Fuel gage problem

[Anonymous-0]

What causes the fuel gage needle to move to the back side of the "empty" stop? It happened some time after I had filled the tank (diesel) on the tractor. Ironically, the same thing happened on the Buick. I hope some accomplished electrician can give a reason. Or somebody that's had the same experience. And how did you correct it?

 

[TractormanNC]

On the tractor, it might help if we knew what you were working on.

AS for the Buick. GM fuel gauges read WAAAAYYYY beyond full if the wire between the gauge on the dash and the sender in the tank is OPEN (not shorted)

 

[glennster]

check the gauge ground strap. most times the connections get corroded and it causes problems. you can run a temporary ground wire from the sending unit to a known good ground on the tractor and see if the gauge then works correctly.

 

[Chris in SK]

1950ish
This happen to me a few months ago on my Ford 8700, when switching between tanks, the needle went back way past the empty mark and stuck there. (It has 2 tanks and a switch to switch the gauge to either one). After checking and not finding any faults, I pulled the dash panel, flicked the needle back around, and it is working normally again. Never knew what caused it. On that tractor, access to the needles is fairly simple as the Perspex and the panel separate.
Chris

 

[Anonymous-0]

Tractorman:

I appreciate everyone's help- - -

The tractor I have is a compact util. MF, Mod. 1240- - about 10 yrs.old. When I turn the engine off, the needle sinks to the left of the stop. But in turning the switch to "On", the needle hugs the left side of the stop.
I attempted to remove the dash panel, but you can't believe all the multiple connectors/wiring mish-mash, and not enough wire LENGTH to lift the panel out to even WORK on the panel backside. I might just always keep plenty fuel in the tank, and ignore the gage.