Ford 3910 engine temp reading

[sawtooth]

Hello,

I’m having a issues with the temp readout on my tach. It basically stays in the same position all the time where all my other Fords go all the way to cold position when key is turned on. Does this sound like a bad sensor?

 

[Jerry/MT]

Hello,

I’m having a issues with the temp readout on my tach. It basically stays in the same position all the time where all my other Fords go all the way to cold position when key is turned on. Does this sound like a bad sensor?

Looks like your temp gauge is bad. I don't think they are replaceable. I think you may need a whole new panel. It's also possible your sending unit is bad AND the gauge is bad. If you ground the wire to the sending unit TEMPORARILY does the gauge react? If it does, the sending unit is bad.

 

[sawtooth]

Ok thanks I’m going to check it tomorrow. Both the fuel gauge and temp gauge went out at the same time so it’s probably not the sensors I’m guessing.

 

[Semper Paratus]

Fuse?

 

[TractorTech]

Do you have idiot lights? The gauges are replaceable FYI, but it would be cheaper to buy an aftermarket instrument cluster. Sound more like an electrical connection or ground at the panel.

 

[kydick]

you could get a good over the counter one and mount it somewhere on your dash

 

[Tinhack]

you could get a good over the counter one and mount it somewhere on your dash

Some idiot did that to mine before I bought it. I had to weld up the hole.

That spot behind the dash and on top of the fuel tank is a favorite spot for wire eating critters. Pull the dash out and look behind it for eaten/shorted wires.

 

[Tinhack]

Do you have idiot lights? The gauges are replaceable FYI, but it would be cheaper to buy an aftermarket instrument cluster. Sound more like an electrical connection or ground at the panel.

I have an aftermarket panel for the asking/taking. I bought it before I restored my tractor, misplaced it, bought another one when I needed it then found it in a box of other parts I bought for the restoration.

 

[sawtooth]

So I grounded the wire that connects to the sensor but it did not effect the gauge. I tried it on the block and then on the negative terminal of the battery. Gauge didn’t react at all?

 

[TractorTech]

Check the instrument panel ground since both fuel level and temp gauges are not operating. Leave a ground jumper on temp sender wire while looking at instrument panel ground. This will make checking easier.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have an aftermarket panel for the asking/taking. I bought it before I restored my tractor, misplaced it, bought another one when I needed it then found it in a box of other parts I bought for the restoration.

I thought i was the only guy that bought parts and couldn't find them when i needed them!

 

[sawtooth]

Check the instrument panel ground since both fuel level and temp gauges are not operating. Leave a ground jumper on temp sender wire while looking at instrument panel ground. This will make checking easier.

Ok thank you so please explain how to check the instrument panel ground again? I have basically removed all existing wires “one at a time” then reattached them to the panel.

Sorry I’m not very competent electrically.

 

[TractorTech]

Ok thank you so please explain how to check the instrument panel ground again? I have basically removed all existing wires “one at a time” then reattached them to the panel.

Sorry I’m not very competent electrically.

The attached is for a 550, but essentially the same. #5 in the diagram is the ground for the instrument panel. You can run a jumper from the battery ground to there.
Also, you can ground #6, temp gauge on the terminal that the arrow is pointing to find out if the gauge works. Likewise for #11 for the fuel gauge.

 

[sawtooth]

This is the back of my cluster

 

[TractorTech]

The black wire is ground. Take a jumper to the battery - and see if anything changes. With that jumper on, ground out the temp sender wire and see if anything happens.

 

[sawtooth]

Well finally figured it out. So I had a friend of mine clean out the fuel tank last month. It has developed all kinds of Rust and crap from the fuel becoming too old in the tank. I didn’t realize he had removed the tank and when he did he disconnected the tach cluster but unfortunately wired it back up incorrectly. The second picture shows how it should be and the second picture shows how he had it. Basically the ground and the positive were backwards. And the coolant temp was connected to fuel sending unit.

Now everything works except the fuel gauge which goes all the way to empty. I think I need to pull it and clean it up good and then will probably work fine.

 

[TractorTech]

Glad it was a fairly easy fix and that it is working again

 

[sawtooth]

Appreciate the help and glad I didn’t need to buy a new cluster. I actually got one in but now going to return it. Lol

 

[Texasmark]

Hello,

I’m having a issues with the temp readout on my tach. It basically stays in the same position all the time where all my other Fords go all the way to cold position when key is turned on. Does this sound like a bad sensor?

I have a 3910 that sat out in the weather glazing over the plastic cover before I bought it. ebay has the whole instrument panel for a great price. Takes about 15 minutes to change it. I put one in my 3000 years ago, and recently bought aFord 3600, same problem, fixed it, and Case-IH 395 with the same dash glaze over, different panel hookup and shape, so I bought another one of them and made some mods for it.

When you have a nice looking tractor and nice paint and all and have one of these bleached out instrument panels it just ruins the whole thing. With a new inst. panel its like driving a new tractor.

 

[Paystar]

I have a 3910 that sat out in the weather glazing over the plastic cover before I bought it. ebay has the whole instrument panel for a great price. Takes about 15 minutes to change it. I put one in my 3000 years ago, and recently bought aFord 3600, same problem, fixed it, and Case-IH 395 with the same dash glaze over, different panel hookup and shape, so I bought another one of them and made some mods for it.

When you have a nice looking tractor and nice paint and all and have one of these bleached out instrument panels it just ruins the whole thing. With a new inst. panel its like driving a new tractor.

Luckily mine is still good, but how are those ebay clusters Texasmark? I've heard some people say they are not weathertight and fail almost immediately??
Did yours work out good?