ZD326 fuel gauge

[jcummins]

I致e had this ZD326 for a couple of years, and when I bought it, I thought what a silly arrangement they have on their fuel gauges. There are two separate tanks, left and right. A switch below the seat allows you to pull fuel from either one, or turn the fuel totally off. Each tank has a separate gauge. The left tank has a regular gauge, the right has an idiot light, that comes on when the fuel is low. I typically burn the right tank first and have found I can run a least an hour on the right tank after the light comes on. You never really know where you are on fuel for that tank.

To me what they should have done was to have a simple toggle switch on the regular fuel gauge that lets you toggle between the left or right tank.

Has anyone thought of that, and actually made that kind of mod? Would the sending unit on the right tank that uses the light work with the regular gauge?

 

[Notforhire]

Would the sending unit on the right tank that uses the light work with the regular gauge?

I don't think so. If the tank with the gauge is like most systems it has a variable resistor for a sender. An idot light would only require a on/ off switch on a float.

Bill

 

[Monster5601]

I致e had this ZD326 for a couple of years, and when I bought it, I thought what a silly arrangement they have on their fuel gauges. There are two separate tanks, left and right. A switch below the seat allows you to pull fuel from either one, or turn the fuel totally off. Each tank has a separate gauge. The left tank has a regular gauge, the right has an idiot light, that comes on when the fuel is low. I typically burn the right tank first and have found I can run a least an hour on the right tank after the light comes on. You never really know where you are on fuel for that tank.

To me what they should have done was to have a simple toggle switch on the regular fuel gauge that lets you toggle between the left or right tank.

Has anyone thought of that, and actually made that kind of mod? Would the sending unit on the right tank that uses the light work with the regular gauge?

My dealer nor I can figure out what the Kubota engineers were thinking about when they came up with this arrangement. I swapped out the fuel value with T's (quantity 3, 3/8 brass) to tie both fuel tanks together. Then I pulled the light bulb from the idiot light for the right fuel tank. I like this fuel measuring set up better than the original. The other thing I do not like is the position of the idiot lights, they sit back farther than the operator removing them from peripheral vision. I would like to set up a warning for oil and coolant temperature that would get my attention when operating, ideas?

 

[jcummins]

My dealer nor I can figure out what the Kubota engineers were thinking about when they came up with this arrangement. I swapped out the fuel value with T's (quantity 3, 3/8 brass) to tie both fuel tanks together. Then I pulled the light bulb from the idiot light for the right fuel tank. I like this fuel measuring set up better than the original. The other thing I do not like is the position of the idiot lights, they sit back farther than the operator removing them from peripheral vision. I would like to set up a warning for oil and coolant temperature that would get my attention when operating, ideas?

And that would mean, the gauge is working for the whole fuel system, not just one tank?

Three T's???....Why? Wouldn't just one work?

 

[jcummins]

And that would mean, the gauge is working for the whole fuel system, not just one tank?

Three T's???....Why? Wouldn't just one work?

Just finished mowing, I've got about 4 1/2 hours to mow everything here. If I had lights on this mower, I'd finished last night.

I looked at the 3 way valve, and forgot about the return lines....but.....it still seems you would only need two T's not three. How is those 3 T's plumbed up? And how low can you let the gauge go and still have fuel?

I agree all the gauges sit to far back, but given how a zero turn is setup, now sure there is another other place for them.
Off hand I've got no ideas on oil and coolant, but it would be a good idea given the position of the gauges.

On edit:...on further thought, one T to tie the fuel in together, then another to tie the returns together with both T's going into one side of the existing valve would be one way to plumb it in. For sure I'd want to close off the valve side not used so someone doesn't turn the valve to the tank no longer connected.

 

[Monster5601]

And that would mean, the gauge is working for the whole fuel system, not just one tank?

Three T's???....Why? Wouldn't just one work?

I thought 3 but when I took a look at the fuel value I pulled out, there are only 2 fuel paths on the switch. Strapping the tanks together allows the fuel gauge to report the fuel level for both tanks which will each have the same level of fuel.