Fogged Instrument Cluster

[Steve_in_Ont]

Along with drilling a hole or two... here is a long shot... Try wiring up an independently wired dash light that is on all the time (when the key is on). You could either re-wire an existing light, or use a drilled hole to mount in a completely new bulb. I would think that the heat from the bulb might be enough to reduce the condensation.

Good luck.

 

[DUMBDOG]

My 1630 fogs a little once in a while, seems to be getting worse as the tractor gets older, a little bit of inconvience, but it always clears up.

 

[Cricket]

I have the same problem with my tc33d. The dealer said it was common and will cause no problems. The same dealer has blown smoke up my rear before. I think that eventually mineral build up will fog it up for good just like leaky insulated window. My two centavos.

 

[djradz]

OK, now who is going to be the first to try drilling the holes. Maybe we could get a dealer to try it first. ...Spencer200???

 

[Soundguy]

<font color=blue>The dealer said it was common and will cause no problems

<font color=black>All I know is that condensation means there is a leak / water in the housing... I have an original ford 8N proofmeter in a handfull of pieces that will show you wat moisture does to a gauge....

Your dealer sounds like he is trying to get out of some work...

Soundguy

 

[nicklan]

PLanger
Had my replaced in Feb '02 @ 24 hours. I store it in an unheated (or air conditioned) barn. It has been cold, hot, humid, dry - ok but not often, raining - plus washing it, it is still perrfectly clear at 150 hours. My round about point is - New Holland sold you a leakly one , replaced it with a leakly one, have them keep giving them to you till they get it right.

I also don't think that all that condensation can be doing any of the pieces/parts in there any good either.

One more thing keep track of the hours on each one for maintanace, your new one will be 0.0

Nick

 

[Mosey]

Just for reference: Mine is stored in an unheated, often damp, garage. I live in a very humid climate. I have washed it several times. I've never had the instrument panel fog up. It sounds like some of you have dashes that aren't sealed good.

 

[Fly_Rodr]

My 33D stored in unheated garage has the moisture problem also. I have not talked to the dealer about it yet. Auto stored in same garage no problem.

 

[jinman]

I think if your auto's dash was exposed directly to the outside air, you'd have more of a problem. The air temperature behind your dash is very close to the temperature in the rest of the car, so condensation is not likely. If there is warm moist air inside the dash, it probably escapes out the top of the instrument panel since heat rises. On the other hand, our tractor's instrument panel lays almost flat and the topmost part is the clear plastic cover. When we turn on our tractors, there are "idiot" lights which come on and warm the air slightly. Also, if a tractor is kept in a garage, it's likely to be warmer inside the garage than outside. When we go outside, suddenly the air is much cooler than inside the garage. The warmer air inside the cluster rises up to the clear plastic cover which is now cooled by the outside air. Condensation will occur at that point and the amount will be determined by how humid the air is inside the instrument cluster.

The only ways I know to prevent the problem are:

1) Warm up the clear plastic and keep it warm (aircraft use heated windshields to accomplish this). 2) Let the warm air escape from the instrument cluster. 3) Pump a vacuum on the cluster and then fill it with dry nitrogen followed by a hermetic sealing. 4) Don't put your tractor in a heated garage. Leave it outside. You'll still get condensation, but not as much.

I leave my tractor outside or under a carport, so it stays at the outside temperature. I have only minor condensation inside my instrument cluster.

That's my nickel's worth.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[ans38]

PLanger,
I have the same trouble with my TN65. After reading these posts, it appears that there is an inherent design problem with nearly ALL of the NH tractors.