My 20+ y.o. JD mower died, so I had to get a new one, and settled on the Cub Cadet 50" Ultima ZT1 with the Kawasaki 23 hp. engine. After mowing a couple of times, I noticed that it did not have a low oil shutdown switch installed. That won't do. It would've been easy enough to install one, but that's no fun. This is GJ, and we need gauges! The only real place to install a gauge where it's visible is between the foot rests at the front of the mower because the controls panel is to the side and slightly to the rear, so that's where it went. One gauge is too boring so I added a voltmeter, low oil pressure light and a clock, because WTF not? Overkill? Absolutely! but fun.
I started by sketching out a template on paper, then transferred the pattern to a 6x12-1/16 anodized aluminum plate. I cut out the panel, then pre-drilled the screw locations and pilot holes for the center of the gauges with a small drill, then installed the plate on the mower and transferred the locations to the footrest with an automatic center punch. I then drilled the screw holes with a screw/tap and installed the screws. With the panel in place, I then used a hole saw to cut the holes for the gauges and idiot light, as this was the only way I could guarantee that the holes in the footrest and the plate would align perfectly. That done, I removed the plate and electro-etched "LOW OIL" under the idiot light using a stencil that a friend made for me, then reinstalled the plate and installed the gauges. On the left and right side of the gauge cluster, I used 4" wire drawer pulls to help me keep my feet off of the gauges. I used 4AN PTFE/stainless braided line from the engine to the gauge. I don’t trust the nylon lines that the gauges usually come with and the copper lines work harden over time. This way, hopefully, I should never have to worry about it breaking or getting damaged. The fittings at the engine look like a friggin’ Christmas tree. 1/8 male BSPT (the block is threaded to British threads) to 1/8 male NPT adapter, 1/8 NPT tee, 1/8 male NPT to male 4AN… And after getting all that installed, I discover that the Honda hotrodders have a fitting that eliminates the need for the BPST adapter. I may get one and swap it in later.
Anyway, enough blathering, here is the pic, which is what you're really here for:
(disregard the pencil marks on either side of the gauge panel. I still need to remove them)
I started by sketching out a template on paper, then transferred the pattern to a 6x12-1/16 anodized aluminum plate. I cut out the panel, then pre-drilled the screw locations and pilot holes for the center of the gauges with a small drill, then installed the plate on the mower and transferred the locations to the footrest with an automatic center punch. I then drilled the screw holes with a screw/tap and installed the screws. With the panel in place, I then used a hole saw to cut the holes for the gauges and idiot light, as this was the only way I could guarantee that the holes in the footrest and the plate would align perfectly. That done, I removed the plate and electro-etched "LOW OIL" under the idiot light using a stencil that a friend made for me, then reinstalled the plate and installed the gauges. On the left and right side of the gauge cluster, I used 4" wire drawer pulls to help me keep my feet off of the gauges. I used 4AN PTFE/stainless braided line from the engine to the gauge. I don’t trust the nylon lines that the gauges usually come with and the copper lines work harden over time. This way, hopefully, I should never have to worry about it breaking or getting damaged. The fittings at the engine look like a friggin’ Christmas tree. 1/8 male BSPT (the block is threaded to British threads) to 1/8 male NPT adapter, 1/8 NPT tee, 1/8 male NPT to male 4AN… And after getting all that installed, I discover that the Honda hotrodders have a fitting that eliminates the need for the BPST adapter. I may get one and swap it in later.
Anyway, enough blathering, here is the pic, which is what you're really here for:
(disregard the pencil marks on either side of the gauge panel. I still need to remove them)
... Steve
there was a guy on YouTube that added a fuel gauge but I wasn’t keen on cutting into the fuel tank. Besides, running out of fuel is rarely catastrophic.