Fuel/Temp gauge requires Voltage Stabilizer or not?

Kevinford5000 · Mar 22, 2015

Have a '72 Ford 5000 Diesel. Working on the cluster wiring because fuel and temp gauges don't work. I have a 5 year old cluster on it and I never got the gauges to work correctly. I am trying to figure out the correct wiring locations for each connector on the back of the cluster. I think I have it sorted out but the gauges respond erratically. I don't have voltage stabilizer on the cluster. I see that there is listed a part for a Voltage stabilizer for a ford 5000. Where does it attach? Is it needed? Are the fuel and temp guages supposed to work off of 12volts or 5volts or what. I.T. shop manuals are of no help. -Kevin

2510Paul · Mar 22, 2015

Hi Kevin, I cannot help you directly but want to share this: On the JD 10 and 20 series New Generation they talk about how important having a good ground is between the sender at the tank and the gauge. When I work on the fuel sender/gauge I always run a separate ground.

These old tractors depend on the chassis for ground conduction. After many years of corrosion the ground connections are not what they should be. I also run separate grounds for the lights. WOW, what a difference that makes.

This may not be your problem, but I have found that bad grounds often is. I look there first. You might want you make yourself a jumper wire to test for better operation with an added jumper.

Again, just wanted to share this experience. Good Luck. Paul

jeffcat · Mar 22, 2015

I can give you a parcial answer. The stabilizers that I am familiar with are like 9 volt. That way you could almost loose all of your electrical and the gauges would still work. After market are set up for 12 volt but the factory does need to be stable. The ones I used to play with were VW systems. If you loose the unit all of the gauges went nuts. The older ones you could pull the cluster out and just unplug and change it. Hope this helps.

sotxbill · Mar 22, 2015

First off you will get a better answer on the ford forum. and yes it requires the stabilizer. Someone could have put the wrong cluster on it. there are pictures of the cluster on the ford forum. Would suggest you pop over there.

pete 23 · Mar 22, 2015

IH used a regulator on the gauges in their truck line for years and it regulated at 5 volts. Some were a separate little box and some were incorporated in the cluster.

Hobo,NC · Mar 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 01:24:23 03/23/15) Have a '72 Ford 5000 Diesel. Working on the cluster wiring because fuel and temp gauges don't work. I have a 5 year old cluster on it and I never got the gauges to work correctly. I am trying to figure out the correct wiring locations for each connector on the back of the cluster. I think I have it sorted out but the gauges respond erratically. I don't have voltage stabilizer on the cluster. I see that there is listed a part for a Voltage stabilizer for a ford 5000. Where does it attach? Is it needed? Are the fuel and temp guages supposed to work off of 12volts or 5volts or what. I.T. shop manuals are of no help. -Kevin

http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=948053&highlight=gauge

I will be surprised if you have not let the smoke out of your gauges running it with out a voltage stabilizer... Those gauges are delicate and will not live long shorted to ground... All Ford cars trucks 60's, 70's, 80's used one and those will work on a tractor. You can buy them aftermarket but I have yest seen a aftermarket work as good as a OEM... The base of the stabilizer must be grounded... Its more-so a switch on/off that stabilizes the gauge its not a Regulator that cuts the voltage back...

Fuel/Temp gauge requires Voltage Stabilizer or not?

Kevinford5000

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2510Paul

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jeffcat

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sotxbill

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pete 23

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Hobo,NC

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