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Fuel guage working upside down

AnnBrush Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 463 Troy OH   Pics

2009-05-07          162591

I have a JD 4300. The fuel gauge on the dash has a peculiar habit of going around the clock and working upside down. Description: The gauge is like a portion of a clock dial with a little rest pin set at the 10 o'clock position. The scale goes from empty at 10 o'clock to full at 2 o'clock. Some time back the needle went past the full mark (2 o'clock) and started operating from the 4 o'clock to the 8 o'clock position. Its all electronic and the input is a variable voltage sent from the fuel tank sending unit which has a float and a potentiometer. I dismantled the gauge and sending unit and played around with the whole shebang. Amongst other things I reversed the voltage applied, drained and filled the tank and removed and manually operated the sending unit. The gauge would not work properly and in the end I physically removed the needle from the gauge and set it back in the empty 10 o'clock position. It has since acted up again and is now stuck on the lower side of the pin at the 10 o'clock position and wants to travel clockwise (but is of course stuck by the pin). Any ideas on why this is happening and what the permanent solution may be. Deere has indicated that they can replace the entire dash panel but I don't want to fork out 670 for a new panel when all that's not functioning is the fuel gauge. Any ideas?

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Fuel guage working upside down

kwschumm Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon   Pics

2009-05-07          162592

Is the problem that the needle is a bit loose on the shaft and not only rotates out of position but it can actually rock a bit allowing it to move up and over the "at rest" pin? Maybe roughening up the shaft a bit and a dab of epoxy would hold it in place? ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

Murf Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada   Pics

2009-05-07          162594

Ann, I think Ken nailed it, I think the needle is moving on the shaft, we've had a few machines that have done that over the years.

Try the epoxy route first, if that doesn't work, look for an aftermarket gauge you can retrofit into the existing dash.

Best of luck. ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

auerbach Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto   Pics

2009-05-07          162597

In my day tractors didn't have gauges; you looked in or dipped a stick. If you can't fix it, you might be able to live with it. ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

porterboyd Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 Karlstad, minnesota

2009-05-07          162599

i had the exact same problem with my 4300. i took the dash apart and put the needle back and glued it in. The shaft is spinning freely on the needle. Easy fix. ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

hardwood Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa

2009-05-08          162602

I've used the "Auerbach Method" on my 4310 for a couple years. I've never had a piece of equipment with a plastic fuel tank that had a guage that worked for very long. ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

earthwrks Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan   Pics

2009-05-08          162603

Franky, for your particular application, have you checked for a loose nut behind the steering wheel? I'm jis' sayin' LOL

Ooooooh maaaan here it commmmes! ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

hardwood Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa

2009-05-08          162607

Well well EW is back, I thought perhaps you were on a world tour, in jail, being held hostage, or something, you had me worried. I actually was beginning to miss your sometimes correct banter. OH, and your spelling has begun to waiver a bit lately, glasses bad or something? ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

Murf Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada   Pics

2009-05-08          162608

Quote: Originally Posted by auerbach | view 162597 In my day tractors didn't have gauges; you looked in or dipped a stick.

It's a funny thing, but with all the engineering and manufacturing prowess we have these days, that's still the only reliable way of telling how much fuel a small plane has in it's tanks too.

I have one I made myself out of a nice piece of Maple, all calibrated and everything! LOL

Sometimes the old methods are the best.

Best of luck. ....

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Fuel guage working upside down

AnnBrush Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 463 Troy OH   Pics

2009-05-08          162612

Thanks guys - will get into it this w/e ....

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