TractorGuy
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2013
- Messages
- 4,591
- Location
- N. FL
- Tractor
- John Deere 4310 CUT, Ford New Holland 575E Industrial Backhoe, John Deere F725 Front Mount Mower
My fuel and temperature gauges on my 4310 have been going to full sweep. Sometimes they would work but most of the time it read full and hot no matter the fuel level or actual temp. My tach and all my indicator lights still work fine. My temp sending unit tested okay and I replaced the fuel sending unit with a NOS part.
I tried one of the generic instrument clusters but it wouldn't work. Electrically it worked but the wiring connectors wouldn't seat and the biggest problem was the glass wouldn't fit and seal. I even considered putting the new circuit panel in my old housing but the generic panel gauges sat higher on the panel so the glass still would not fit and seal.
John Deere wanted $900 for a new panel and I didn't think it was a good investment knowing it might fail as well.
I decided to install some generic gauges. One of the biggest hurdles was to find an aftermarket fuel gauge that would work with the stock sending unit. The JD sending unit is a 5-100 ohm with 5 ohms being full. The closest gauge in ohms was 0-90 but it worked in reverse with the 90 being full. Turns out some old Ford and Chrysler products used a 73-10 ohm sender and a gauge was available for that. It has full sweep with the stock sending unit but just reads full and empty a little before the sender is at either extreme. Kind of like a built in reserve.
I decided while I was at it I would add an oil pressure gauge. The three gauges and a brass 1/8" NPT street tee cost a little over $70 from O'Reillys with free shipping. The oil pressure gauge was only $11.99 but it arrived without the line or installation hardware. The description online said that was all included so I contacted the MFG and held them to it.
It was a real task to find 3 matching gauges that would work.
I also picked up a 3 gauge pod off eBay for $15.
I needed to change the oil and antifreeze anyway so that added another $50 in fluids and a filter.
Here is a photo of all the parts.
The bottom of the pod was flat and I wanted to mount it on top of my cowl so I used some poly foam insulation to compensate for the curvature. I had to cut screw holes with a hole punch to prevent the screws from bunching up the foam.
The oil pressure sending unit is in a tight spot. I had to turn the street tee just right to get the light sender back in and also attach the pressure tube. I always use a dab of Aviation Permatex on pipe threads when going into oil or gas applications.
I wired it all up proper with the gauge power to key on and the lights to the light circuit.
Here are some shots of the finished install.
I tried one of the generic instrument clusters but it wouldn't work. Electrically it worked but the wiring connectors wouldn't seat and the biggest problem was the glass wouldn't fit and seal. I even considered putting the new circuit panel in my old housing but the generic panel gauges sat higher on the panel so the glass still would not fit and seal.
John Deere wanted $900 for a new panel and I didn't think it was a good investment knowing it might fail as well.
I decided to install some generic gauges. One of the biggest hurdles was to find an aftermarket fuel gauge that would work with the stock sending unit. The JD sending unit is a 5-100 ohm with 5 ohms being full. The closest gauge in ohms was 0-90 but it worked in reverse with the 90 being full. Turns out some old Ford and Chrysler products used a 73-10 ohm sender and a gauge was available for that. It has full sweep with the stock sending unit but just reads full and empty a little before the sender is at either extreme. Kind of like a built in reserve.
I decided while I was at it I would add an oil pressure gauge. The three gauges and a brass 1/8" NPT street tee cost a little over $70 from O'Reillys with free shipping. The oil pressure gauge was only $11.99 but it arrived without the line or installation hardware. The description online said that was all included so I contacted the MFG and held them to it.
It was a real task to find 3 matching gauges that would work.
I also picked up a 3 gauge pod off eBay for $15.
I needed to change the oil and antifreeze anyway so that added another $50 in fluids and a filter.
Here is a photo of all the parts.
The bottom of the pod was flat and I wanted to mount it on top of my cowl so I used some poly foam insulation to compensate for the curvature. I had to cut screw holes with a hole punch to prevent the screws from bunching up the foam.
The oil pressure sending unit is in a tight spot. I had to turn the street tee just right to get the light sender back in and also attach the pressure tube. I always use a dab of Aviation Permatex on pipe threads when going into oil or gas applications.
I wired it all up proper with the gauge power to key on and the lights to the light circuit.
Here are some shots of the finished install.
