Oil & Fuel Fuel Gauge

webbmeister · Nov 28, 2005

The TC25D got down to a quarter tank before I put it away last time. Between then and this last weekend, the temperature got down to the high teens and low twenties. This last weekend, I put five gallons of fresh deisel (winterized) in there and was surprised to see that the fuel gauge did not rise. It still moves around below the one-quarter mark, drops to the bottom when the engine is turned off, and rises to the same area below the one-quarter mark when lighting the glow plugs. Tractor runs fine.

So, I'm trying to guess what has happened. Is it possible the float got caught under a layer of gelled fuel? (I'm worried that if this is true, any liquid under the gelled layer will get used up and the engine will run dry - could be I'm just paranoid.) Is the gauge just malfunctioning? Ideas for something else to investigate?

Thanks for any insight ...

Jim

jinman · Nov 28, 2005

My fuel gage sticks every now and then. I just tap on the instrument panel and it works fine. It only seems to stick when I first start the tractor. Mine sticks at the bottom, but I think your's could have a little moisture from condensation that is frozen inside the meter movement. That could cause it stop partially up the scale. You can easily take the whole instrument panel out (two screws and one electrical connector). You might take it into the house and let it warm up to see if that makes a difference.

Have you used the old tried and true dipstick method to check your fuel level? If your fuel is jelled, you should be able to see it with a flashlight or feel it with a dipstick. Just a thought...

webbmeister · Nov 28, 2005

Jinman:

Thanks for the reply. I'll take your advice (all three items) in the morning. Will let you know how it goes.

Jim

webbmeister · Nov 30, 2005

Jinman:

Thanks again for your insight.

Tapped the gauge. Nothing. Pounded the gauge. Nothing. Put a dipstick in the tank. 3/4 full, no gelling. Put in a couple caps full of Power Service and let engine run, nothing. Went and got another 5 gallons of diesel, filled tank all the way to top (about two more gallons), started engine. Success! That needle snapped to attention like a private encountering a general. I don't know what really fixed the problem - maybe just time! Anyway, all fixed. Many thanks!

Jim

jinman · Dec 1, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't know what really fixed the problem - maybe just time! )</font>

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I think that's exactly right. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I wish NH had spent a little more time making a better gas gage, but they didn't, so we're stuck (pun intended) with what we got. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif