kioti running hot

[KiotiKowboy]

DK50SEHST with Landpride mower RCR1872

I cannot keep the engine temp under control when brush hogging. I do have to say it's 98 outside right now

I'm mowing in Low and have varied the RPMs from 1800 to 2400 - even raised the deck an inch or two and narrowed the mow bite to about 5 feet. It doesn't make any difference in the temp. Oil is good. Coolant is good.

Since Kioti saw fit to NOT mark the gauge with usable numbers - all I can say is it runs about 75% - 90% of scale. I've resorted to taking breaks but it's only minutes before the temp is running high again.

Any way to improve the cooling on this machine? Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[lpakiz]

Yup! Clean the radiator screen. If that isn't sufficient, get the tractor in a darkish shop and put a trouble light in behind the radiator, next to the fan blades.
Go around front and look thru the radiator. If you can't see the light, your radiator is plugged. Or there is an oil cooler or AC condenser in front of the rad. Swing that out of the way, without unhooking, if possible. Check for the trouble light again. Keep cleaning until you can see the trouble light.

 

[big bubba]

so how much above "normal" or green does it go? checked radiator fins? so how sharp are your brush hog knives? that can make a difference. wise to keep an eye on the gauge as you've done. some may suggest to use a remote temp gun when overheated & check specs, but never had to use. good luck

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Yup! Clean the radiator screen. If that isn't sufficient, get the tractor in a darkish shop and put a trouble light in behind the radiator, next to the fan blades.
Go around front and look thru the radiator. If you can't see the light, your radiator is plugged. Or there is an oil cooler or AC condenser in front of the rad. Swing that out of the way, without unhooking, if possible. Check for the trouble light again. Keep cleaning until you can see the trouble light.

Good suggestion. Thanks.
The screen(s) are clear. Kioti designed those so you can only remove one and shake it clean - unless you unhook an air hose. I modified mine with a Dremel so I can slide both of them out in the field.

 

[Torvy]

We're just a bit south of you in NE Texas. On top of all of the other good advice, I'd try to avoid doing that type of work after about 11am. (Though it sounds likely you already know that) We aren't likely to see cool weather for a few months.

 

[Thomas]

Check air filter also.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

so how much above "normal" or green does it go? checked radiator fins? so how sharp are your brush hog knives? that can make a difference. wise to keep an eye on the gauge as you've done. some may suggest to use a remote temp gun when overheated & check specs, but never had to use. good luck

Temp scale is bracketed low/high and has 2 dots for normal operating range. My temp runs almost to the upper limit of the bracketed display ... just below HOT.
The mower has only been used 2 seasons ... couldn't have hit more than a few hundred rocks! Not easy to get under one of these beast to check the edges.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Check air filter also.

Checked it today. Knocked out enough dirt to plant a garden This will be on my list.

 

[DK35vince]

Checked it today. Knocked out enough dirt to plant a garden This will be on my list.

Now blow out the radiator fins and check the fan belt for wear/tension.

 

[lpakiz]

I don't want to be a nag, but can you see the trouble light thru the radiator core?

 

[big bubba]

seems to me your tractor HP can handle the 6' mower just fine. agree, air filter, radiator restriction could be the culprit... what are you mowing & is it in bloom? & hate to nag, blade cond is important in heavier growth.
good luck

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I don't want to be a nag, but can you see the trouble light thru the radiator core?

Haven't had a chance to check this as yet.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

seems to me your tractor HP can handle the 6' mower just fine. agree, air filter, radiator restriction could be the culprit... what are you mowing & is it in bloom? & hate to nag, blade cond is important in heavier growth.
good luck

I bought 20 "rough" acres to prevent a pot grower from setting up shop next to my property. It was bulldozed to clear trees and left as a complete mess. It is a mix of grass and every weed known to man. It is quite thick and average height at this time is about 18 inches. Everything is in bloom.

