Tractor overheats when mowing. No dealer actions fix it. Any ideas?

[rademamj1]

It's been over a month so maybe the OP has got the tractor over-heating problem fixed.

Or.....just maybe the OP sold his overheating LS tractor as he previously threatened to do, therefore immediately resolving all present and future problems with the troublesome tractor.

 

[Henro]

The bolded item is totally incorrect.
Any fluid in a heat exchanger needs to flow at a rate to maximize transfer of the liquid or gas.

For the math inclined- Constant volume open thermodynamic system with heat transfer - Simulink

Calculation of Heat Exchanger


Flow rate for any heat exchanger is part of the calculation.


As for moi the Army Power plant program, engineering courses in thermodynamics, taught how flow is regulated to maximize heat transfer from one medium (liquid or gas) to another (the heat exchanger).

However if the individual has their heart set that this is wrong then ok. We won't post this and let other engineers know they have been wrong for over a century.....

Somewhere earlier in this thread someone indicated it was necessary to restrict flow through the radiator to get better cooling.

In Post #61 Finn1 responded (but did not quote the poster he responded to)

Anyway, the point was _that is not the way heat transfer works_

If it were, taking the thermostat out of an engine would result in the engine getting hotter. We all know this does not happen. Or at least not in the world I live in (but the real world is larger than mine...)

Granted there are variables in a system that affect how much heat transfer occurs. But we are not designing a system; but rather troubleshooting what should be a properly designed, workable system to begin with.

In this case, claiming that slowing the flow through the heat exchanger (radiator) will increase cooling is not the way the system works. I believe that was the point being made By finn1 in post #61, and is the point I was making.

I believe if you reference the links you posted this will not be disputed.

 

[BigBlue1]

I don't think it matters at this point. The OP hasn't posted anything since early July. Doubt he's coming back to update or continue the troubleshooting.

 

[LouNY]

Quite likely he's long gone,
but yes I have seen engines run hotter without a thermostat when worked hard at high rpms,
a simple restricter or a new thermostat and lower temperature.

 

[Henro]

Quite likely he's long gone,
but yes I have seen engines run hotter without a thermostat when worked hard at high rpms,
a simple restricter or a new thermostat and lower temperature.

Not to beat a dead horse to death, but it may seem like that is the case, but why was the thermostat removed to begin with? Probably because there was an underlying issue, like a partially plugged radiator or whatever.

Just sayin?..

 

[aczlan]

Not to beat a dead horse to death, but it may seem like that is the case, but why was the thermostat removed to begin with? Probably because there was an underlying issue, like a partially plugged radiator or whatever.

Just sayin?..

Or the thermostat went bad.
My guess as to the cause and effect for such a phenomenon (higher indicated temps without either a thermostat or a flow restrictor) would be that the thermostat provides a flow restriction for coolant flow to the radiator. That restriction is necessary to force coolant through the loop to cool the head. Without that flow restriction there is not enough flow through the head to remove the heat created by combustion because it takes the "easier path" through the radiator.

Aaron Z

 

[the old grind]

Or the thermostat went bad.
My guess as to the cause and effect for such a phenomenon (higher indicated temps without either a thermostat or a flow restrictor) would be that the thermostat provides a flow restriction for coolant flow to the radiator. That restriction is necessary to force coolant through the loop to cool the head. Without that flow restriction there is not enough flow through the head to remove the heat created by combustion because it takes the "easier path" through the radiator.

Aaron Z

This! ^^^ And the "racer's washer" is meant to provide balanced flow by acting like an open thermostat. It's been explained but IMO not as clearly before.

btw, I still say the OP might have been working the tractor too hard in too high a gear in too hot weather and with the AC on. Maybe someone he believes told him the same and he didn't wonder anymore. They have warranties for people who break stuff, and not all failures are covered. I like to think the problem is solved and our guy is busy catching up his work.

 

[mred2]

Grind, I feel that you are right. He also posted items in the LS section. Put things up on the net about LS. He also had A/C problems. I believe he wanted LS to buy it back or replace it before he said he would remove items from the net. I am not sure of the outcome. I think this started due to a split hyd. cooler. Maybe he sold it and passed the problem or LS dealer took it back. I believe that I read on here somewhere about problems with overheating with hydrostat in too high of a gear, running a mower, and with the A/C on. Solution was run it in a lower gear.

But I hope he found a solution that worked for him. If he reads this, we would like to know so others could avoid the same problem. I also have an LS, but no hydrostat and no heating problems.

 

[Henro]

Or the thermostat went bad.
My guess as to the cause and effect for such a phenomenon (higher indicated temps without either a thermostat or a flow restrictor) would be that the thermostat provides a flow restriction for coolant flow to the radiator. That restriction is necessary to force coolant through the loop to cool the head. Without that flow restriction there is not enough flow through the head to remove the heat created by combustion because it takes the "easier path" through the radiator.

Aaron Z

OK, but if the thermostat went bad, and was removed to fix the problem, the engine should run on the cool side and not overheat.

Since it is/was overheating without the thermostat in place there is another issue.

Thermostats are used to raise the engine temperature to a desired level as quickly as possible. Not to enhance cooling.

 

[ptsg]

OK, but if the thermostat went bad, and was removed to fix the problem, the engine should run on the cool side and not overheat.

Since it is/was overheating without the thermostat in place there is another issue.

Thermostats are used to raise the engine temperature to a desired level as quickly as possible. Not to enhance cooling.

Do you run any of yours engines without thermostat?