how many gauges is too much?

[meadowfield 2,754]

inspired by 1970's Peterbilts and the fact I like to know whats going on...

 

 

I was wondering what gauges you guys had retrofitted?

 

I've drilled the panel ready

 

 

I don't think you can have too many gauges

 

 

dry run - so ignore the panel being reversed - plus theres a bit of metal behind that needs some surgery...

 

Duplicate temp gauge soon to be fuel gauge.

 

Might add a few switches, lights and Fuses for maximum effect.

 

 

[ebinmaine 72,718]

I'm right there with you!

 

I've been around heavy trucks my entire life and driven them since 2002.

I once sat in the cab of a 1984? Pete 379 that had something like 21 gauges.

 

How many do I NEED? Well I do legitimately look at the voltmeter everytime I turn the key on.

How many do I want?

I dunno, how many 2 inch holes can you drill in a hood?

I'm kidding. Sort of.

 

 

[pfrederi 18,689]

The more gauges the more wiring and connections that can fail...520 series vs Commando 8 ???

[JoeM 8,347]

I always thought a oil temp gauge would be a big plus on the air cooled engines. 

[ebinmaine 72,718]

4 minutes ago, TractorJunkie said:

I always thought a oil temp gauge would be a big plus on the air cooled engines. 

I've had that thought too but where would you connectify it?

[Tractorhead 9,212]

I don‘t like too much infos nobody needs or even the mickeymouse tv dashboards they actual built in the new Cars.

so called infotainment. If your car fails, you don‘t get any usable info‘s from them.

I still hate it in Cars or Trucks also.

seen these day‘s a gardentractor in a hardware store with such a mickeymouse home kino dash.😂

felt 2 min. before all info‘s available. 

 

That‘s my reason i just drive aged Cars 20 +years i like a speedometer, tacho and oilgauge instead a engine defect bulb

but that‘s it.

 

The mass of beepy‘s and blinky‘s in the new Cars only annoy‘s me.

Felt thousands on infoscreens without senseful information nobody needs mostly distract the driver from the road -  not my World

Keep it stupid simple, that‘s my World

 

I think 3 or maybe 4 are really helpful and important to know about the whole Status.

 

hourmeter is allway‘s senseful.

Voltmeter check the Voltage while charge

Oiltemp makes also sense in my opinion to see if engine overheats on clogged airpath

At least maybe a RPM meter if you have revolution depending Attachments like a Genny.

 

A ignition / starter key an external lightswitch

and if an electric PTO is on, another separate PTO Switch.

 

a fuelgauge can be senseful if you have a metall tank and larger areas to drive

but also 2 Drainers in upper and lower section drilled into Tank and a piece of transparent silicon hose between them do the same trick,

but completely without electricity. You still have the Advantage you can see how clean your fuel is.

a benefit with simplest technic.

 

Too much gauges means too much Wires and that just complicates the error scenario, here i‘m with @pfrederi

 

But if you like Gauges, you can add also a quick coupled RPM gauges for each Blade rotation

A GPS to know where you are, 

Maybe a cellphone with some Blutooth Sensors and a digital dash.

 

 

[squonk 43,843]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

I've had that thought too but where would you connectify it?

Fit it at the oil drain. Cyl head temp is another good one.

[ebinmaine 72,718]

4 minutes ago, squonk said:

Fit it at the oil drain. Cyl head temp is another good one.

Same question....

 

I've seen (snowmobile?) Head temp sensors. BIG bucks...

Anything less expensive available?

[squonk 43,843]

Just a sensor that clips on the fins. I imagine they are big bucks because they are used on air planes.

Here's one from Clark's Corvair parts

 

http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/search.cgi?part=C3081

 

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,339]

Thats waaay too busy for me. 
l think l would want to watch the road! 

[JoeM 8,347]

I seen something like this gauge in the extra drain hole of the oil sump. I think less than $30 bucks. Not sure of the thread size.

 

 

[bc.gold 3,406]

Here's one that will get your attention, once air pressure has been reached the ( wig wag ) flag is set into position manually, should air pressure fail the flag drops down right in front of yer face.

 

Our Hayes logging truck was equipped with warning buzzer, air pressure gauges and a trailer brake application gauge in addition to the wig wag.

 

Love the sound of the Jake when coming down a long steep mountain grade.

 

Edited June 19, 2020 by bcgold

[c-series don 10,036]

I remember the old international school bus that took me to school had that!!

[meadowfield 2,754]

I'm adding oil temp via the drain plug - that was why I asked on the other thread was the thread dimensions were... I bought adapters for 3/8 and 1/2" so hopefully one will fit.

Also adding fuel gauge so I don't need to buy the expensive filler caps that inevitably break and leak.

Then replace Amps with Volts

Add an hour counter

Then finally my modified single cylinder tacho.

 

 

[meadowfield 2,754]

11 hours ago, squonk said:

Fit it at the oil drain. Cyl head temp is another good one.

 

thats where it is going

[meadowfield 2,754]

13 hours ago, pfrederi said:

The more gauges the more wiring and connections that can fail...520 series vs Commando 8 ???

 

agree, but volt, and hour counter are two wires. Then one each for oil temp, tacho and fuel gauge. I don't think that should be too much pain...

[WHX?? 51,774]

They used to have head temp gauges where the sensor was formed in and took the place of the spark plug gasket. I think snowmobiles and such had them. Wonder if there still available? 

I like what you got going on there Meadow... novelty yes but I like it! 

[Rob R 973]

LUV the RPM dial indicator (WH) where can I get one, what is the cost and how is it installed.  THANKS 

[Stormin 9,985]

 Maybe I'm just an old foggie, but I'm another for the K.I.S.S. principle.

[squonk 43,843]

I'm old and Love gauges!! 

[bc.gold 3,406]

PTO engaged indicator light, fuel pressure gauge and an air filter minder.

 

 

[bc.gold 3,406]

My Mitsubishi Pajero had a factory installed inclinometer

 

 

Edited June 19, 2020 by bcgold

[ebinmaine 72,718]

7 minutes ago, bcgold said:

inclinometer

I thought about that one myself

[CCW 1,379]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

I thought about that one myself

 

If I had on of these it would only get above zero when I changed the crankcase oil.

[ebinmaine 72,718]

4 minutes ago, CCW said:

 

If I had on of these it would only get above zero when I changed the crankcase oil.

If I had one of those the only time it would be AT 0 is when that given tractor was parked in the basement for maintenance. Even WHAT I consider to be flat spots in the yard still have a slight grade for water runoff.