JD 650 Fuel Gauge

[tex25025]

Anybody know if I can put a fuel gauge on the 650 tractor? I'm just tired of having to deal with that float that is in there and I can't ever read it right. I really hate to have to use an autometer fuel gauge, does anybody know if there are fuel gauges for tractors out there or am I out of luck? Thanks for the help.

 

[kbota]

A friend has a JD 750 with a fuel guage and I believe it is the same series of tractor as yours. I have a JD 850 with a fuel guage as well. You might contact Deere, and see if the fuel guage from an 850 or 750 will mount on your instrument panel. Also check on the sending unit. Should be a snap to wire up. If this will work, then it will look factory when you're done.

Good Luck.

 

[tex25025]

I believe the 750 series tractor is the one that actually replaced my tractor in the 90s. I'm not sure but I believe that is what happened. I'll be sure to call them up tomorrow and find out. I didn't think about that, thanks for the idea.

 

[mfrost]

I believe the 750 series tractor is the one that actually replaced my tractor in the 90s. I'm not sure but I believe that is what happened. I'll be sure to call them up tomorrow and find out. I didn't think about that, thanks for the idea.

I have a 1984 JD 750

 

[flusher]

Anybody know if I can put a fuel gauge on the 650 tractor? I'm just tired of having to deal with that float that is in there and I can't ever read it right. I really hate to have to use an autometer fuel gauge, does anybody know if there are fuel gauges for tractors out there or am I out of luck? Thanks for the help.

I don't see why you can't retrofit a fuel gauge/sender unit on your JD. You can get standard 2" dia fuel gauges and sender units at places like Yesterday's Tractors. These are standard potentiometer type sender units that are wired in series with the fuel gauge.

The problem may be to adapt the sender unit to your fuel tank. You may have to drill a few holes in the tank to get that installation done.

You also will need some kind of switch or resistor in series with the sending unit to keep the battery from discharging through the fuel gauge/sender unit when the engine is off. On my MF-135 the oil pressure switch is used for this job. The switch closes when oil pressure reaches 7 psi or greater allowing current to flow through the fuel gauge/sender unit and opens when the engine is stopped and oil pressure drops to zero.

 

[Soundguy]

His 'ignition or run' side of the key switch could be used for that ( to power the fuel gauge.. etc.. that's a pretty standard practice.. etc.)

Soundguy

 

[flusher]

His 'ignition or run' side of the key switch could be used for that ( to power the fuel gauge.. etc.. that's a pretty standard practice.. etc.)

Soundguy

SG: you're right. That's the way it's normally wired.

However, the ignition key switch on my MF-135 is a momentary contact type with only an OFF and a START position. Hence, the oil pressure switch. Don't know why MF decided use that type of ignition switch and the oil pressure switch, but that's what I have.

That old starter switch looks pretty tired, so I bought a more modern 3-position switch with a RUN position between OFF and START. I'll follow your lead and wire the fuel gauge circuit to the RUN position.

 

[Soundguy]

They may have done it to save money??? since it was a diesel.. din't need the run terminal... ?? ford did lots of 'save money' things that are weird too...

Soundguy

 

[flusher]

They may have done it to save money??? since it was a diesel.. din't need the run terminal... ?? ford did lots of 'save money' things that are weird too...

Soundguy

My MF-135 diesel doesn't have a fuel solenoid. You use a dashboard-mounted push-pull fuel shutoff control knob (push in to allow fuel flow, pull out to shut off fuel flow).

If MF used a switch with a RUN position there would be a problem for customers who shut off fuel flow with the control knob without turning the ignition switch to the OFF position. If the fuel gauge was wired through the RUN position, then the battery would discharge when the engine is off.

Maybe MF had complaints from customers who habitually leave the key in the ignition switch and cut off the engine with the fuel shutoff knob without turning the key to the OFF position. Using the oil-pressure switch eliminates this problem.

 

[6sunset6]

I have a 30E that shuts off the fuel the same way. It does a quarter turn on a shaft on the injector pump. Does anyone know exactly what it does in the injector pump? There do not seem to be any seals and it turns really lose but yet no fuel leaks out.