Dashboard gauges sticking - anybody else hae this problem?

[Ruark]

My 2010 2045 is a wonderful tractor and has helped do a huge amount of work here on our 25 acre place in central Texas. The last few months, I noticed the needle on the fuel gauge sticks at zero when it's first started up. After a few minutes it suddenly starts working. It also usually starts working if I thump the top of the dashboard with the heel of my hand.

A couple of weeks ago, the temperature gauge started doing the exact same thing! And now, the tachometer is doing it as well! The needle doesn't move, then after a minute or two it suddenly starts working.

They do it about 50% of the times I start it. I can't predict which gauges will stick and which ones won't. Sometimes it's just one or two, sometimes it's all three, sometimes none of them do it.

Since I live about 60 miles from the Mahindra dealer and it's still on warranty, he said I could bring in the instrument cluster and he'll just give me a new one. I hope that's not too difficult to do.

I was just wondering if anybody else had had this problem, and what the diagnosis turned out to be. Also, how difficult is it to remove that instrument cluster?

 

[civesnedfield]

The tach on my 4530 has been sticking for over a year now. Tapping the dash seems to do the trick. Gotten used to it. Out of warranty so that's the way it will stay till it doesn't work at all.

 

[D Miller]

My 2007 5525 tach, fuel gauge, and temp gauge have been sticking regularly since the day it was delivered. Over 500 hours and out of warranty so I just live with it. Love the tractor anyway; does everything I ask of it.

 

[Srb08]

Tach sticks on my new, 5 hrs, 4530.

 

[flusher]

My 2008 Mahindra 5525 has the same problem. The gauges start working after 10-15 minutes of operation. If I need to monitor the tach sooner, I whack the cowling around the gauge cluster. This usually gets them reading upscale. My guess is that a replacement cluster would soon show the same behavior.

 

[Jim Dodgins]

Do you leave your tractors out in the weather?

 

[Srb08]

Do you leave your tractors out in the weather?

No but mine sat outside at the dealer.

 

[Nissan197]

It should not be that hard to remove. My hour meter stopped working on my 3215. For what the dealer wanted for a new cluster panel I just put in an aftermarket hour meter for $15. Everything else is still working on the panel.

 

[Jim Dodgins]

Moisture can play h#11 on electronics.

 

[hdk]

Yes! Exactly same problem, with the same tractor, happening intermittently over a 3 year period, and last week found out why. Took the instrument panel out and disassembled, and found that the stop pins where the gauge needles rest when powered off, were covered with a tarry material that 'glued' the needle to the pin. Tried to clean the tar off, but difficult, so put a very small shrink sleeve (electronic wire type) over the pin, and all's well!! Evidently the gauges would work once the 'tar' got warm enough and/or vibration got big enough to release the needle(s).