Newly Rebuilt Tractor Overheating

[Neat 1500]

something similar. a few months ago my work ute would spew the coolant out violently out of the blue, no reason. top it off again and it was OK for a few days/week then do it again, pressure test etc all OK. long story short it was the coolant (radiator) cap on the engine was faulty. replace it and no more problems. have you the right cap/new one on it?

 

[Car Doc]

Did you see my mention of questioning how the hoses are routed at the water pump? I dont think using the stock hoses it would be that easy that a guy could get them wrong but I guarantee it could be with a different set of hoses just saying stuff happens we need to think outside the box sometimes.

 

[clemsonfor]

i too think you have a radiator or water pump problem.

 

[dirtdonkey]

OK yesterday I removed the new radiator, all hoses. Water pump is brand new and is not leaking and is turning so I don't know what could possibly be wrong with it, so I ruled that out. I back flushed the block from the connection at the head. I flowed water through the radiator and as quick as I put it in at the top it came out the bottom, so no radiator problem. I ran rags through all 3 hoses and could find not blockage or anything hanging up. I then put the torque wrench back on the head bolts and was able to turn each bolt 1/2 to 3/4 turn before it clicked off at 135lbs, which is 5lbs over what the manual calls for. I had torqued the heads with the sequence specified when I rebuilt the motor and did it in 3 steps like it instructed. I was surprised it turned that much. After putting everything back together I went out and mowed putting it in 4th gear 2nd in the automatic range and ran it up hill to put a hard load on it. I'm mowing with a Rhino 72" mower. Even under this heavy load the tractor would pick up speed going up hill, which it never did before and it never got past 175 degrees. The good news is it only spit about 1/2 inch of overflow into my over flow tank. 1st time it hasn't overflowed since the rebuild. I could only mow for 20 minutes but I pushed it hard for those 20 and it never overheated or pushed any fluid out, like it did before. I can only assume that It was leaking hot gas into the water jacket previously due to the head not being totally seated? I don't know what else could explain the change. I didn't find anything wrong. I'll know better in two weeks when I take it out to mow for an hour, in the heat of the day. I appreciate everyone's help and I'm hoping my overheating days are behind me. I wish I could get the factory head gasket that I originally tore off the motor, it was solid metal, not the metal/fiber the new ones are. I've never had a problem with heads blowing by a gasket but now I have so I'll remember to heat up and then re-tighten before going out and really starting to use the new motor.

 

[kenmac]

I know you've had a hard time with that tractor.I hope that you've got her fixed so, now all you have to do is operate it instead of operate on it.... I wish you the best !! :thumbsup:

 

[clemsonfor]

I dont remember, did you check the block and head for trueness?

 

[careyo63]

Back in Reply #13 would have found that. Instead of the Cap releasing the Pressure and Coolant which was probly the cause for it to run hot. The Gauge would have shown pressure over 13psi. or whatever your Radiator Cap is rated.

 

[Car Doc]

Glad its getting better not worse! :thumbsup:

I am not a fan at all of the aftermarket chinese head gaskets but its what we have to work with. That amount of movement in the bolts is a lot its basically the difference between loose and tight. Now lets hope it didn't wash out the gasket.

 

[careyo63]

If it was mine I'd be checking the pressure in the Radiator and make sure it not building up. I wouldn't hold the Nation that the manufactured a Head Gasket in to be at fault. Warped Head /Cracked block or not Torgued properly surely will cause a prob. I don't recall ever having a problem with a Head Gasket that was the proper one for the Eng.

 

[Car Doc]

Somebody must love wally world stuff then. j/k