How many gauges are enough?

[Qapla]

OK, when it comes right down to it, NO GAUGES are required to operate the tractor. If it is running, I can hear that and do not NEED a gauge to tell me that is is running. If I put a load in the front bucket and lift it, I know the hydraulics are working. If I engage the PTO and the mower turns on I know the PTO is working. I can keep it "topped off" or "stick the tank" to check the fuel.

All that said, if I read the OP right, he was more asking what I would "like" to have as far as gauges .....

I would think that a new tractor made today would come with:

• Fuel
• Tach
• Speed
• Water Temp
• Volts or Amps
• PTO on/off
• Glow Plug timer light
• Oil gague and/or light

If I were going to make/install a custom gauge array I would probably want some additional gauges that may not be "required", but, if I am going to install a custom set, I am going to make it a good one - I may even duplicate some of the "factory" gauges.

I would probably include:

• Oil Pressure
• Oil Temp
• Oil Pressure Warning Light
• Water Temp
• Water Temp Warning Light
• Transmission Temp
• Hydraulic Pressure
• Hydraulic Temp
• Fuel Pressure
• Fuel Level
• Volts
• Amps
• Tach
• Outside Air Temp (if I am in a cab)
• PTO on/off
• PTO Speed
• Glow Plug on/off light
• Compass

Not sure if I would want/like/need anything else.

 

[Republic of Texas]

This! My thinking is that gauges are not a distraction, as some others have indicated. If I want to know a reading RIGHT NOW, all I'd have to do is look down at the specific gauge. Also, if I do look at gauges while in operation, it's always during travel (ie: moving full bucket of dirt to another location).

Qapla, you listed 18 readings! That's awesome! Some of them aren't true gauges though, such as the warning lights, on/off indicators, and compass. I have a very small dash, so the smaller the gauge the better. I'm thinking 1.5" gauges would be best since that's the smallest I can find. I could probably move some of the controls (key, blinkers, lights) to the panel below the dash to make room.

What gauges would you purchase?

Here's a pic of the dash, and then one Photoshopped to be almost blank.

 

[DK35vince]

My tractor had the tachometer/hour meter, fuel gauge and temperature
I wanted to see volts and oil pressure so I added those

 

[ovrszd]

If you want to add "stuff" , install a Murrphy Switch it shuts off the engine when the temp gets too high or the oil pressure gets too low those are the likely causes of catastrophic failure.

Yep. Forgot about those. I worked during harvest season for a farmer 30 years ago. His grain dryer was PTO ran. He had an IH 1586 hooked up to it running non-stop. Had a large fuel tank plumbed into it. He'd shut it off once a day to service it. I asked him if he was worried about leaving it running unattended. He educated me on the Murphy Switch. Very cool.

 

[Leejohn]

I put on a flashing light on to tell me when the parking brake is on.

 

[4570Man]

I can tell if the parking brake is on by the sound it makes when I try to drive it. Mine has a light but unless it's dark outside the light isn't near bright enough to be noticed.

 

[jb1390]

My truck has 10 - Speedometer, Tachometer, Fuel Level, Oil Pressure, Voltage, Coolant Temperature, Transmission Temperature (digital on display), Exhaust Gas Temperature, Fuel Rail Pressure, and Boost pressure.

I sometimes wish my tractor had more gauges than it does, though I can operate it fine like it is. It does have several warning and indicator lights in lieu of gauges.

 

[CADplans]

If I were to add a gauge,,,THIS one would be the first,,,
because the operators life is more important than a tractor engine,,,

My brother called me after seeing one of these in a Toyota truck at a dealer.
He thought it was great that there was a gauge that told you that the truck was upside-down!! :laughing: