Temperature gauge SAVED my tractor!

[kyles974]

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I installed a temp gauge couple years ago on my John Deere 2320. Since the tractor didn't come with one and doesn't have a over heating shut off. I found the idea from hear on tractor by net.(I guess this would be cconsidered customizing)

Anyhow ...as I was clearing some small saplings, I heard one that must had worked it way up into the fan. (Heard fan slapping) This happend to me once before so I new what was happening. The first time I just killed the engine because I wasn't sure what was happening.
Well this time....I quickly reversed the tractor back out of the area so the sapling would just come back out the way in went up when going forward.
BIG mistake!!!

I didn't know it until about 10-15 minutes later but the sapling had ran acroos the top of radiator and penetrated the top part of it. (Lost all my fluid) I still don't understand how I didn't smell or see any signs of coolant loss??

I happend to look down and see my temperature gauge reading very high!

So I hope a radiator shop can repair the radiator because a new radiator is like $500.00!!!
Guess I can be happy I didn't overheat the engine really bad and having to pay for this fix is cheaper than an engine.


Moral of story:
If you do not have a temperature gauge on your tractor.....get you one installed! I think mine was like $30.
Wanted to share a example of having a temperature gauge save one's stupidity. ...lol...or a prime example of how you just may not see the obvious. (Losing most/all of tractor 's coolant! )
(Ps....I always been good about picking up smell or ANY coolant leak...)(sensitive to order of coolant)

 

[kyles974]

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Here is the damage to radiator. Coolant pours out as fast as I pour it in.

And a pic of how my temperature gauge is ran.

 

[TomSeller]

Good job on installing the gauge and keeping an eye on it. You may be able to get that radiator re cored and be as good as new.

 

[kyles974]

Good job on installing the gauge and keeping an eye on it. You may be able to get that radiator re cored and be as good as new.

That's what I just told my son.....may have to get it re cored.

Thanks .....I had MANY .....we'll just call them "discussions".....but me and wife did years ago about her needing to always be glancing at her gauges. ....lol
Now...20yrs later.....she probably looks at her gauges more often than I do! Lol

 

[wrangler6831]

kyles974, I had the same thing happen to my GC2600 massey ferguson, almost the exact spot. Rad from dealer was almost $500. I took it to a local shop and they pinch the broken cores closed and soldered them closed for $125. Its been running fine at the same temperature as before. Just throwing it out there in case your looking for a cheap fix.

 

[Capricious]

Installed water temp & oil pressure gauges on my old Mitsubishi day before yesterday. Also have a voltage gauge but have not gotten around to setting that up.

 

[varmint]

I did the same on my old B8200 many years ago- I found a combined voltmeter/coolant temp/oil pressure gauge assembly online for about $17, and then spent considerable time fabricating a mounting case, but it was worth the trouble. All good information about your tractor's operation, and hopefully, something you look at from time to time!

 

[Capricious]

I did the same on my old B8200 many years ago- I found a combined voltmeter/coolant temp/oil pressure gauge assembly online for about $17, and then spent considerable time fabricating a mounting case, but it was worth the trouble. All good information about your tractor's operation, and hopefully, something you look at from time to time!

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Nice, clean installation.

I have a fuel filter up under there on the Mitsubishi, so I wouldn't be able mount them down there. Also, figured the higher they were, the more likely it would be that I would watch them, especially since I disabled the warning lights when I installed the gauges.

 

[Cord]

Just remember temperature gauges read fluid, not air. If you run out of cooling water, the gauge will read low. Been there, done that.

 

[dstig1]

Umm, no, temp gages read temp. You lose fluid, and the air temp in the space tends to shoot up fast, making the gage spike like you wouldn't believe. Air has much less heat capacity than water so the temp goes up like NOW.

I would strongly suggest you need to look at improving the brush guard you have. 2 times getting poked in the fan/radiator is one too many. Upgrade your armor, before it puts you down again. Expanded metal works well. All depends on what you have now...