs, but they aren't nearly as bright as the 4" round ones on the back.
Another good project, take care of that old girl!

GM

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 5:04 pm
by wxo
The new seat came in on Friday. Installation was straight forward. Pulled the adjustment rails (which were frozen) off the old seat. Cleaned and lubed them and they bolted right up to the new seat. Put it all back together and now I have an adjustable seat.
New seat.jpg

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 6:28 pm
by Maverick
THAT is one cool tractor!!!

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:06 pm
by wxo
My LED lights got delayed in the USPS system (somehow). They were "out for delivery" on Friday, but have not shown up. They are the last on my list of upgrades (unless I think of something else).

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2017 3:11 pm
by wxo
The new LED tail lights and headlight bulbs arrived and I finished the installation today. Unfortunately none of them light up. The condition of the connections is tenuous at best. Someone has replaced the terminals on most of the ends of the wires and I'm afraid of disturbing anything that doesn't need to be disturbed. I found one red wire that is connected to nothing. It's time to dive in and figure things out. Good thing I have a wiring diagram to work with.

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 6:15 am
by GMJohnny
Wiring up these lights, even if you have to run new wires should be way in your skill set.
Look at it as fun and not work! If none of the lights are going on, there will be an easy fix
somewhere to the issue -- bad ground, bad switch, no power, etc..... You'll have the lights
working by Saturday I'm sure.

GM

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:03 am
by wxo
This is definitely not work. I love messing with this stuff. This is my pass time. If I didn't have leaves to blow and gardening work outside, I would be on this thing like ugly on an ape. Besides, now that Gladys is running so well, I'm looking for ways to use her.

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 4:56 pm
by wxo
Lights are functioning now. There were multiple problems. The first thing I fixed was the wiring to the tail lights. I had them hooked up backwards and the LEDs wouldn't light. Once that was fixed I ran into a dirty, corroded light switch. Since it was so old, I was able to open it up and clean and lube the slide and now it's as good as new. Just to be thorough, I cleaned all the connections to the switch and that was it.
Almost.
When I went to start up and move the tractor, the starter was dead. The loose red wire I mentioned earlier comes to mind at this time. I have no idea what it hooks up to. Well, we'll save that for another day.
IMG_0069.JPG
FullSizeRender.jpg

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 6:13 pm
by wxo
The starting problem is the neutral switch. Unfortunately it is buried where the human hand cannot possibly touch it. I'll save it for another day.

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 6:53 pm
by AKROVER
Neutral switches are there to prevent idiots from doing stupid things. If you are not an idiot, you don't actually need one. :lol:

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:05 pm
by wxo
BACK IN BUSINESS! "Houdini" was instrumental in getting the neutral switch to work reliably. The switch was so inaccessible I had to resort to other means.
Houdini.JPG
Houdini is a dielectric spray among other properties. I was able to soak the plunger that actuates the switch so that it flowed down and helped get it working.

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:54 pm
by Maverick
Well done!!!

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:18 pm
by Fred32v
And now a video?

Re: Steiner/Ransomes Model 420

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:33 pm
by wxo
OK. I will produce a video for your viewing pleasure.