AC tractor lights

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Has anyone else notice how AC changed their positions for their tractor lights over the decades?  Besides styling changes, I wonder why the change in light positions.  Most tractors today have predominantly front lighting.  The front lighting seems most beneficial?  AC moved them to the front grille position early on but then moved them back to the rear fenders or cab?  The following is what I have noticed by photos in the Norm Swinford 1914-1985 Allis-Chalmers Farm Equipment:
WC is first tractor I notice to have lighting.  They appear in the area rearward the engine.
WD, WD45 use same area as WC.
B, C, & CA had lights up front by the grille.
D series, except for the D21, began with lights up front on sides of grille.
D21, hundred series, 7000 series, 8000 series, & 6000 series, except 4wds, all have lights inside rear fenders or relative areas.

	This site is not affiliated with AGCO Inc., Duluth GA., Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, WI., or any surviving or related corporate entity. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. All information presented herein should be considered the result of an un-moderated public forum with no responsibility for its accuracy or usability assumed by the users and sponsors of this site or any corporate entity.
	The Forum	Parts and Services	Unofficial Allis Store	Tractor Shows	Serial Numbers	History

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Eric[IL] Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Illinois Points: 485	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eric[IL] Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: AC tractor lights Posted: 23 Nov 2011 at 3:00pm
	Has anyone else notice how AC changed their positions for their tractor lights over the decades? Besides styling changes, I wonder why the change in light positions. Most tractors today have predominantly front lighting. The front lighting seems most beneficial? AC moved them to the front grille position early on but then moved them back to the rear fenders or cab? The following is what I have noticed by photos in the Norm Swinford 1914-1985 Allis-Chalmers Farm Equipment: WC is first tractor I notice to have lighting. They appear in the area rearward the engine. WD, WD45 use same area as WC. B, C, & CA had lights up front by the grille. D series, except for the D21, began with lights up front on sides of grille. D21, hundred series, 7000 series, 8000 series, & 6000 series, except 4wds, all have lights inside rear fenders or relative areas.

Sponsored Links

Orange Blood Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Location: ColoradoSprings Points: 4053	Post Options Post Reply Quote Orange Blood Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Nov 2011 at 3:10pm
	My initial knee jerk reaction would be cost and reliability. The closer you can put the lights to the battery, and the switches that control them, the fewer connections, or feet of wire, to have problems with, get damged, and cost at the factory. Alllis may have found this out during the early D-series tractors, then went back to the mid section of the tractor. This is not factual, just speculation.
	Still in use: HD7 WC C CA WD 2-WD45 WD45LP WD45D D14 3-D17 D17LP 2-D19D D19LP 190XTD 190XTLP 720 D21 220 7020 7030 7040 7045 3-7060 Projects: 3-U UC 2-G 2-B 2-C CA 7-WC RC WDLP WF D14 D21 210 7045 N7

DougS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Location: Iowa Points: 2490	Post Options Post Reply Quote DougS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Nov 2011 at 3:10pm
	Plowing and cultivating were both easier when the lights were moved back. Since we do so little of that anymore, I suppose it isn't that critical where the lights go now. It might be easier to run the wiring and protect it if the lights are in the grille or on top of the cab.

cwhit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Sigel IL Points: 995	Post Options Post Reply Quote cwhit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Nov 2011 at 6:45pm
	The issue with lights are dust and bugs. At night on an open station ( wd, d series, 100 series,) the closer the lights were to you , the worse the insects were for the driver. When the 7000 series came out someone thought stadium lights on top of the cab was a good idea. It was until you got in dusty conditions, then you couldn't see past the hood. So alot depends on the conditions your working in. Either that or I've spent way too much time on a tractor at night thinking about it.