Does your fuel gauge actually work?

[StrangeRanger]

I know there's a ton of fuel gauge threads but I'm asking again.
The gauge on my L3400 sits at F forever, then it drops alarmingly fast. But even when I'm at or near E it's back to F with 5 gals or less. It's supposed to be a 9 gal tank.
Do I have a magic fuel tank that doubles the fuel I pour in?
j

 

[k0ua]

I know there's a ton of fuel gauge threads but I'm asking again.
The gauge on my L3400 sits at F forever, then it drops alarmingly fast. But even when I'm at or near E it's back to F with 5 gals or less. It's supposed to be a 9 gal tank.
Do I have a magic fuel tank that doubles the fuel I pour in?
j

No, the L3400 I had worked the same way.. I think it has to do with the shape of the tank, not being linear.. Some guages work better than others. The one on the Kioti works better, In other words there is more mid range, but it is not perfect either. still sits on F for too long, just not as long as the L3400 did. Look at it this way, when you think you are empty you are not really empty,, that means you can get away for a bit without filling the tank.. better that than one that reads 1/4 full and is really empty... that would be a real pain.

James K0UA

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

my B2620 works well.
A little slow to drop off full (but then again when I fill I fill up the neck as well) but when it hits empty it is empty.

 

[Katahdin]

Not Kubota but Yes to my Yanmar LX. The gauge also has a mark to let you know when 5 gallons will top off the tank. I've found this to be a convenient feature because I can set down a 5 gal jerry can over the tank and walk away and do something else while a syphon hose fills the tank.

 

[Chilly807]

Mine's the same, and James is right. The shape of the tank is odd, so there's really no way to improve upon it easily. Showing empty means 5 gallons will fill it, with 4 held in "reserve" for those days you just don't remember to look at the gauge.

Sean

 

[jb62901]

I have a BX2360 when new 09 it worked fine. After a year it would stay on F the first two hrs then it was all over the place. At 2500 rps it uses app .75 gal per hr that gives me close to 8 hrs. It's rare I run it more than 4 hrs at any time. I always top it off every time it's used. Now I don't even use the gauge.

 

[bandit67]

My B3030 fuel gauge at 370 hrs and 4.5 yrs was still working beautifully when I traded it. New B3000 fuel gauge works exactly the same way. Nice smooth, even drop as I use fuel, so hoping it works as flawlessly over the years as the B3030 gauge did.

 

[creekbend]

The fuel guage on my L4400 stays on full for a long time. Depending on the usage, I insert a cut off yard stick in the tank to measure the contents and top off the tank when needed. I use to use a flashlight, but that was a PITA.

 

[sandyc]

My 2620 gauge works great!

 

[tractchores]

B2920 gauge works well

 

[abeal]

BX1860 - not worth the dash space
B2320 - works great
L3200 - works great

 

[gwiley]

The fuel gauges on both of my Bobcats haven't worked in a long time. I stay on top of keeping the machines full so never really a problem for me. I did buy a sending unit for the 773 - just waiting for a chance to have the cab up for other work before I replace the failed one.

 

[Whitnel]

Funny I ran across this. My fuel gauge has worked fine on my Kubota until the last two weeks. It showed empty but less than 5 gals filled it up. It usually takes more like 9 to 10. Then after it was full the gauge still only showed like 1/4 tank. Guess I will just have watch it more now.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Mine's the same, and James is right. The shape of the tank is odd, so there's really no way to improve upon it easily. Showing empty means 5 gallons will fill it, with 4 held in "reserve" for those days you just don't remember to look at the gauge.

Sean

4 gal reserve. Chuckle. I like that idea.

 

[aczlan]

All work on our 3 Kubotas. There is a pronounced change in how fast the needle drops. but I attribute that to the float reading being linear and the tank volume not being linear (my wife's '02 Caravan does the same thing, 300 miles on the first 1/2 tank and 100 miles on the second half).

Aaron Z

 

[sixdogs]

I know there's a ton of fuel gauge threads but I'm asking again.
The gauge on my L3400 sits at F forever, then it drops alarmingly fast. But even when I'm at or near E it's back to F with 5 gals or less. It's supposed to be a 9 gal tank.
Do I have a magic fuel tank that doubles the fuel I pour in?
j

Actually, this is how I believe they are designed to operate. It's OK once you know it.
No on the magic tank. It's plastic.

 

[EE_Bota]

On the BX2200, it is not linear, but represents full and empty well. On the Jinma 304, I had to replace the gauge, and while I was doing that I hooked the float with a hanger to move manually for test, and it should be just fine.

 

[crazyal]

After 2 1/2 years my gauge works just fine.

 

[heviduty]

I know there's a ton of fuel gauge threads but I'm asking again.
The gauge on my L3400 sits at F forever, then it drops alarmingly fast. But even when I'm at or near E it's back to F with 5 gals or less. It's supposed to be a 9 gal tank.
Do I have a magic fuel tank that doubles the fuel I pour in?
j

Mine is the same way and I'm glad of it. When the gauge starts dropping, I know it's time to add 4-5 gals. You really don't want to run out.

 

[RTII]

My (ex) BX2660 stopped working within 6 months. Mostly read full after that. Occasionally something else. I just never really cared, and topped it off after every use or when stopping for lunch. My 3940 seems to be fairly accurate so far. Still, I just am in the habit of keeping it topped off.