NOW what!??!??!

[stormpetrel]

I ran the tractor sideways on a hill with an almost empty tank, sucked air. This machine has always been balky when it's time to bleed the air out.......this time was worse than ever. It wasn't even sputtering even though it was showing fuel at the injectors. I was patient, and re-bled it a few times until I had full fuel at the injectors. She fired right up. I noticed the radiator overflow bottle was, well, overflowing. There were air bubbles in it like mad and the lid would not stay on. I shut the machine down and am sitting here stewing.

The tractor has been running impeccably, all fluids and filters have been freshly changed because I have put a lot of hours on her clearing land this spring. I have no idea why the motor would do this; it almost seems like the head gasket is a goner.:confused2::confused2::confused2::confused2::confused2:

As always, any help/ideas will be appreciated.......

 

[winston1]

If it was truly hot the bubbles and water pushing out could just be from temperature. If it was not hot then the head gasket is likely.

 

[stormpetrel]

If it was truly hot the bubbles and water pushing out could just be from temperature. If it was not hot then the head gasket is likely.

It was stone cold......

 

[Car Doc]

It was stone cold......

On mine when its cold the coolant will overflow into the bottle every time if I rev it too much or start working it too quickly before the thermostat opens, no bubbles however to speak of just fluid.

The overflow with bubbles is troubling but it needs further diagnosing with a full system and another run to be sure it is a HG which it looks like it very well may be hate to say it but the way you described it sounds serious.

 

[Domush]

I've seen this happen first hand on my Yanmar, and it was the head gasket (from a warped head).

Sent from my SCH-I500 using TractorByNet

 

[clemsonfor]

I read this post earlier and did not reply. But thinking on it im with Domush. Since you already blew a head gasket i was thinking maybe a warped head so it reblew, fuel thing may just be coinsidence? Did you check the head at a shop the first time?

 

[Car Doc]

I was unaware of a previous repair or forgot? Either way yes a warped head will lead to another failure pretty quickly.

 

[stormpetrel]

I had the head milled before replacing the head gasket last year. The idiot light never came on when the motor overheated due to clogging the radiator with vegetation. I now have a temp gauge, it has run cool. There has been no hint of any problem with the engine, I'm confused. Before I sucked air she ran perfect, aside from the almost explosive bubbles from the overflow bottle, she still is running smooth and quiet.

 

[Car Doc]

The next thing I would do is fill the radiator with water leave the rad cap off and start it up and idle it see what happens. If its got a water pump and no thermostat which I believe is how your is the water should circulate immediately and not blow up out of the radiator.

If it does erupt like a volcano there is probably a serious reason we all are hoping its not.

One way I use on diagnosing head gaskets is my cooling system pressurized leak tester. I put it on and start the engine and watch the pressure gage. If its a gasket it will climb right now if not it will slowly rise be ready to unlatch it though there isn't a safety built in those.

 

[stormpetrel]

I have to say: despite being very upset with what just happened, the tractor has paid for itself several times over in property improvements this spring alone. It's a great machine! I'm sure the new head gasket will go on very quickly, now that I've done it before!!