BX tachometer died... fix clues?

[dragoneggs]

As mentioned in another thread, my dash glass is collecting condensation. Don't know if the moisture is the culprit but I'm now at 320 or so hours on my 3yr old BX25D and my tach is no longer working. Just pegged on zero. Would appreciate any clues on troubleshooting/fixing while I pour through my workshop manual this evening.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

I would guess moisture shorting out the amplifier and sampling circuit. Might try removing panel and drying it out and resealing and maybe some silca gel beads inside to dry out. My quads instrument cluster starts doing this about this time of year and have to dry it out. If drying it out does not work there is an extra terminal on the alternator plug that carries the raw pulse from before the diode trio that they use for speed reedout and you need to make sure the signal gets to the gauge cluster.

David

 

[dragoneggs]

I would guess moisture shorting out the amplifier and sampling circuit. Might try removing panel and drying it out and resealing and maybe some silca gel beads inside to dry out. My quads instrument cluster starts doing this about this time of year and have to dry it out. If drying it out does not work there is an extra terminal on the alternator plug that carries the raw pulse from before the diode trio that they use for speed reedout and you need to make sure the signal gets to the gauge cluster.

David

Thanks David... is the amplifier/sampling circuit directly under the dash? Does seem that I need to dry and reseal the glass.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

I have an older BX with no cluster just temp and gas gauge. But from what I have seen on the newer tractors it probably is all one unit but would hope they would use epoxy coated boards and they just would need to be dried out. On the quad I put some dielectric grease on connectors and the sealing O rings and that seamed to help. Had an hour meter that would get fogged and drilling a drain hole got the water out.

David

 

[dragoneggs]

The rest of the 'cluster' is working... gas and temp LED gauges, and all the idiot lights.

 

[dragoneggs]

I stopped by the dealer this afternoon and broke down and bought a replacement cluster. Looks to be a sealed unit and plugs in somehow to the console. Taking the steering wheel and knobs off now and seeing if this is an easy plug and play fix. I will try drying out my old one and hopefully have a spare or return the new one if successful.

 

[dragoneggs]

FIXED! I had a little trouble removing the steering wheel and posted on another thread that ordeal.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/371078-help-bx-steering-wheel-removal.html

Once I finally got that off it was pretty simple. I pried the old cluster out after partially removing the dash close out panel and disconnected the plug from the back of the cluster. The glass easily came off the cluster and I poured out a couple ounces of water. Lousy seal on the glass. Notice the black paint easily separated from the glass. Poor adhesion and likely the culprit for the leak. I would say this is a quality issue for Kubota. Popped the new one in and all is well... tach and all lights and gauges are working!