Turn signals

[sqiredairyman]

I farm in the states but for various reasons use Euro spec tractors. The turn signals on these tractors will not function when.the hazard lights are on. When the hazard lights are off the turn signals work fine. Someone thought that this is the way they are supposed to operate in Europe. Is this the truth or do my tractors all have some rare electrical disease?

 

[George from SJM Planning]

I farm in the states but for various reasons use Euro spec tractors. The turn signals on these tractors will not function when.the hazard lights are on. When the hazard lights are off the turn signals work fine. Someone thought that this is the way they are supposed to operate in Europe. Is this the truth or do my tractors all have some rare electrical disease?

I can't comment on tractors but on cars that is standard - how would an indicator (turn signal) 'blink' when the hazards are already blinking?

 

[trebornella]

Why would you want to use both at the same time?

 

[zero]

Thats normal. We only use indicators to let other traffic know which direction we're turning and just use the hazard warning lights to warn of a hazard, such as parked on the roadside and working near the vehicle.

 

[sqiredairyman]

OK that makes sense. In the states we always use our hazard lights when we go on the road. The North tractors are setup so that when you use your signals to turn right for instance the right flashers will continue to flash and the left flashers will turn on solid.

 

[Paddington]

We use neon lights on tractor cabs and the back of trailers in this country to show there is a large slow moving vehicle ahead. Turn indicators are just for turning.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

OK that makes sense. In the states we always use our hazard lights when we go on the road. The North tractors are setup so that when you use your signals to turn right for instance the right flashers will continue to flash and the left flashers will turn on solid.

You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.

From UK Highway Code.

 

[forblue]

I farm in the states but for various reasons use Euro spec tractors. The turn signals on these tractors will not function when.the hazard lights are on. When the hazard lights are off the turn signals work fine. Someone thought that this is the way they are supposed to operate in Europe. Is this the truth or do my tractors all have some rare electrical disease?

The Ford tractors from 10series and possibly the 600 had additional plugs behind the instrument panel and all one had to do to was change over plugs but have no idea if this is the same now.

 

[TripleSix]

I farm in the states but for various reasons use Euro spec tractors. The turn signals on these tractors will not function when.the hazard lights are on. When the hazard lights are off the turn signals work fine. Someone thought that this is the way they are supposed to operate in Europe. Is this the truth or do my tractors all have some rare electrical disease?

I would imagine that someone with the correct laptop and software would be able to program your tractors to north American spec - providing they're sufficiently modern.

What tractors are they?

 

[feilding]

Better off putting a beacon on tractor roof, or even two, nearly all tractors here .have been fitted as standard with a beacon since the eighties.

 

[TripleSix]

Better off putting a beacon on tractor roof, or even two, nearly all tractors here .have been fitted as standard with a beacon since the eighties.

It's the law in a lot of US states that farm machinery must use "4 way flashers" when on the road

 

[Magnus Oyke]

I farm in the states but for various reasons use Euro spec tractors. The turn signals on these tractors will not function when.the hazard lights are on. When the hazard lights are off the turn signals work fine. Someone thought that this is the way they are supposed to operate in Europe. Is this the truth or do my tractors all have some rare electrical disease?

The flasher thing on US tractors is a load of sh!t, the European system is way better. We aren't allowed to have the hazrd warning lights on on a moving vehicle.

Every vehicle here has the same spec lights, from my motorbike, up to an artic (semi) and the combine. If an amber light is flashing, someone is turning.

Your system, for those that don't know has people driving around with the hazards on, then when they want to make a turn, the light that indicates the direction of turn continues to flash, but the other one stays on as a steady amber light. You don't need a master degree in human behaviour to realise that the eye is draw to the flashing light, not the steady light, so you usually don't notice the vehicle is actually turning. And they wonder why there are crashes involving vehicles turning left.

 

[76masseyman]

Plenty of accidents here, when people are signaling to turn right, as a lot don’t bother using signals, and another lot don’t take notice that the signal is being used !
One thing I see, from over the pond, is that more car and truck drivers have a lot more respect, and patience, of agricultural machinery on the highway.

 

[Nearly]

Led orange flashing units wired into the 4 sidelight bulbs will leave the tractor direction indicators able to be used?

 

[sqiredairyman]

Thanks for the replies, that helps solve our problem. Local dealer was able to change the lighting code. In the states the flashers are required for road travell but American spec machines have the lights at the top of the cab instead of part way down.