Starting to Have a Few Issues With My M4800

[jayste]

My Kubota M4800 su is a 2004 model. It's served me well and still is but I'm starting to have a few issues with it. 1) my key switch is getting "iffy". You have to find that "sweet spot" for it to make contact. 2) My temp gauge works about 1/3 of the time and 3) I noticed this last weekend the fuel gauge is only registering 1/2 after I've filled it up. If anyone has experienced any of these issues (M4800 or not) please join in and let's talk about it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[redmaher]

Sounds like all the problems could be caused by a faulty ignition switch.

 

[k0ua]

Squirt some Fluid Film in that switch and work it vigorously back and forth. The switch on my Kioti started acting up and I squirted it several years ago, and it is still working well. There is an old axiom in troubleshooting when troubleshooting multiple problems. It is "fix what you can see first". So fix the switch first and see what happens. The Kioti key switch is a notorious failure item on this line of tractors, but the Fluid Film has completely fixed mine. Fluid film is good for a lot of things.

Amazon.com: fluid film

 

[ovrszd]

I totally understand discussing these things. Stuff like this drives me crazy. I have a very low tolerance. I'd lube the key switch and if I didn't see immediate results I'd be buying a new switch. After all, it's 13 years old.

Then as James said, I'd check into the other problems after that.

Sounds like you've been served very well with your tractor. How many hours does it have?

 

[Fallon]

Check your grounds. It does sound like a dying switch, but checking grounds is easy.

Had my under 2 year old L3200 die on me. Looked at the grounds & they looked fine. Spent a few hours tearing the dash apart & getting confused by erratic multimeter readings. Finally took a ratchet to the ground strap bolt & the second I started to unscrew that bolt the hazards started working. Bolt had been tight, no corrosion or anything. Cleaned the lug & frame, despite things looking good & it all worked just fine from there on.

It will take you 5 minutes & $0.10 worth of contact cleaner to check the battery cables & ground straps. Cheaper & easier than messing with the ignition switch, although that's likely your next step.

 

[jayste]

Wow! all good and QUICK responses! I'll start with the ground first since I have to get some fluid film. Any chance I can get some locally? Parts store or other? Oh and I've got about 700 hrs on it. Got it in 2006 from my FIL and it only had 44 hrs and 2 yrs old!

 

[k0ua]

Wow! all good and QUICK responses! I'll start with the ground first since I have to get some fluid film. Any chance I can get some locally? Parts store or other? Oh and I've got about 700 hrs on it. Got it in 2006 from my FIL and it only had 44 hrs and 2 yrs old!

Many of the Lowes carry it. Mine does.

 

[ovrszd]

Wow! all good and QUICK responses! I'll start with the ground first since I have to get some fluid film. Any chance I can get some locally? Parts store or other? Oh and I've got about 700 hrs on it. Got it in 2006 from my FIL and it only had 44 hrs and 2 yrs old!

Some dielectric grease will do the job.

That tractor has a LOT of life left in it!!!!

You certainly use it. An ideal tractor for 40 acres!!!!

 

[Fallon]

Some dielectric grease will do the job.

That tractor has a LOT of life left in it!!!!

You certainly use it. An ideal tractor for 40 acres!!!!

Ya, I'd recommend dielectric grease over Fluid Film for electrical stuff as well. It coats stuff to seal out corrosion until there is metal to metal contact from connectors. I'd grab some electrical contact cleaner & my be some scotchbrite pads to clean up the mating surfaces first.

 

[varmint]

I had some sticky auto ignition switch issues recently, so I squirted some Fluid Film into the key slot, and worked it a bunch. Didn't fix it. At the same time, I needed to get a second key cut, and when the locksmith guy (it was a trick auto key, so I went to a locksmith...) came out to test it, I showed him the key problems with the original key. He came back with some WD 40. I kept my mouth shut. It worked like a charm, and has ever since. Go figure.

But, the ground and FF advice sounds good to me! Iffy vehicle electrics often are traced to poor grounds or corroded power contacts, and not the gauges themselves- especially when they're intermittent or, even better, more than one gauge.