Fuel gauge stuck at Empty - CK35

[finnfarmer2]

The fuel gauge on my CK35 is stuck at empty. Anybody else have had this issue or know how to fix it? Thanks!

 

[VictorW]

I have a 2004 manufactured year CK30hst with the fuel tank at the fire wall behind the engine. The float arm would drag on the side of the tank. I pulled out the sending unit and re-bent the arm that attaches to the float. It would never get stuck at empty but just read wrong. Also had the original sending unit go bad. I measured the resistance with an ohm meter and it was way off. If your tank is at the rear of your tractor then things could be different. I'd remove the sending unit and check to make sure the float still floats and doesn't have a hole of some sort in it. If ok, then measure the resistance. At empty, the ohm meter should read 103-117. At full, the ohm meter should read 1-5 ohms. As you move from empty to full, the ohms should steadily decrease and then steadily increase if moving from full to empty.

 

[finnfarmer2]

The fuel tank on my CK35 is in the same location as yours. It could very well be that the float is stuck as I drove the tractor almost empty on fuel before filling it up. Once I pull down the tank level I will take a look inside. Thanks for the advice!

 

[VictorW]

Just added a little more to the original message if you want to check the sending unit. With low fuel, you won't see much. Best way is to just pull out the sending unit and check unless you have a camera you can put into the tank.

 

[1965]

I had the same issue. It is common in ck's. I took mine out and did the OHM meter test and it said it was good, bent it ever which way to Sunday and it still would read empty. I spent the $80 on a new one and it has been working great for 2 years now, knock wood.

 

[finnfarmer2]

Quick update: It appears that the float was stuck as after filling the tank up a few times every 5 hours of use, the fuel gauge started suddenly working again. Lesson learned, never run the tank close to empty!

 

[VictorW]

You must have finally hit the right bumps with the tractor to get the gauge lose. It took me a few times to get the arm bent just right so it wouldn't stick and get it to read better but it won't read like a car/truck gauge throughout all its travel. I was able to get mine, when at a 1/4 tank, to need 5 gallons to top off full. Running totally empty is a pain because you have to crack each injector line to purge air.