Only Cub Cadets - Diesel Glow Plug Upgrade Indicator Light

A couple of weeks ago I did a thread on my big red smoker having problems with hard starting. After checking the solenoid for the glow plug upgrade I found it to be bad. There was some discussion of a way to make an indicator to show that power was or was not getting to the glow plugs. A fellow member here at OCC offered to make me an LED indicator to see how well it would work.

I got the LED in the mail today already setup to install. All I had to do was decide where I was going to put it and how. I decided to just leave it under the hood and not mess with the dash. If you are wondering why not in the dash, I rarely start the BRS sitting on it. I will just reach over and fire it up in the shop and let it warm up before I move it outside. I have to let it back itself down the ramps as I think the weight of it and me on it would probably make the 2X10 boards decide to break, LOL. So as I engage the key I can just lift the lid a bit and see if the light is on. With that being said, I fabricated a bracket and mounted it on the left side of the battery using a bolt that is used to mount the fuel pump.

I ran a wire to the plug side of the solenoid and the other wire directly up to the negative side of the battery. Now when I turn the key to the left to engage the glow plugs I have a very nice bright blue LED telling me my glow plugs are getting voltage. Also before someone tells me about the wire breaking from vibes, I do plan on getting some electrical connectors and shrink wrap to improve the connections.

Yes it would be considered a PO mod if someone else buys it, but I hope it is one that is considered worth doing... :biggrin2:

Thanks to CHWNY (Clay) for fixing and sending the LED. :beerchug:

Here are some pics of the setup.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...D/DSC02690.jpg

The bracket I made in about 5 minutes:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...D/DSC02691.jpg

The LED installed into the bracket:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...D/DSC02692.jpg

Wire hooked up to the Glow Plug side of the solenoid:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...D/DSC02694.jpg

Second wire hooked up to the Battery Ground:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...D/DSC02695.jpg

Light showing blue when the Key is engaged to heat glow plugs:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...D/DSC02693.jpg