Illuminating Gauges???
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=150158
Printed Date: 02 Sep 2025 at 9:53pm
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Topic: Illuminating Gauges???
Posted By: Ranse
Subject: Illuminating Gauges???
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 2:05pm
Are the gauges on a D Series II supposed to light up. I'm talking about the amp, temp, and oil pressure, not the traction booster. The ones on my D10 do. I wondered if the after market ones did or not. They don't claim to in the descriptions, so I was reluctant to order any. DJs had a booth set up at the GOTO and I was able to meet Dave. I asked him if the gauges were illuminating or not. He said no, and they weren't supposed to be. When I told him mine were, he said then weren't the originals then. My amp gauge obviously has been changed, but I thought the rest were original. Although, they don't say Allis Chalmers on them. If the gauges aren't suppose to light up, I can't understand were the wiring come from. It don't sound like something my Father would have went to the trouble of doing. He rarely used the tractor at night. I'd like to know if Dave is right. Thanks The amp and oil pressure gauges are lit. The temp gauge used to light up too. the traction booster gauge I don't think ever did. |
Replies:
Posted By: Jim.ME
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 2:25pm
| I believe the illumination for the gauges was originally the hooded light (aka plate light) at the top center of your photo, not laminated gauges. I believe the original gauges all would have Allis Chalmers on them as well. Those appear to be aftermarket gauges to me. Power to illuminate them could come from the wire that went to the original light assembly or directly from the switch, a change that was done by the installer. My thought on them, for what its worth. |
Posted By: albrown915
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 3:07pm
| The oil psi gauge is easy to rule out as original because of also reading in metric. |
Posted By: AaronSEIA
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 3:07pm
|
Every one of those IS an aftermarket gauge. OEM lighting would be from the bulb in the big silver bulb cover. AaronSEIA |
Posted By: Hubert (Ga)engine7
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 3:30pm
X2 ------------- Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God. |
AaronSEIA wrote:Posted By: Ranse
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 8:34pm
| Well good, I never liked those gauges anyway. Especially the oil pressure. Zero to 100 psi is to much range. The needle only moves half way to the 25. I'm guessing that's between 10 to 15 psi it's pulling. My problem now will be eliminating the wiring. I don't want a bunch of lose hot wires in there. I've never looked to see how its been jerry rigged. The silver light worked at one time, I'm not sure what's wrong with it, could be a bad bulb, but probably not. I'm not much when it comes to wiring, it all looks like a bunch of spaghetti to me. |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 11:23pm
|
Ranse, if you can read a road map, you should not have any problems with following the wires down to the switch or the origional dash light wire...disconnect them there and you won't have any hot wires under there after that... but leave the light in the gauges or you will get dust and dirt in there. For what it is worth, I purposely put a lighted amp gauge in my WD45 because there was never enough light to read that one in the dark and now it looks nice having it lit at night. ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 3:21am
| they really look cool! |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 6:06am
|
re: if you can read a road map road map ??? what the heck is a road map ??? hehehe,lol ONLY old guys like me KNOW what a road map is.... I replaced all gauges in one D-14 here except the TB ($$$) so I put in a voltmeter as it was handy and fit. If the wiring is really 'bodged', get ahold of Steve@B&B for a wiring kit, and maybe think about upgrading to alternator. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Dave H
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 6:54am
|
I never liked those gauges anyway. Especially the oil pressure. Zero to 100 psi is to much range. But that is in kilograms per square centimeter or something.  |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 7:09am
| kilograms /square centimeter is correct and rarely used now, converted to Pascal. |
Posted By: Ranse
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 7:55am
| Km/cm is the bottom scale, 1-7. The temp gauge has a Celsius scale underneath as well. I'm surprised I've never noticed that before albrown915 pointed it out. I see the oil pressure for a D10 in DJ's catalog is 0-30 psi. That would be a more suitable range I think. Maybe then I could actually see the needle move. I really haven't decided what I will do. I might get new gauges from DJs that say Allis Chalmers on them and do away with the wiring, or I might get three matching luminous gauges and use the wires. It's going to be aftermarket gauges either way, but that what is in it now, so I don't have a problem replacing them. I don't want to replace an original part if I don't have to. I mainly wanted to know which way was correct, luminous or non-luminous gauges. The traction booster gauge I hope to get rebuilt. |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 6:55pm
|
Ranse, If you upgrade to new gauges, make sure you get the correct sending units to work with the gauges so the gauges are accurate! I'm upgrading a customer's 180 dash right now for him along with wiring the dash. The dash, gauges, & switches were pretty rusty and trashed. Whether you go with aftermarket or the Allis gauges, make sure they are correct. I just posted about getting the correct ohms rating on the fuel tank sending unit so I can mate the correct gauge to it. If you want to upgrade your dash and gauges, I can do it for ya. Your call there... Steve@B&B ------------- 39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife |
Posted By: Norm Meinert
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 7:51pm
| I sell the oil, amp, and temp gauges that are made in the USA and look like the original gauges. Also have other gauges for other early ac tractors. |
Posted By: Michael V (NM)
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 11:03pm
| what ever you do,,, DO NOT get the cheap gauges that are made in India,, I got some for my 240 IH and its a crapshoot if they even work, yea, they looked good, but I want a gauge that worksIf you don't get them from Norm and not concerned about being original kind,, go to your favorite online store(ebay, amazon etc. whatever you like) and order stewart warner gauges, they can be had in various configurations, live, electric sender, wide choice of pointer types... with or without back lights...and I still trust the brand name... |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 07 May 2018 at 10:05am
|
X2, what Michael V says... I don't know if Norm was at the GOTO of not, but he's always at the Hutch show. You get to see what they look like and like he says, they are made in the USA! ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |