1736 Fuel Gauge and Fuel Capacity

[zdman]

I am a new member although I have lurked here prior to buyin my MF1736 with cab.
I have a question regarding Fuel capacity, but a little background (and I do plan to call my dealer on Tuesday). I received my tractor a couple weeks ago with a full tank of fuel. My usage has been limited due to rain, but I have managed to shred around 6 acres. Then I created the cardinal sin of Diesel engines - I was not watching my fuel gauge and all the sudden the tractor died and would not start. Noticed no bars on the fuel gauge. I grabbed my fuel can and put 5 gallons in the tank which strangely filled it almost to the top. This is odd as my manual says it holds 10 gallons. I then went through the priming process per the manual- fairly straight forward and tractor started on the fourth try (I patted myself on the back). Then I headed back to the barn thinking....now I am going to watch the gauge. To my surprise I had zero bars. I turned off tractor and restarted it - the initialization of the gauge showed all bars lit for a second indicating the display itself was working but then went back to zero bars. So obviously I have to call the dealer and get this fixed unless someone on here has some idea of what might have gone wrong?

Now here is my main issue. As I mentioned the tractor after running dry only took about five gallons. Yesterday I shredded a bit and headed back to the barn. Since I have no working gauge right now, I topped off the tank - it only took 1-2 gallons. So my question to any 1736 owners out there is this...have you had any issues with refueling and can you confirm the tank holds about 10 gallons? My understanding is these units have two tanks that are interconnected and I am wondering if this setup is working properly on my tractor.

Thanks

 

[zdman]

I guess to be clear, my assumption was I ran out of fuel. However, just before it died I had stopped to turn around and open the back cab window so my first inclination was that I had lifted slightly out of the seat. Then when it did not restart and I saw no bars on the fuel gauge I assumed I ran out of fuel.

 

[rmc125mx]

I have a 1742, initially the same machine. When brush hogging, she gets thirsty! Almost 2 gallons a hour (roughly, never fully calculated it). I believe my tank is 14 gallons. I know it's more than 12 because I usually have two cans to full it and that's around 12 gallons.
I recently had the same situation as you. I was hogging and keeping a eye on the gauge. I knew it was getting low but on a normal run, I it would have lasted no problem. I was mowing this one spot which was on a slight side hill. Wide open mowing, all of a sudden it died!! Would not restart!! Looked at the gauge and saw no bars. Could hear air bubbling back into the tank from the fuel return line when I tried priming it. Went and got 12 gallons and it only took maybe 5 before it seemed full. Was very odd to me. Primied it then back up and running. Haven't had the problem since.
This is my second 1742, first one had fueling issues which my dealer exchanged for another unit than I now have 250hrs on. I spent a lot of time checking over the fuel system on our tractors. It is a saddle tank design with a connecting hose between the two tanks. When filling, you usually have to let it equalize before fully topping it off. A pain but I love my machine anyway. If I remember correctly, the fuel pick up is on the rt tank, by the filter assemblies.
I've ran the tank almost bone dry when on flat land and didn't die on me. Only died when on a sidehill where the fuel was pulled away from the pickup area.
Hope that helps understand and I hope you don't actually have a problem with the machine! I love it and wish I got a cab . I know people say it's a no no, but I disconnected the seat safety. Had it shutting off whenever I would pull off the seat a little to see where my forks were

 

[zdman]

Thanks for the quick feedback. Here is an update.....
I went out today and opened the fuel cap ( I had fillled to the to last night). It had dropped. I put in more fuel, maybe a gallon then started it up.....amazingly I had two bars on the fuel gauge. I drove around a bit, checked again, slight drop held another 1/2 gallon or so. Then I thought, what if I set on a slight incline with my right wheels lower. Did that for about 2 minutes - watched the fuel gauge increase. Refilled and it took about three gallons and now is one bar short of the full mark.
Now, the only question is this......Was the fuel not equalizing due to fact I ran it dry and perhaps there was air in the second tank or is there perhaps a defective valve between the two. I will not contact my dealer at this point, rather will run it down to a bar or two and see if I am able to fill it easily without having to add 1/2 to 1 gallon at a time while waiting a lot of time in between. If it does the same thing again it will have to go in the shop. How long do you have to wait to top off the tank?
With regards to the cab, I love it 90+ degrees and sunny and I am not breaking a sweat in there. Is also a bit quieter, not to mention enjoying the stereo the dealer added for free. I was helping my wife with removing some yard bushes and did have to leave the door open so I could hear her, but then she does not quite understand hand signals. With regards to the seat switch, I will leave it for now unless it really becomes problematic.

 

[Ffterman]

My 1736 holds 10 gallons. I have noticed that It will fill up all the way if the tractor is slightly higher on the tank fill side.

 

[thclimer]

I believe there is a check valve in the line which connects the two saddle tanks and if I remember correctly the sensor for the gauge is in the side you fill from and the pickup is in the other side. Depending on the incline the gauge can read quite a few bars differently.

 

[zdman]

Thanks for the replies. I wil, try to fill up next time on a slight slope, but will talk to the dealer as this seems like an odd thing to have to do.

 

[jeepcj7]

Originally if you were running on a slope you could run out of fuel. A check valve was then factory installed (it is retrofittable) between the LH and RH tanks to prevent this, but the fuel sending unit was on the LH side which affected the fuel gauge reading. MF then moved the sending unit to the RH tank to provide a more accurate fuel gauge reading

 

[lazermule]

I have a 2016 MF1736 and I love the tractor. Mine however has ALL of the issues mentioned above. My fuel gauge has never worked correctly and now doesn't work at all. I have ran it out of fuel at least 3x because of this. My dealer is apparently ordering me a new fuel sender but I haven't heard if it has come in ad it's been 90+ days since they said they were going to order it. I has been to the dealer 3x for this issue. If I need to make sure I FULLY fill the fuel I park it on a grade with the filler on the uphill side. Certainly thirsty machines when you are working them harder.

Love the cab, one of my brothers has a Kubota and my other brother has a Deere both comparable in size and with cabs, and the Massey cab is far better in terms of comfort, room and noise. The Kubota is a year older and the Deere 4 years older.

LM

 

[homesteader13]

I have a 1742, initially the same machine. When brush hogging, she gets thirsty! Almost 2 gallons a hour (roughly, never fully calculated it). I believe my tank is 14 gallons. I know it's more than 12 because I usually have two cans to full it and that's around 12 gallons.
I recently had the same situation as you. I was hogging and keeping a eye on the gauge. I knew it was getting low but on a normal run, I it would have lasted no problem. I was mowing this one spot which was on a slight side hill. Wide open mowing, all of a sudden it died!! Would not restart!! Looked at the gauge and saw no bars. Could hear air bubbling back into the tank from the fuel return line when I tried priming it. Went and got 12 gallons and it only took maybe 5 before it seemed full. Was very odd to me. Primied it then back up and running. Haven't had the problem since.
This is my second 1742, first one had fueling issues which my dealer exchanged for another unit than I now have 250hrs on. I spent a lot of time checking over the fuel system on our tractors. It is a saddle tank design with a connecting hose between the two tanks. When filling, you usually have to let it equalize before fully topping it off. A pain but I love my machine anyway. If I remember correctly, the fuel pick up is on the rt tank, by the filter assemblies.
I've ran the tank almost bone dry when on flat land and didn't die on me. Only died when on a sidehill where the fuel was pulled away from the pickup area.
Hope that helps understand and I hope you don't actually have a problem with the machine! I love it and wish I got a cab . I know people say it's a no no, but I disconnected the seat safety. Had it shutting off whenever I would pull off the seat a little to see where my forks were

This exactly on my 1742 also