Temperature gauge

john in la · Apr 26, 2020

School me on the mechanical temperature gauge.

I have a 801 Diesel.
I have seen several post over the years about the poor fit of the temperature gauge bulb into the head of the 4 cylinder tractors with the aftermarket gauges being sold.
I just did not pay attention enough to remember the details.
So before I go off half cocked and buy the wrong gauge and have to fight making it work; fill me in on the details of what I need to know.

KCM · Apr 28, 2020

The only problems I've had is when you screw the bulb into the head sometimes the nut will not tighten enough to prevent leakage. This could be do to a poorly made temperature bulb and nut, but I think in most cases it is due to corrosion of the threads in the head. On those occasions I have taken a lock washer of the appropriate diameter that is slightly smaller than the threads and cut a slit just big enough to fit it over the capillary tube and between the nut and bulb flange. This moves the nut back far enough that the nut will fully tighten.

Hratzlaff · 2024-04-23T08:14:05-0500

KCM said:
The only problems I've had is when you screw the bulb into the head sometimes the nut will not tighten enough to prevent leakage. This could be do to a poorly made temperature bulb and nut, but I think in most cases it is due to corrosion of the threads in the head. On those occasions I have taken a lock washer of the appropriate diameter that is slightly smaller than the threads and cut a slit just big enough to fit it over the capillary tube and between the nut and bulb flange. This moves the nut back far enough that the nut will fully tighten.

Did you find a guage that fit the Diesel? What did you end up with?

KCM · 2024-04-23T21:50:21-0500

Replaced many gauges in both gas and diesel tractors and use the reproduction one that fits 1953 to 1964. They are the ones with the red and green ranges on the face and black bezel. Not 100% original style as they are illuminated but are close enough. They are sold by Sparex who sell to dealers but most online sellers have them. I would not use the universal types.

As an adendum to my post above, I have since bought a 5/8-18 bottom tap. I use it to clean the threads in the head before installing the gauge and most of the time I do not need to use the lock washer trick.

Temperature gauge

john in la

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KCM

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Hratzlaff

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KCM

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