gas gauge

What do you use to to replace the cork?

Paul

I'm with you on this one.

I have a twenty-dollar wristwatch that will do pretty much the same job, and it's useful for other things as well.

I realize parts sellers need to make a profit to stay in business, but it almost looks like these guys are trying to recover all their R&D and tooling costs with the first cap they sell. It makes me suspicious of their prices on their other products.

Mark W. in MI

Sure, every tractor needs a gas cap but nobody needs a cap/gauge. The market for this product is probably restricted.

I would like to reproduce the constant mesh gearbox for the side mounted Electrall. The patterns alone are in excess of $3000. I have a feeling that owners of the more common trailer Electrall may be interested in converting their units into the side mount but will they spend $2000 for the kit. Probably not. I could order 10 gearboxes and wind up with $15,000 worth of inventory that won't sell.

Last week, a bare Electrall generator sold on eBay for about $1150. It is not good for anything because it is incomplete. I emailed the buyer and asked him if he might be interested in a side mount kit. I didn't mention a price thinking it might scare him off. I got no answer.

Then if one tries to incorperate those same geometric principles into a 3 point hitch for tractors not equipped with fast hitch, the cost goes up by 40%.

Now, if one wanted to build a super deluxe version, using a remote valve and cylinder to operate the rear rockshaft, then attach the rockshaft to the final drives rather than the fenders. Well, I'm in the middle of building one for my own personal use, and the rockshaft assembly complete with hydraulic controls is going to cost me $1,200 minamum. I'm also tinkering with automatic draft control, that alone could easily hit $2,500.

Then if I were to mass produce this for market, I'd have to accept liability in the form of a warrenty. I suppose if these guys are willing to buy a $225. fuel gauge-cap, they might just buy my $5,000. draft controlled 3 point hitch. Reasonable, suuuuureeeee, still less than the cost of the hitch portion on the modern day 25 hp tractor. Should I hurry into production?

It seems we both like hitches. I built a two-point hitch for my 650 many years ago. It looks "factory" partly because I used some IH parts. It could probably lift a 6 bottom plow completely off the ground. I saved the patterns but I never had any expectations of selling additional hitches. Most people would balk at paying the freight bill even if I gave them away.

I am currently making a front mounted fast hitch for M's thru 660, wide and narrow front. Lots of cutting, forming, welding, and machining. It will look "factory" but, again, I don't expect to sell any. Even though it is the perfect solution for mounting a snowplow or buzz saw, I don't think there is a market for it. I'll post a picture in a couple of weeks.

Anyway, OEM probably has a high cost basis on the parts and then they have to modify the cap to accept the guage. On top of that, it is just an accessory that probably will find buyers who can afford it. I suggest that if you want one, wait till they put them on eBay. Everything they sell there goes for a significant reduction over their catalog prices.

I have a NOS cap/guage that is a quarter inch too long for a Cub. It should fit the next size tractor. If anybody wants it, I will put it on eBay.