Air Cleaner Indicator

John Weaver · Jan 7, 2002

I have a JD 790 and want to but an air cleaner service indicator. JD lists P/N AT 118553 (Donaldson) and AT73678 (Filter Minder) and say both fit. Both are $26. Does anyone know what is best? John.

HalseyGreen · Jan 8, 2002

I put a Donaldson on my JD 790, got it off a flat bed truck at local junk yard, paid a $1, same unit a John Deere sells. You can find them on most larger (2 Ton) trucks and school buses, screwed into a nipple on the air cleaner. The JD 790 has a nipple on the intake side of the air cleaner that it screws on to. Don't know anything about the Filter Minder unit. The Donaldson unit has a scale on the side so you can monitor the filter as it loads up.

gvw · Jan 8, 2002

Do you know if this - or one like it will work on a 4700 - I did not know that this was available - My air cleaner seems to be getting dirty at a higher rate than I would normally think was appropriate.

HalseyGreen · Jan 8, 2002

Check your air intake tubing between the air filter and the intake manifold, look for a 1/4 inch nipple covered by a cap. On the JD 790 its a hex cap, just down stream from the air cleaner. These indicators just measure the amount of vacuum created by the intake stroke of the engine, as the air filter loads up, the vacuum increases. The indicators are designed to "lock in" the greatest vacuum sensed, and have a method of indication when the maximum is reached. With the Donaldson unit, it is calibrated so you can see the level of vacuum as the filter loads up over a period of time. It also has a reset button on top to reset at any time you want. Hope this helps.

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 8, 2002

<font color=blue>...Do you know if this - or one like it will work on a 4700 - I did not know that this was available - My air cleaner seems to be getting dirty at a higher rate than I would normally think was appropriate.</font color=blue>

I think my MY2000 JD4300 has something like this on it already? It is a cylinder of some kind, and when you see a yellow band in it you know it's time to clean the filter? I don't have either the tractor or the manual handy, but it sure sounds like what you're talking about?

BKColeman · Jan 8, 2002

I was thinking all of the 4000s had them, but I could be wrong. My friend's '99 4300 definitely does and I thought I remembered a picture of one in the JD brochure, so I assumed the whole series had them.

-Brad

GaryK · Jan 8, 2002

Most newer cars have the same indicators and I would think you could get one cheaper than $26 if your tractor has the available connection.

John Weaver · Jan 8, 2002

Wow, thanks for the info. I will check for a used one. I did not know they were in common use. Thanks, John.

beenthere · Jan 8, 2002

Surprised that your 4700 doesn't have one, similar to what Bob described. I understand that one reason for them is to avoid having to open the air cleaner to check the filter. Apparently more dirt gets past the filter checking to see if it is dirty, than ever gets through the filter. Therefore, checking the vacuum via the indicator means that we can determine when the filter needs changing without looking at it. Makes sense to me.

dmccarty · Jan 9, 2002

GVW,

If we are talking about the clear plastic housing with what looks like a spring inside, the 4700 should have one already. Mine does. My new Ford F350 has a similar gadget to indicate when the filter needs cleaning.

If I open the hood on the 4700 and stand next to the oil dipstick, the air filter is to my front right near the engine compartment panel. Further to right and near the center line of the engine is the air dodad....

Are we talking about the same thing? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Later...
Dan McCarty