Ron, I finally got around to popping the hood to check for the ground wire as you recommended. I found the problem. The wire from the top of the tank/sending unit was about 10" long and then it ended - connected to nothing. But that 10" wire didn't reach anything either so I did not know what it came undone from. After inspecting everything I could, I found another stub of wire, but between the two stubs was a gap of about 6-7 inches - of obviously missing wire. After additional poking around I found the chewed up sheath that covers the wires in the engine area. Then found the beginning of a critter's nest. So I patched in a new wire and guage works fine. The problem was one of nature's creatures. Now I will have to post somewhere on this forum a question about keeping critters out of your tractor. What I have done is to relocate our three cats to the barn where I keep the tractor - moved their houses and food and water to the barn loft and they seem to like it there so that might keep the mice or whatever away. Thanks for the advice - it was a "loose" wire - just very loose.
