Well I have been out and mowed/bush hogged a couple times since the last posting. I have 4 acres of hayfield that I am cutting dead weeds (mostly broom sage) down on in preparation for spring, and another 2 acres of pasture taken over by broom sage.
Bought the little IR thermometer. Great idea.
Observations:
First of all most of what I am cutting is thick broom sage, 3' tall. For those of you who don't know, its seed are like furry feathers. So cleaning the screen every two passes is necessary. I tied a little brush on my fender.
I blow out the radiator when I get back.
We have drained the brown radiator fluid, refilled and drained again. Flushed w commercial stuff, refilled and drained again. It's still brown, of course, but maybe not quite as brown.
When I stop to clean the screen I have checked the temps. I think I have located the hottest part of my radiator, which seems to be the outside angle side by the upper hose. One time I did get a 200 degree reading (after I kept mowing) but usually it is 180s-90 over there. The other "high" readings tend to be 160s-180s. So I haven't overheated, actually.
My temp light goes on before the readings got to the highest, so we are thinking there is a problem with the sending unit. I notice Hoye only sells them for use with the gauge. (We were thinking it might be dirty, or something.) We might spring for a gauge sometime in the future, they are not expensive.
But then the other reality is the radiator probably could use a professional cleaning. The first US owner bought this about 12 years ago, and did not mention doing that, and I am pretty sure when it came from Japan they didn't bother.
The idea that they refilled them with paddy water is interesting since it seems most people have the excessively brown water which doesn't go away with radiator flush or multiple water flushes, mmm?
So I do not think the radiator is overheating, (but OTOH I don't think I am really pushing it) but I like gauges, not idiot lights, as I have a better sense of what my limits are.
I drove a 20+ year old Ford van across the country (Yosemite and desert and all) and back one summer (110 in Needles) with no air conditioning. Fords were notorious for having undersized radiators back then... and by watching my temp gauge we managed just fine, with only a couple times we actually had to stop and wait for a cool down. (The long incline going south into LA.)
So somewhere in my future is a professional flush and clean ("rodding?") and a gauge. In the meantime I'll get the feel of how long I can bush hog without "overheating."
So here's another question: What percentage of anti-freeze?
Right now the tractor is in my husband's slot in the garage (mine is full of moving and horse cr*p -- isn't he great?) and our temps have been unusually warm (thanks Al), but I have seen everything from 10% to 40% mix on antifreeze.
Input appreciated.
Thanks guys!:thumbsup: