Fluorescent Dash Lighting

molinegb

Well-known Member
Which MM had the first neon dash light system? Have a 1965 U302 and it has setup. They used a Wico transformer to drive the lamps in the gauges. It was a 12v DC transformer with a 250v AC rating. Checked mine and it has a 169v output. Massey used similar setup in late 60's. Apparently the setup was banned for enviromental reasons.
 
Will have to pull an old gauge apart to see what actually lit up. They were not used when
50 series came out.
 
Not sure if it was the 1964 being the first year or 65. It seems the face of the gauges on those were a lighter material to allow the light to go through. Let us know what you find out as I am curious as Ive never had one apart.
 
This is what I have up with. All U302's and all 670 Supers. All yellow bellied G1000's and all 900's and Vistas. No Jetstar 3's. Looks like U302 was first in 1964. Would like to know if anyone has opened up the power supply to know if there is more components besides transformer.
 
The one I had that was bad was pretty melted, if you are unable to find one maybe you could figure out exactly what the current draw would be and build a power supply, those really look awesome in the dark.
 
Looked at my working one. It is sealed but cracking. Can see a transformer and a transistor on a heat sink. Probably a regualtor. Wish I had a bad one. Have a couple more to check out.
 
Those gauges were so cool looking, when we got our first Vista I would go out in the fall after dark and plow just to admire how pretty the dash looked, that and maybe the 6 inch blue flame coming from the exhaust stack way up there too.
 
The Jet Star 3 Super parts book shows them as a special sales option, no serial numbers listed, wonder what units had them.
 
The thing that glows in the gauge looks like a piece of ceramic with plating where wires attach. I looked at the output of a transformer/power supply on a scope & it was around 400 cycles and 220-240 volts AC if I remember correctly. Its been a couple years. There has to be some sort of oscillator in there because DC won't go through a transformer.
 
Haven't torn into gauges as yet. Power supply is basically an oscillator circuit. I have cut open and pulled circuit apart. Comprises of a Geranium PNP transistor, three resistors ,an output capacitor and of course the transformer. Have all components in stock. Not same circuit as the Chrysler design by Sylvania. Need to get another inverter to finish my schematic. Broke couple of components chipping off the bakelite. Should be able to repair any once I figure out how to dissolve the bakelite material. I may be wasting my time especially if there isn't enough gauges left.
 
I was going to fix some when I was checking out the supplies but decided since many of the gauges don't work either that the time would be better spent putting multicolored LEDs in gauges. If you turn on both green and blue it puts out about the same color as the original gauges.
John
 
I guess maybe I'll chime in with my input.
The true white faced gauges were used from 1966 to 69. Somewhere in the 69 with the implication of the closed center hyd "white style fenders " etc they were switched to the black faced gauges.
The 64 and 65 302s used a different style gauge. The "super models " had the white faced gauges. That's correct that the output of the power pack is like 245emf. I do not know the current output.

I have a box of failed "power supplies " that I would donate to someone who has more time to research their function. All of my tractors have working "green " gauges but I have boxes of bad ones to get there. There is known company who repairs this setup and they do fantastic work but that also comes with a premium price. I'd love to see what it would require to have these parts reproduced but like all reproduction parts the quality typically suffers tremendously.
 
All U302 Super or non have same gauges. Have a 65.66.67. same. Checked in parts books and
only 1 type of gauge is listed. Have a couple of none working units coming. Once I find a
way to dissolve sealant material. Many suspected failure was due to moisture but not
possible the way they are sealed. Only reason for failure would be fatigue or possible
higher input voltage possibly from boosting or spike.l
 
I'm bringing back this old thread. Does anyone know how to check the "filament" inside the gauge to see if it's good. I'd think there'd be some resistance to ground but there may not be if this is some type of fluorescent bulb. I'm pretty sure my power pack is bad, but before I spend the money on another I want to make sure the lights in the gauges themselves are good.
I'll gladly send my pack to the gentleman on here with the parts if he'll rebuild it. Mine is in pretty good shape but I'm showing 12VDC on what I think is the output wire.
I put 12VDC from the light switch to the red wire on the two prong plug. My harness was all hacked and melted so I rewired the entire thing.
 
On the bench gauge reads around 40M. Very high resistance. I check them with a 12v power
supply. On the two wire one is 12v in and other is high voltage out. Connect ground to
metal for in and out. Transformer can be hear humming when working. If needed I have
several working ones.
 
Great info gb. I'll check my gauges tomorrow. I don't hear a humm from my power pack and it's 12vdc on each wire to ground. I finally made some headway on getting the gauges to work. I think the coolant gauge is bad, it's reading hot all the time but I need to pull the wire off at the gauge and see what it does.
What's the price on a good power pack and do you have a good vista coolant gauge. Also, do you have a good vista ammeter?
 
Molinegb, what's the price of a good power pack? Also, do you have a working vista coolant gauge and/or ammeter?
I have a power pack and coolant gauge is nice shape I'll send you as cores.
 
Did you apply 12V to red wire and used case as your ground? Secondary is black to gauge and same ground. I don"t have any gauges and have several cores. Ones I have in stock are Massey ones so you just have to change plug end. Selling at 100$ plus shipping. 1-204-522-8456
 
Thanks to this thread, I did some more troubleshooting tonight. I turned the light switch on and could hear the faint hummm. Wired up the gauges and, well I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Only one works, but that's better than none.

39169.jpg
39170.jpg
 

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