No fuel level

[tmelch]

I have about 15 hours on my LT35 and loving it, but I can't see the fuel level because the tank is solid red, it's not translucent like I see on older 35s. Called WM and they said it's government compliance and they don't have a solution. Any idea where I can get a tank that works so I don't have to climb up to look in the tank!??

[sawguy21]

Welcome to the scrum! 8) Make a dip rod from hardwood and paint graduations such as 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 on it using measurements from the tank for spacing. Be sure it's clean before dipping the tank.

[trapper]

Boat tank with gauge in fill cap

[Digger Don]

The tank on our TK B-20 is too high to see as well. I usually just lift one end of the tank. (Gravity is the only fastener.) If it's heavy, it's full. If it's light, it's time to make it heavy, again. I still need the ladder, though, for the refill.

[SawyerTed]

Moeller marine makes red boat gas tanks.  

Those tanks have a mechanical fuel gauge.  Moeller sells replacement gauges.

It might be possible to either substitute a tank with a gauge OR retrofit your existing tank.  

A mirror might save the climbing?

[sawguy21]

How big is the tank?

[tmelch]

Welcome to the scrum! 8) Make a dip rod from hardwood and paint graduations such as 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 on it using measurements from the tank for spacing. Be sure it's clean before dipping the tank.

Not a bad idea if I put the saw head way down, until I lose the stick! :D

[tmelch]

The tank on our TK B-20 is too high to see as well. I usually just lift one end of the tank. (Gravity is the only fastener.) If it's heavy, it's full. If it's light, it's time to make it heavy, again. I still need the ladder, though, for the refill.

The tank is totally enclosed with sheet metal, can't budge an inch. Maybe I can remove the top piece and this would work great, and it's free. 

[tmelch]

How big is the tank?

5 gallons.

[sawguy21]

Unless the outboard tank has a sight line on the side it won't be of much value without a mirror or a ladder.

[SawyerTed]

On my LT 35, if I lowered the head at the front of the mill, I could see in the tank without climbing.  The filler neck was chest high.  

That's the position I used for the head to add gas to the tank. 

Um use a longer stick.

[Maine Miller]

Gotta love our Government....seems kinda dumb to mandate a red tank when it is not removable. Does that mean motor vehicle fuel tanks need to be red as well?

[MattM]

I run a lt35 and the only time I check the fuel level is before a job to verify that the tanks full. Ive never had the tank run dry even after 8-9 hours milling. I do think they should've had a clear strip in the tank where the cutout is on the metal case though.

I had my mill replaced under warranty by WM a few days ago and while I was picking up the new one the dealer told me that once the current tanks are all gone WM is replacing them with something else. So maybe they have the gas level visible on the new tanks.

[DennisK]

Tee into the outlet fitting and install a clear fuel safe hose w/vent at the top. Mount the hose vertical to the the tank.

[MattM]

All the lines on the lt35 come out the top of the tank so that setup wouldnt work without some major fooling around. Like someone else said, the head lowers down enough that you can look into the tank. I'm 6'4 and when I fill my tank or look in it I usually just step up onto the mill frame.... For people not so steady on their feet you could get some of that skateboard grip tape and put it on a certain part of the frame so that you won't slip 

[beenthere]

Maybe use an hour meter to track the fuel usage for a short spell, then you'll have a pretty good idea when fuel is needed. 

Reminds me of my high school days when we had the 2-cyl John Deere tractors that we fueled with 5 gal metal gas cans. The fill cap was a bit above my eye level so climbing up was necessary to check. 
Filling was hoisting the 5 gal can up overhead and tipping real fast to get most of the fuel going into the tank. Always some spillage unless bothering to fetch a big funnel and then climbing up onto the tractor to pour into the funnel. 

[Magicman]

 




 
 Use two elbows and fuel safe tubing and you can fairly easily build a sight tube/gauge like Wood-Mizer uses on this bearing housing.

[WV Sawmiller]

  I run my tank on my LT35 dry 1-2 times a year and only when I am at a customer site with excellent help and steady running of the mill - no pauses required to load a log or remove finished boards. 

   I think I normally get about 7-8 engine hours out of my 5 gallon tank. I always start a customer job with a full tank. I also always record the start and end hours for my history so if I were smart I'd top up my tank after ever 5 hours of running time then I would never run out.

[Chuck White]

I was thinking the same thing as MM, a lot less hassle in the long run!

[SawyerTed]

Magicman's photo is the same principle of a sight glass.   There are inexpensive sight glasses (plastic) available but also require a retrofit of an existing tank.  

Some sight glasses have both a top and bottom connection to the tank.

[Southside]

For the effort involved to modify the tank holder, then the tank, and get a leak proof result it would probably be a lot easier to discipline yourself to top the tank off at the beginning of the day and at lunch.  Just saying.  Using a stick to dip the tank - you will get debris into the tank that way, ask me how I know.  

It's easy on my 70 to run it out of fuel as you never get close to the tank due to the remote and it's dark yellow with a coating of sawdust, so I just put a note on the control box to check the fuel twice a day and after a short bit it became routine.  

[doc henderson]

mine has a fuel indicator in the corner of the 5-gallon plastic tank.  can prob. be added.

[fluidpowerpro]

“Sling Blade” It Ain’t Got No Gas In It | Simplest Things First | Repair Shop - YouTube

[Big_eddy]

Would one of these work?
 https://www.greenpartstore.com/John-Deere-Fuel-Tank-Cap-Gauge-AM36948.html

[WV Sawmiller]

   You're going to a lot of trouble rather than starting full and just topping off the tank at lunch.