Cleaning Solution & Indicator light changeout & water temperature gauge.

   / Cleaning Solution & Indicator light changeout & water temperature gauge. #1  

speedracer2020

New member
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
19
Location
Sevierville, TN
Tractor
john deere 2040
Hello all. I have a JD 2040 which I purchased a few weeks ago to cut some pastures. Now that I am done for the season I want to "clean up" the tractor and get her ready for next years season.

First, I was thinking of buying a gallon jug of Simple Green, a pump up sprayer and a good stiff scrub brush to start the cleaning process. I had heard (don't remember where or whether it's true) that SG can be harmful to the paint. Fact or fiction? I really don't want to buy 5 or 10 cans of 'foamy' cleaner if a 1 gallon jug of Simple Green would do. I plan on starting at the front cleaning the fuel tank and working my way back to the PTO. IF you all don't use/don't like or had issues with SG then what would you recommend?

There are several indicator lamps on the dash and when I turned the key to the first position to check them, the oil pressure will light up, however the alternator lamp is inop. I am hoping the bulb is just burned out. The manual simply states if the lamp doesn't light then "replace it." They forgot to say HOW. I have tried turning the red plastic bezel to see if it will unscrew = NO. I then tried turning the black trim ring that surrounds the red bezel and again NO. Something inside is telling me I am going to have to pull the side front dash panel and then access the lamp assembly from the underside. Has anyone replaced a lamp in this model with this type of indicator lamp assembly? IF YES, how did you do it..

Lastly, the water temperature gauge works but there is a lot of moisture under the glass and makes reading it a pain. I checked and all I can find are replacement gauges which don't have the looks that the original one has. Has anyone taken apart the gauge, cleaned the glass and then reassembled and 'sealed' it so moisture won't be a problem? Is there anyone that can repair gauges (without costing more than the tractor cost)? Does anyone have a vendor they believe may have an original gauge?

Sorry for the 50 questions but I am new to tractors and trying to get up to speed as quickly as I can.

Thanks in advance to any and all for their comments and help.
 
   / Cleaning Solution & Indicator light changeout & water temperature gauge. #2  
I can only help with one of your questions.... I use Simple Green frequently, never had a problem with it eating the paint. I just used it last week to clean the tractor before it got a coat of wax! I have also used "Gunk" liquid to get the really greasy / dirty areas of the engine and transmission clean.
 
   / Cleaning Solution & Indicator light changeout & water temperature gauge. #3  
I don't think SG would harm enamel equipment paint. Water based interior latex, maybe.

If you can remove the temp gauge from the tractor, you could put it in a ziploc bag with a bunch of silica gel, which can be had at most craft stores for drying flowers. It may take a while, but it would remove the moisture without having to disassemble the gauge.
 
   / Cleaning Solution & Indicator light changeout & water temperature gauge. #4  
I use Simple Green on many different things, love the stuff, and its biodegradable.... Also way keep a jug handy in shop.....Any thing biodegradable is probably not going to harm any paint finish, I usually use it to wash down area where I have used foamy engine degreases to get rid of smell of degreaser....

Beauty of it is it leave nothing behind....

Dale
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2016 KENWORTH T680 SLEEPER TRUCK (A52141)
2016 KENWORTH T680...
TORO MBTX2500 STAND ON DUMP BUGGY (A52705)
TORO MBTX2500...
2010 Ford Edge SE SUV (A51694)
2010 Ford Edge SE...
UNUSED FUTURE FT-XGJ 40" MINI HYD TILLER (A54757)
UNUSED FUTURE...
2015 Ford Transit 250 Cargo Van (A53422)
2015 Ford Transit...
2015 KUBOTA 1140CRX RTV (A51406)
2015 KUBOTA...
 
Top