Adding an oil pressure gauge to a Kubota D1402 engine....may apply to others as well

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dkmc

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Feb 3, 2013
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Posting this in general 'cause there are multiple machines that use Kubota engines Here's a tip to add a mechanical oil pressure gauge to a Kubota engine. I have recently acquired an old Mustang 342 of 1982 vintage. The wiring needs lots of help....the mice must like the taste of the insulation......OR the insulation is cheese flavored! I will get around to fixing all the screwed up issues with this unit but want to use it this summer and don't have time to putter. I was leery without any idiot lights or buzzers working so I wanted to install a mechanical oil pressure gauge, just to see what it was reading and to -know- it has good oil pressure..... I found the sending unit.....above and almost between the started and block.....and in the corner by the bell housing flange... Damn! Could they have picked a more miserable spot to hide the thing?? Impossible to get to it, can't unscrew it without at least removing the starter.......NO thanks.... Has to be some place else I can tap into oil pressure on this engine! I looked around, and thought the front cover where the oil filter mounts might be a good spot. Removed the oil filter and checked out the housing... Seems like it's worth a try... So I drilled and tapped a spot for 1/8 Pipe Thread. Worked great.....easy access too! It has great oil pressure and it's a relief to have a gauge in the cab to verify that! I'd love to post a couple pics......but I don't do IE........sorry..... Here's a link to my post with pics over on the Heavy Equipment Forum: http://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/showthread.php?35619-Adding-an-oil-pressure-gauge-to-a-Kubota-D1402-engine-may-apply-to-others-as-well&p=420450#post420450
 

HarryN

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Aug 28, 2011
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Interesting idea. By the way, what does your oil pressure read on your unit?
 
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dkmc

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Interesting idea. By the way, what does your oil pressure read on your unit?
With a few minutes warm up, it was 40 PSI idle (1000 RPM) and 60-63PSI (2375 RPM) Fully warmed up, 45PSI full throttle and 15 PSI idle. I haven't changed the oil yet.....it needs it. It may have 15-40 in it.... I think Kabota says it should have 10-30 and not any thicker. dk
 

Tazza

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With a few minutes warm up, it was 40 PSI idle (1000 RPM) and 60-63PSI (2375 RPM) Fully warmed up, 45PSI full throttle and 15 PSI idle. I haven't changed the oil yet.....it needs it. It may have 15-40 in it.... I think Kabota says it should have 10-30 and not any thicker. dk
There should have been a spot to screw a sender in on the right hand side back of the block under the exhaust manifold.
Intersting idea though, at least now you know for sure how things are going. I too don't like running an engine without knowing oil pressure and temperature.
 
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dkmc

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There should have been a spot to screw a sender in on the right hand side back of the block under the exhaust manifold.
Intersting idea though, at least now you know for sure how things are going. I too don't like running an engine without knowing oil pressure and temperature.
"There should have been a spot to screw a sender in on the right hand side back of the block under the exhaust manifold." That is where the sending unit IS located.....behind the starter and out of reach of any tools.
 

Tazza

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"There should have been a spot to screw a sender in on the right hand side back of the block under the exhaust manifold." That is where the sending unit IS located.....behind the starter and out of reach of any tools.
Well, that is just a minor issue isn't it? they love to design it so you need flexible arms to access and replace things.....
I don't know if i'd have thought to tap into the oil filter housing to ass a pressure sender, well done.
 
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