Lk2554 Instrument Cluster

[K5lwq]

A couple of months ago my tachometer started vibrating very aggressively and before I could shut the tractor down, every needle on the gauges broke off. Well, I figured I would order a new panel as I needed some other parts anyway.

Turns out the instrument panel is no longer available. Now I am thinking about finding one that is close and modify it to fit. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

 

[K5lwq]

Well been very busy and getting new Branson set up has delayed this project for too long! I am starting to focus on a solution and need a little advice.

I have purchased a universal instrument cluster that I plan on making work. I need to build a adapter mount to make it fit the dash. I have a plan for that.

What I haven't figured out is where to source a tachometer cable. The tack on the new cluster appears to be 5/8-18 square end. Tractor side appears to be 10mm slot.

Any ideas on where I might find such a animal?

Here is a picture of the broke gauges.

And here is a picture of hopefully the solution.

 

[Roadworthy]

Look at the engine end of your tach cable, too. In my experience tach and speedo cables are a square wire on both ends. It sounds as though Branson did something to make theirs different. If the engine end is square you may find a standard cable which works.

 

[K5lwq]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually working on the Kioti LK2554. The tractor end is slotted. The tachometer end is square. The new tach takes square as well but is a little bigger hole. Nothing a match book cover won't fix.

My issue is with the nut on the tach side. It needs to be 5/8-18 thread.

Here is some pictures of the Kioti cable. Picture on top is tractor end and the picture on bottom is tach end.

 

[K5lwq]

Just in case anyone needs to know, these folks said they can help by modifying my cable to fit 5/8 standard American end. Very nice and helpful.

Speedometer Cable and Housing,Custom Made Tachometer and Speedometer Cables and Casing parts and Supplies.

 

[K5lwq]

Finally finished the instrument panel install. The only thing left is installing the tach cable. The cable is built and I should receive it early next week.

I ordered the new universal cluster from Complete Tractor. Good folks and shipping was fast.

I had to fabricate a mount to install the unit. I used 1/8 flat bar that was 4" wide. I had to weld two pieces together to be wide enough. I had the flat bar that is why I did it this way. I made a template out of cardboard then transferred it to the steel.

Then I used my old table scroll saw to cut out the center. Used my band saw to cut the outside.

I made my welds on the back so from the front all you see is the seam. Cleaned the part sanded and painted.

I used 1/4" spacers and longer screws to hold the mount to the cover.

I put weather stripping around the new cluster before install to make a seal.

Then I wired and installed it to the Kioti. In order for the warning lights to work you must take the small circuit board out of the old gauges. It is located behind the covers for the gauges. I labeled all the wires before removing them from the old cluster and determined which wires I needed. Then installed it on the tractor.

All lights and gauges work and I will update once the tach is working. This is a good solution to replacing the instrument panel on the 2554 and 3054 tractors. I think it looks fine enough for me as I am more concerned with functionality than looks.

Here are a few more pictures of it installed.

 

[K5lwq]

Tach cable arrived and is installed. Worked no issues. It might be off a few hundred RPM but not a deal breaker.

I hope this helps someone someday. It is not too bad of a fix. There might be a better solution out there but this is what I came up with.

Here is idle and at PTO speed.

 

[RexB]

That's a nice fab onto a working tractor, congrats. It's a booger when parts aren't available anymore, but you fixed it with ingenuity

 

[LouNY]

looks good to me,
that "universal" looks a lot like a Ford panel.

 

[Oaktree]

My first impression was that you installed it upside down until I noticed the fuel and temp writing was OK. Odd that the tach is backwards.