Ridiculous! Thermostat help?

[Industrial Toys]

I guess, I shouldn't have said, to throw it in boiling water. I just checked a stat a few weeks ago and raised the temperature while checking it with a thermometer. It opened slowly at around the stated 82C.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Dad used to drive with cardboard in the rad of our Ford Custom 500 all winter long.

I used to take the fan off my propane Malibu for the winter. I'm guessing, the propane took some heat from the cooling system.

 

[comancheflight]

There are two listed on ebay right now. One is $283 and the other is $200 BUT, the $200 one is or best offer..
So offer an amount you can live with....he will probably take is because I doubt this is an item that sells..worth a shot.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Many early tractors had manually operated shutters for temperature control. If the engine was hot you opened them and if it cooled off you closed them. Here in Canada most people run something in front of the radiator as the motors take ages to warm up in cold weather oyjerwise. You learn to watch your temp gauge.

 

[roadhunter]

There are two listed on ebay right now. One is $283 and the other is $200 BUT, the $200 one is or best offer..
So offer an amount you can live with....he will probably take is because I doubt this is an item that sells..worth a shot.

Excellent advice. I've had luck doing this same thing. And saved some money in the process.

 

[DerekA09]

Many early tractors had manually operated shutters for temperature control. If the engine was hot you opened them and if it cooled off you closed them. Here in Canada most people run something in front of the radiator as the motors take ages to warm up in cold weather oyjerwise. You learn to watch your temp gauge.

Mine is a 1959. I believe they stopped doing that in the 40s? Regardless, unfortunately mine doesn't have shutters. I put feed sacks in front of the grill guard and still no help.

 

[DerekA09]

I would do one of two things. I would either find a 2.5" thermostat that fits. (try NAPA) Or have an adapter machined that will hold a regular thermostat in your tractors thermostat housing.

What I got is 2.5. I think I need 2.75. The 2.5 is the size of the inlet. It barely slips down in the pipe, but it does. It won't sit on the lip for it.

 

[DerekA09]

IS it closed when at room temp? It should be, and if that is the case, your problem isn't the stat. You might throw it in boiling water to see if it opens, just for the heck of it. But it should close again when removed.

Yeah I pulled it out and it was closed tight.

 

[DerekA09]

Without a temperature shut down, placing cardboard in front of the radiator is a quick to way to ruin an engine. Rates right up there with no oil or no water.

A thermostat needs a gradual increase in water temperature to check for correct operation. Thermostats can stick closed and not open until the water is near boiling then go from completely closed to fully open and blow about 75 percent of the water out the overflow. Been there done that.

My first truck was an '85 F250 6.9 diesel. I used to block PART of the radiator with cardboard to help it warm up. But never the whole thing. I added some coolant without bleeding it. But I didn't think I needed to since it was only a gallon low.

 

[DerekA09]

Test your thermostat to make sure it's still working and does not stick open or closed. Also check your operating temperature, maybe your existing gauge is reading low. I wouldn't pay $200 for a thermostat either. I would put it back together and install a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator and watch the temps carefully. Good luck.

SimS

I felt right by where the temp gauge is and it was warm, but not hot like it should I thought it should have been. But I pulled the stat out and it was closed good and tight. I need to find an old pan and test it just haven't yet.