[RandyM]

Welcome to DT dwellonrooftop:thumbup1gif:

Did closing the hood on the cap do something to the tank itself?? Did the new tank have different (better) mounting brackets?
The problem most are having has nothing to do with the actual tank, but more so with the brackets that secure it.

Greg

Yup, I would like to know the answers to Greg's questions as well. Mainly, was the tank re-designed? And I also agree with you Greg on the real problem being the mounting and not the tank. Although the mounting tabs on the tank could use a little more tweaking. :good2:

 

[verdeo]

I spent a bit of time tweaking my brackets last evening. I am finding this design totally inadequate to begin with. The brackets have some spring to them and while relaxing the angles a little seemed to move the tank back a few mm's, I don't see this as a permanent fix.

And as you pointed out, Randy...the plastic tabs that the supports attach to begin to deform if very much torque is applied to the holding bolts.

I haven't dismantled the whole cowl assembly to see just how it all is supported toward the back, but something is keeping the tank from rearward movement. Forward movement is no problem as the angled supports are happy to be bent.

I think that is what stopped me from pursuing a fix originally, as pushing on the tank did not reveal initially any rearward movement.
Don't get me wrong....I am forever grateful for your bracket "fix". This will at least allow me to open my hood more often for cleaning and maintenance. I do expect that the first good bump while working the tractor will begin the migration back to where I began.

gary

 

[70stang]

2770 Fuel Tank mounting

I find this issue interesting and I really wonder what the real fix for it is.
When I was shopping for my tractor the dealer closet to my house had a 2520 and a 2720 brand new inthe year. Both Tractors I could not open the hood. The salesman made the comment his service dept. had to trim the hole and then the hood would open fine. Is this how some dealers are fixing the issue -- by making the hole bigger???

I ended up getting a much better deal at a JD dealer about 35 miles from my home, hoever he had to order everthing. The 2720 tractor came in about a month ago and (I posted pics) the hood opens fine. I have about 1/16 on inch clearance between cap and hood when opening. fuel tank feels tight really can't see how it will move.

However I really do not understand why the cap is not centered with the hole in the hood. It appears JD has a small design problem here.

I hope my tank stays in place and I don't have the issue but by the sounds of this thread its only a matter of time and vibration before the tank moves forward.

 

[glc]

I haven't dismantled the whole cowl assembly to see just how it all is supported toward the back, but something is keeping the tank from rearward movement. Forward movement is no problem as the angled supports are happy to be bent.

I think that is what stopped me from pursuing a fix originally, as pushing on the tank did not reveal initially any rearward movement.

I found it strange that I can't budge the tank at all.It is very rigid when I try to move it forward or backwards. Makes me think the Z shaped brackets are just bent too much. When I take those off,if I can move the tank easily,I'm sure by "taking the 90 out" of those brackets and TIG welding a little gussett to keep the new angle,that should be a pretty decent permanent fix.

Now if I can't move the tank easily with those removed,well, then it's back to the drawing board.:unknown:

Greg

 

[RandyM]

I find this issue interesting and I really wonder what the real fix for it is.

The reall fix is a new stiffer bracket. Boy, Ineed to get my milling machine back together.

When I was shopping for my tractor the dealer closet to my house had a 2520 and a 2720 brand new inthe year. Both Tractors I could not open the hood. The salesman made the comment his service dept. had to trim the hole and then the hood would open fine. Is this how some dealers are fixing the issue -- by making the hole bigger???.

This is a dealer fixing the symptom and not the problem. I am not one for this fix.

However I really do not understand why the cap is not centered with the hole in the hood. It appears JD has a small design problem here.

The centering of the cap to the hole is a completely different issue here. There is a lot of tolerance stack up going on here and the design needs to allow for adjustment to make this work. The key here is as long as you have clearance for the hood to raise then you are good to go. I know you would like it centered but that is just icing on the cake for this. You are left with tweaking the brakets to get it closer.

I hope my tank stays in place and I don't have the issue but by the sounds of this thread its only a matter of time and vibration before the tank moves forward.

Trust me, with this design it is only a matter of time and you will have to make adjustments.

 

[RandyM]

I found it strange that I can't budge the tank at all.It is very rigid when I try to move it forward or backwards. Makes me think the Z shaped brackets are just bent too much. When I take those off,if I can move the tank easily,I'm sure by "taking the 90 out" of those brackets and TIG welding a little gussett to keep the new angle,that should be a pretty decent permanent fix.

Now if I can't move the tank easily with those removed,well, then it's back to the drawing board.:unknown:

Greg

Greg,

From what I can tell is that the back of the tank is held very nicely in position and restricts the tank from moving fore and aft. The problem is the front brackets control the vertical placement of the front, thus the postion of the cap. The brackets are weak and flex, thus allowing the tank to move.

You are correct, stiffening the bracket will solve the issue. My solution will be to just design and make a new bracket. For now, the rebending of the bracket has the problem under control. I am expecting to have to make a new bracket in the end.

 

[RandyM]

Tank Diagram

I thought this may help to show how the tank is mounted. Looks like four mounting postions for the tank. I am unsure if items 4, 5, 11, & 12 are for mounting. If they are I don't think they are doing much good. It should not let the tank droop forward as it does.

 

[pcabe5]

I thought this may help to show how the tank is mounted. Looks like four mounting postions for the tank. I am unsure if items 4, 5, 11, & 12 are for mounting. If they are I don't think they are doing much good. It should not let the tank droop forward as it does.

