Oil & Fuel JD 2350 Temp gauge problems

[Carter1225]

When factory temp gauge quit working My mechanic installed aftermarket manual gauge. It worked fine for 2 years then quit registering any thing. We replaced it with a new one but the new one doesn’t register any temperature either. Any suggestions?

 

[rScotty]

When factory temp gauge quit working My mechanic installed aftermarket manual gauge. It worked fine for 2 years then quit registering any thing. We replaced it with a new one but the new one doesn稚 register any temperature either. Any suggestions?

A manual gauge is all one long inseparable part. It consists of a a fluid-filled bulb sender with a threaded collar around it that fits into the engine block. Connected to that sender is an extension of the sender in the form of a fluid-filled thin capillary tube (usually wire wound for protection) which leads up to the manual gauge. The manual gauge itself is essentially a pressure measuring gauge with a bellows inside hooked to a needle that sweeps across a dial calibrated in degrees. They are called "all mechanical", but would be better described as a self contained, all enclosed hydraulic system.

Most of the inexpensive mechanical temperature gauges will work even with the key off. You just can't tell that because the scale doesn't go down to room temperatue. Basic mechanical temperature gauges are one piece. Bulb, capillary tube, and gauge come as a unit and cannot be separated. Even the threaded part that connects to the engine block is already there around the capillary tube.

So a mechanical temperature gauge is like the one that the old style thermometers that a nurse poked into your mouth. It has no choice; it has to work. Since your's doesn't I'm betting that capillary tube has a kink or break or bubble in it. I've even seen manual temp gauge installations where the capillary tube was cut and soldered back together by mechanics who thought it was an electrical wire. It does look like an electrical wire.
Let me know, I'm curious.
rScotty

 

[Carter1225]

Thanks Scotty. I’ll look for a kink. The old one work for agile when we jiggled the line

 

[Carter1225]

We finally got around to fixing my temp gauge problem. When we took the bulb out of the block and heated it the hand on the gauge did not move. So we’re saying bad hushed. Off to NAPA and $50 later another new gauge. When we tested this one the hand moved. When we installed it in the tractor it seems to be fine. It’s reading about 175 on a hot day. Don’t you just heat it when new parts are bad. Thanks for your input
Carter