Temp gauge not working

GeoHorn

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
M4700DT, LA1002FEL, Ferguson5-8B Compactor-Roller, 10KDumpTrailer, RTV-X900
May 18, 2018
6,058
3,330
113
Texas
Gary, the price Kubota gets for their alternator is obscene. I replaced mine with a new one from DB Electrical….here’s where I posted about it:
https://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/threads/alternator-upgrade.48312/#post-423410

Here’s a link where Amazon sells the one for our M4700 (and a few other models), the price is now $80.:


I subsequently found (Ebay) the internal regulator which had failed on my original alternator and replaced it myself. ($18). I’ll keep it as a spare but the DB Electrical alternator is still working fine 3 years later.
(The previous owner of my M4700 was less-than-forthright and when he had mouse-eaten wiring he sold the tractor after hiding the problem by completely jerking-out and tossing into the trash the “low fuel/charging system” warning lamp and fixture. After a week of ownership I found the battery discharged and wouldn’t start so I jumped it and stuck my volt-meter on the battery and found it at 11 volts with the alternator running. That’s when I ordered the DB Electrical alternator, installed it, no further charging problem…. but I also ordered from Kubota the ”Low fuel/charging system” warning lamp fixture and installed it….. AND I installed an Ammeter.
The mouse-eaten wiring was also my temp gauge problem and I replaced that wire and repaired all the other wiring mice had eaten. I guess the previous owner satisfied his own conscience when I asked if he had any operator or maintenance manuals and he replied, “No…all they’re good for is feeding mice.”
I should have thought about that longer…. but all’s well that ends well…. and my M4700DT was/is otherwise in excellent condition. It only had 392 hours on it when I bought it and I’m happy. (I just avoid thinking about the seller…. it’s been over 3 years now.)

Oh, yeah…. you probably don’t need to do anything about this just now…. but while you’re in the instrument panel you might want to know about a starter relay problem I had a few months ago. While the following link takes you directly to the solution… Gary, you might want to start at the beginning of that discussion-thread to see how/why I got there:
 
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GaryR

New member

Equipment
M 4700
Aug 17, 2021
19
1
3
Cole Camp Mo
Hey ya'll my parts got backordered a couple of days but they are installed and the beast is back together. The temp gage is working fine and the ign switch great. I ran a voltage test and 12.5 is the best I get running or not. Looks like I'm going to be talking to the guys Geohorn mentioned for a new alternator.
 
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GaryR

New member

Equipment
M 4700
Aug 17, 2021
19
1
3
Cole Camp Mo
The battery with cables off reads 12.5 with volt meter. When hooked to my charger read 12.6 at 80%. My charger has an alternator check feature on it and I clamped it on the cables. With the tractor warmed up and running the reading was 0. Not real sure on the accuracy of that old charger but that's all I got. Time for an alternator?
 

number two

Active member

Equipment
B3030HSDC L2501HST
Mar 26, 2021
352
162
43
Northern Lower Michigan
Since the tractor starts now,please check the battery voltage running.
12.5 volts or so would indicate the charging system isn't working.
Normal charging voltage would be around 14 volts.
An alternator is probably indicated.
Check the phone book for an automotive starter/generator shop.
They can usually fix up your old unit for very reasonable money.
Many auto parts stores will also check alternators.
Good Luck!
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,832
5,135
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
12.5 is a 'weak' battery(probably a single cell going bad.). Depending on temperature,type of battery and how it was charged, expect to get 13.2 or better from a good battery.
If it's 'old schoo'l ( NOT MTCE free) ,pop the 6 caps and see the level of acid in it.. could be low.
Might need to be 'desulphated', if not too far gone. Most(well some...) new battery 'chargers' will desulph, then 3 stage charge, then maintain.
Parts store can test battery....
 

GaryR

New member

Equipment
M 4700
Aug 17, 2021
19
1
3
Cole Camp Mo
OK guys, this is my final post on this thread (I hope). New temperature sensor works great, new ignition switch works great, new alternator putting out solid 14.5 volts and the low fuel light is off. Wow! Thanks to all who helped this Newby get this done I hope to be able to return the favor. And Geohorn how did you figure out that low fuel lite?