 

[hornett22]

Clean radiator and hydro cooler if you have one. I blow them out with compressed air at house. I bought an air gun with a long thin tube and bent the tip with a tube bender. After I blow everything out with air, I use the garden hose and spray the radiator out with water. You'll be surprised how much more comes out of the fins. Like previous poster said, check air filter. I blow it out from inside with same air gun. Also, I highly recommend carrying a spare air filter.
Finally, check your fan belt. Make sure it's tight enough and more importantly, it's condition or if it's still there. Trust me on that.

In the field, I carry a husqvarna hand held blower.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

It's more than likely chaff in between your radiator fins. If everything is in bloom, there's even more of a chance that this is the culprit.

This is the pollen that got "in" with only mowing about 3 acres. It easily gets between fins, and since the particles are so small, they get in behind the "screen" on mine. The A/C condenser and hydro coolers sitting in front of my radiator only make it harder to keep clean. Have to keep the 2 coolers clean too, as even if the radiator isn't plugged, the coolers block air to the radiator once they get plugged.

This:

https://www.amazon.com/Radiator-Genie-Cleaning-Efficiency-Radiators/dp/B01NAU8J6D

Is the wand kit referenced in the other post. I use the same set, but I only use the air wand. If I'm out mowing other sites, then I bring my small generator and pancake air compressor. It takes longer than doing it at home with my large shop compressor, but it is necessary. Some sites, I have to stop and blow out the radiator and coolers several times a day.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Yesterday, I replaced the air filter and blew out the radiator. There was quite a bit of crud in the fins. I'll get a chance today to see if it solves my problem.

 

[5030]

You need to clear the rad and coolers EVERYDAY. Should be part of your pre use inspection. I 'inspect my machines prior to using them, every morning. Check the tires, check the air pressure, check the lube oil level, check the transmission fluid level inspect the rad screens and if they appear dirty, blow them out and blow the rad out from the fan side not the front side.

Weekly I check the condition of the air filter, battery and grease all the fittings on the tractors and loaders and use my rad Genie and flush out the rad (from the fan side again) with water and check the coolant level in the expansion bottle.

You need to establish a routine and stick to it. Being remiss about daily checks will just cause bigger issues down the road. They are (tractors) machines after all and they need to be maintained or they fail.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

OK ... I only had 1 acre remaining to mow today. This would be enough, given the experience of the last few days, to get the engine over temp.

I am happy to report ... I finished the entire acre without getting above the marked "normal" operation level I've attached a pic so you can see what I was fighting.

Just as an aside: Running the AC, even when doing nothing but using the loader bucket, still runs the engine temp up. This has been true since purchased.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[dusty3030]

I'd also check the radiator hoses with an infrared thermometer just to see what the actual temperature is coming in and out of the radiator. If nothing else just as a reference to what the actual temperature is in relation to the gauge. Hot on the gauge may or may not be an actually overheated condition on the engine.

 

[Gregster613]

You need to clear the rad and coolers EVERYDAY. Should be part of your pre use inspection. I 'inspect my machines prior to using them, every morning. Check the tires, check the air pressure, check the lube oil level, check the transmission fluid level inspect the rad screens and if they appear dirty, blow them out and blow the rad out from the fan side not the front side.

Weekly I check the condition of the air filter, battery and grease all the fittings on the tractors and loaders and use my rad Genie and flush out the rad (from the fan side again) with water and check the coolant level in the expansion bottle.

You need to establish a routine and stick to it. Being remiss about daily checks will just cause bigger issues down the road. They are (tractors) machines after all and they need to be maintained or they fail.

5030, I've got to ask "why" is it so important to blow out radiator from the fan side? I've seen that stated many times on TBN but with zero being said as to the why!

I blow mine from both sides - but from the front I am able to completely cover the entire radiator - where as from fan side the fan blades are "always" in the way. As long as the fins are clear/clean what's the difference? Just curious to the "from the fans side" statement.
Thanks, Greg