I was also wondering the importance of these items. Looks like it would support the front of the tank and prevent the movement we see unless the heat shield it bolts to moves as well. Right now I just spaced mine with washers until I can build some different brackets. But before that I will see what JD is going to do.

 

[dwellonrooftop]

Welcome to DT dwellonrooftop:thumbup1gif:

Did closing the hood on the cap do something to the tank itself?? Did the new tank have different (better) mounting brackets?
The problem most are having has nothing to do with the actual tank, but more so with the brackets that secure it.

Greg

The tank was a little off center when they delivered the tractor, I think the heat finished it up and think the plastic tank needs upgraded.

 

[RandyM]

I was also wondering the importance of these items. Looks like it would support the front of the tank and prevent the movement we see unless the heat shield it bolts to moves as well.

PC,
I actually opened the hood and looked a little closer at everything. The front items are additional support. The problem is that the front shield is flexible and really does not provide a lot of extra support.

Right now I just spaced mine with washers until I can build some different brackets. But before that I will see what JD is going to do.

I have the sneaky feeling that Deere probably will not do a whole lot about this issue. It is appearing that most of us are not complaining to them or the dealer directly. I know I haven't. Stuff like this I am inclided to just fix it myself. Right now my "re-bending" of the bracket seems to be working.:thumbup1gif:

Almost for got,

WELCOME to DT! :drinks:

 

[70stang]

Fuel tank mount

Well it happened, Spent the day yesterday and this morning in the woods, do some rough work.
The tractor and I needed fuel, I stopped took a break and let it cool down.
Since it still very new and clean I went to open the hood to wipe the dust off.
The hood caught the fuel cap. WOW -- already.
Now looking at the bolts on the angle support I could see where they had moved the original position.
The holes a slotted to allow adjusts and it appeared they lossened and the tank slide down which will force the cap forward.
I lossened all four mounting bolts, took the two on the angle out and added a specer washer between the bracket and the tank.
Took a pice of wood and gentle pryed up on the tank between the heat shield and the tank, as I tightened the bolts.
Hood clears nicely now.

Randy, I agree-- the heat shield is very flimsy and does not offer ANY support, That front bracket is useless.
The angle brackets are too weak as well.
I have several ideas for a new bracket -- just need the time to work on it.

The alternative would be as a group make a formal complaint to JD and see if they will redesign this on their own.
Maybe if we have a long list of 2xxx series owners ALL with this same problem they would save us the trouble of designing our own fixes and make a new bracket.

 

[RandyM]

70stang,

I really feel that this is a design flaw and every 2520 and 2720 owner will experience this issue sooner or later. Up on further thought on the front bracket, it is my belief that it is the heat shield bracket and not a tank bracket. Unfortunately I am in the middle of my milling machine rebuild, my new bracket design will have to waite. For now I am not experiencing any more issues with this, but I am not doing any bucket work right now. So do we contact Deere through their website with a link to this thread? :unknown:

Anyone else that has not experience this problem may want to at least check the tightness of the fasteners. :thumbup1gif: You may be able to prolong the problem.

 

[CharleyFarmall]

I had to fix mine after 2.5 hours. It was close when it was delivered and after 2.5 it was touching. I rebent the brackets and now the cap is in the center. For how long I don't know.

 

[glc]

So do we contact Deere through their website with a link to this thread?

Why not Randy,what could it hurt?
I won't attempt my fix until I use up more fuel.It's full right now,and I'd rather work with a lighter tank.

Greg

 

[glc]

I had a pretty empty tank after mowing today so I figured I'd take a look at this tank problem.
My diagnosis: the firewall is way to flimzy.
When I took the two side brackets off,the tank was unbelieveably easy to move,firewall and all. I don't think it's a bracket problem at all.
So I pondered it a bit,and decided what others have done............washers.

I loosened the front bolt in the middle of the firewall,so the tank was really free.
I had some pretty thick (about 3/32) 5/16 washers that I put between the brackets and the firewall which moved the bracket backwards and made them alot tighter against the tank. Then I put a regular thickness 5/16 washer between the tank and the bracket. Right now the tank cap is perfect,we'll see how this fares.

After seeing that it wasn't a bracket issue,I'm not going to do any gussett work because it's not necessary.

JD needs to beef up the firewall,my .02 of course.

Greg

 

[pcabe5]

I stopped by the dealer today and the service manager said that he would put in a DTAC (Deere Technical Assistance xx) on my tractor for this issue. He said doing a DTAC makes JD have to answer the complaint and asked me to check back with him in two weeks. Maybe we should all have the dealers do DTAC's for this issue then JD would realise how wide spread this problem really is. Service manager was surprised to hear that there are pages of threads on this issue and JD hasn't done anything yet. I asked why and he said that JD does monitor online forums for issues and I said well they just missed this one.

So bottomline is have your dealer do a DTAC for this and maybe we will see a fix.

 

[kjung17]

That is an excellent idea. The problem does not currently return any hits on a DTAC search.

sent from my cell via tapatalk

 

[glc]

So,I just call my dealer and mention this problem?

Greg

 

[pcabe5]

So,I just call my dealer and mention this problem?

Greg

I just happened to be by the dealer and stopped in and talked with the service manager. You could probably try a call that certainly is worth trying. The manager told me no need to bring the tractor in as they have all the information on the tractor to fill out the DTAC and without a solution he cannot fix this anyway except for throwing parts at it.

This might get all of us somewhere if we all talk to our dealers and have them submit for a solution. Worth a shot anyway.

 

[RonS]

Generated my DTAC last week. Interesting enough, my dealer tells me that this is the first that he has heard of the problem. :unknown: