meter panel gauges not working on Branso 3520

Bob Pederson · Jul 15, 2016

I have a Branson 3520 with 55 hours on it. The meter panel gauges have stopped working but all the indicator lights, warning lights, turn signals still work fine. It's just the gauges (tach, hour , fuel, temp). I've checked all the fuses I could find (mainly the small fuse panel on the right side of the engine compartment) and all are good. I've unplugged and re-plugged the two connectors in the back of the meter panel to no effect. I pulled the dash cluster out of the meter panel assy to check for smoked electronics but all the little fiddly bits still seem to have the black smoke still contained.

Does anyone have an idea of what to check next? It really seems to be a simple power problem (wire or component that powers the noted gauges but I don't have an idea of how to proceed in locating it.
Bob

CCWKen · Jul 15, 2016

Seems like it would still be under warranty. Why mess with the "little fiddly bits"?

Did you check to see if you had power to the panel/gauges with a VOM while you had it out? I don't think just looking at the wires is going to tell you much.

Bob Pederson · Jul 16, 2016

Re: meter panel gauges not working on Branson 3520

CCWKen said:
Seems like it would still be under warranty. Why mess with the "little fiddly bits"?

Did you check to see if you had power to the panel/gauges with a VOM while you had it out? I don't think just looking at the wires is going to tell you much.

Thanks for the reply. Nope, not under warranty, I've had it more than 2 years but the dealer said he would work with me on a solution. The service manager is looking for a working meter panel that we could drop in to check and see if the panel itself is the problem (i.e.the fiddly bits). I don't have an electrical diagram to work from so wringing out the wiring would be difficult. If anyone out there has a diagram for a 3520R, and could send me a scan I would really appreciate it.

Thanks
Bob

Mr Bitz · Jul 20, 2016

Bob Pederson said:
I have a Branson 3520 with 55 hours on it. The meter panel gauges have stopped working but all the indicator lights, warning lights, turn signals still work fine. It's just the gauges (tach, hour , fuel, temp). I've checked all the fuses I could find (mainly the small fuse panel on the right side of the engine compartment) and all are good. I've unplugged and re-plugged the two connectors in the back of the meter panel to no effect. I pulled the dash cluster out of the meter panel assy to check for smoked electronics but all the little fiddly bits still seem to have the black smoke still contained.

Does anyone have an idea of what to check next? It really seems to be a simple power problem (wire or component that powers the noted gauges but I don't have an idea of how to proceed in locating it.
Bob

Instrument cluster I'm sure. Warranty time!!

Bob Pederson · Jul 20, 2016

Mr Bitz said:
Instrument cluster I'm sure. Warranty time!!

You were right. The service mgr provided me with a known good working meter panel, I plugged it in and everything worked. He's going to take my non-working panel and see if he can get it fixed while I use his new panel. A brand new panel is around $900.00 so I'm glad I don't have to pay full price. I was 4 months out of warranty

Nothing but good things to say about Colorado Tractor Co. in Berthoud, Co.
Bob

Omega Woods · Jul 20, 2016

Wow, that's great service right there. $900! Holy Cow! For that money, I'd be tempted to install my own gauges! Coolant temp's about all us rednecks need!

CCWKen · Jul 20, 2016

An auto meter temp gauge is all that's working on my Ford at the moment.

I have a whole new gauge panel but haven't put it in yet. Waiting until after the re-paint. I was a bit anxious about fuel during the first few runs when I first got the tractor. Now I can tell, almost to the quart, what's in the tank.

Bob Pederson · Jul 21, 2016

CCWKen said:
An auto meter temp gauge is all that's working on my Ford at the moment. I have a whole new gauge panel but haven't put it in yet. Waiting until after the re-paint. I was a bit anxious about fuel during the first few runs when I first got the tractor. Now I can tell, almost to the quart, what's in the tank.

I was worried less about how much fuel I had (running out of diesel is not hazardous to the engine) than I was about water temp and RPMs. I was actually considering mounting some separate gauges if the panel meter was too costly.
Bob

Mr Bitz · Jul 21, 2016

Bob Pederson said:
You were right. The service mgr provided me with a known good working meter panel, I plugged it in and everything worked. He's going to take my non-working panel and see if he can get it fixed while I use his new panel. A brand new panel is around $900.00 so I'm glad I don't have to pay full price. I was 4 months out of warranty Nothing but good things to say about Colorado Tractor Co. in Berthoud, Co.
Bob

I have one laying around and if I remember right all it was was the glow plug light wouldn't come on or wouldn't go off can't remember which one it was. But if you needed it I could work something out with you.

Bob Pederson · Jul 21, 2016

Mr Bitz said:
I have one laying around and if I remember right all it was was the glow plug light wouldn't come on or wouldn't go off can't remember which one it was. But if you needed it I could work something out with you.

Mr Bitz:
Thanks very much for the offer, I'll keep it in mind if the panel repair doesn't work out. I could live without the glow plug light (or maybe fix it).

If you don't mind my asking, how much did you pay to replace the panel?
Bob