Water temp gauge?

[stormpetrel]

What do I need? Is there a certain type or anything? I don't want to buy the wrong one. Would it make sense to install oil pressure and amp gauge as well?
I'm looking forward to hearing some ideas. The tractor seems to be running just fine, but I am not willing to take any chances on overheating!!

BTW, I changed the knuckle seals today; not too hard a job, especially after just changing out the head gasket. It did take five quarts of gear oil to top it off though...glad I ordered plenty.

 

[Car Doc]

I think its a good idea I did it.

I got a cheap set of gages from O'reilys a 3 gage set I think they are 1 1/2" diameter pretty small and mounted them under the steering wheel on the panel thats there.

The fittings are not the same as the tractors threads are fyi, if you use thread tape and dont go too far in NP thread will work it did for me anyway.

I left my light senders in place and tee'd the gages in fwtw. ymmv

 

[stormpetrel]

I think its a good idea I did it.

I got a cheap set of gages from O'reilys a 3 gage set I think they are 1 1/2" diameter pretty small and mounted them under the steering wheel on the panel thats there.

The fittings are not the same as the tractors threads are fyi, if you use thread tape and dont go too far in NP thread will work it did for me anyway.

I left my light senders in place and tee'd the gages in fwtw. ymmv

Thanks, good info. I'm looking at an Aussie-made temp gauge/alarm that bolts right onto the head. It's a little pricey, but installation is super simple & easy. No drilling holes for gauges. It eliminates the thread difference problem.

 

[Neat 1500]

Thanks, good info. I'm looking at an Aussie-made temp gauge/alarm that bolts right onto the head. It's a little pricey, but installation is super simple & easy. No drilling holes for gauges. It eliminates the thread difference problem.

which one are you looking at? we have several types of temp watchdogs made here. the 4WD fraternity like using them so why cant a tractor:thumbsup: i just used a set i bought here(australia) and they work fine, i even put a set in my YM14.

 

[stormpetrel]

which one are you looking at? we have several types of temp watchdogs made here. the 4WD fraternity like using them so why cant a tractor:thumbsup: i just used a set i bought here(australia) and they work fine, i even put a set in my YM14.

Did you have any thread-type issues? Or are these plug & play? Can you provide a link to where they can be bought?

Here's the temp alarm I'm considering.......

TRACTOR ENGINE ALARM International Kubota Yanmar Case - eBay (item 140531683332 end time May-04-11 21:34:50 PDT)

 

[YannyMan]

Might want to see if any of the Deeres' had any guages from the factory. If they had Yanmars in them, the thread thing might not be a problem.

 

[winston1]

For what it is worth. Temperature sending threads M16 x 1.5. McMaster-Carr Oil sending threads 1/8BPT which is only 1 thread per inch different than 1/8NPT. Some have used the NPT with no problems. McMaster-Carr

 

[Car Doc]

Did you have any thread-type issues? Or are these plug & play? Can you provide a link to where they can be bought?

Here's the temp alarm I'm considering.......

TRACTOR ENGINE ALARM International Kubota Yanmar Case - eBay (item 140531683332 end time May-04-11 21:34:50 PDT)

Wow that is an expensive gage I spent about $45 US on my gage set and I only drilled 1 hole 1/2" in the shin panel on mine and grommeted it you cant tell it isnt supposed to be there. fwtw

 

[SandburRanch]

What do I need? Is there a certain type or anything? I don't want to buy the wrong one. Would it make sense to install oil pressure and amp gauge as well?
I'm looking forward to hearing some ideas. The tractor seems to be running just fine, but I am not willing to take any chances on overheating!!

BTW, I changed the knuckle seals today; not too hard a job, especially after just changing out the head gasket. It did take five quarts of gear oil to top it off though...glad I ordered plenty.

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After working with engines with shutdown systems I see little value in temperature and pressure gauges without that feature. The odds are that it will catch you looking the other way when the steam blows or the bearings begin to make noises we don't care to hear.

 

[stormpetrel]

Wow that is an expensive gage I spent about $45 US on my gage set and I only drilled 1 hole 1/2" in the shin panel on mine and grommeted it you cant tell it isnt supposed to be there. fwtw

Yep it is expensive, but I'm real gun-shy at this point. I like the idea of seeing the real time temp in big red numbers, and if I'm not looking, having an audible alarm that actually works!!

On an unhappier note, one of the newly sealed knuckles is leaking!!!
The first night after I replaced the seals....nothing. I went into the garage today, only to find the left knuckle seal with a little puddle of gear oil beneath it. This is not good!!! I can't think of what could be wrong, and, the things that it could be aint gonna be cheap to fix..........

 

[Car Doc]

Yep it is expensive, but I'm real gun-shy at this point. I like the idea of seeing the real time temp in big red numbers, and if I'm not looking, having an audible alarm that actually works!!

On an unhappier note, one of the newly sealed knuckles is leaking!!!
The first night after I replaced the seals....nothing. I went into the garage today, only to find the left knuckle seal with a little puddle of gear oil beneath it. This is not good!!! I can't think of what could be wrong, and, the things that it could be aint gonna be cheap to fix..........

I can understand that better safe than sorry!

The leak may be from too much wobble in the joint is there any play in it?

 

[winston1]

Leak also might be from a grooved housing where old seal wore a groove after 30 years. Might have to smooth it up or possible speedy sleeve (lot's $$).

 

[stormpetrel]

Leak also might be from a grooved housing where old seal wore a groove after 30 years. Might have to smooth it up or possible speedy sleeve (lot's $$).

Speedy sleeve? Not familiar with that.....But I did worry that fixing it if it was more than just the seal would be expensive. I hate the idea of oil continuing to drip on the garage floor. It's almost enough to get me thinking about trading her in.......

 

[Car Doc]

Speedy sleeve? Not familiar with that.....But I did worry that fixing it if it was more than just the seal would be expensive. I hate the idea of oil continuing to drip on the garage floor. It's almost enough to get me thinking about trading her in.......

Nah dont do that machines leak thats just the nature of the beast a steady stream is no good but if the seal is just damaged from install or there is a groove in the seal surface its fixable.

A speedy sleeve is a precision made thin wall sleeve thats pressed CAREFULLY onto the seal surface and it gives the seal a nice even smooth surface to ride on. Now it wont fix it if there is too much wobble in the assembly so that would need to be addressed first. hth

 

[winston1]

I believe the speedi sleeve you would need is the 99452. Didn't do a whole lot of looking but here is the least expensive I looked at. 99452 [CR 99452] - KSCDirect: MRO SuperStore You can google that number and get all kinds of vendors. You can go to SKFs sight and get installation instructions. I have not personally used one of these on a knuckle seal but have use them on different equipment through my years. I would first look real close at the area the seal lip rides on and see if it could possible be polished out a little. Read where someone built the area up with JB weld and worked it back down. I've not tried that. I'm not making a recommendation, just putting things out there. Car Doc is for sure right if you have slack that could be a problem.

 

[stormpetrel]

Thanks folks, very helpful. I did clean upper and lower knuckle rims. I didn't think to inspect them minutely, or to take too much time. I thought just replacing 'em would do the trick!!

I guess the next step is to check for looseness.

BTW, it looks like I could gain a lot of width by switching the front wheels & tires. Is there any reason I shouldn't? By switching the treads'll be facing in the right direction. Interested to hear what people think.

 

[winston1]

Widening the front end is not recommended, especially with a loader. Puts to much stress on the front knuckles, axles, etc.

 

[stormpetrel]

Widening the front end is not recommended, especially with a loader. Puts to much stress on the front knuckles, axles, etc.

Good to know.....scratch that idea!!!

 

[California]

By switching the treads'll be facing in the right direction.

Swap them side to side.

 

[stormpetrel]

Swap them side to side.

Switch, swap.....that's what I meant!!! But what about possible damage to (already leaking) knuckles etc.?