1736 Running Hot

[zdman]

Our 1736 is running hotter than normal. It was about 90 out the other day and I did about an hour of brush hog work. I noticed near the end that the ac was not cooling well (temp was also bouncing from 4 to 5 bars). I stopped and went to the barn. Turned off the tractor and got out and cleaned screens on condenser and radiator. Restarted tractor to park it and the temp shot up to 9 or 10 bars and warning came on and started beeping. Killed tractor and waited. Then blew out the radiators as best I could with compressed air and checked coolant. Next day did about an hour of brush hogging and noticed it up again around 5 bars (normally sits at 3-4 bars). Is there anything else I should check ? Should I remove battery and condenser and try to do a heavier cleaning in radiator?

 

[lpakiz]

In a word, YES! The second (AC Condenser) will collect MUCH more chaff than the first radiator.
When you think you are done cleaning, put a trouble light bulb behind the radiator, by the fan blades. Look in from the front. You should be able to see light thru the fins. If you can't, clean some more.

 

[zdman]

In a word, YES! The second (AC Condenser) will collect MUCH more chaff than the first radiator.
When you think you are done cleaning, put a trouble light bulb behind the radiator, by the fan blades. Look in from the front. You should be able to see light thru the fins. If you can't, clean some more.

Do you use compressed air or water? Also, is very tight in there, is ther a oil that helps get in there to clean?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I generally don't use anything but water hose pressure on a radiator. Air hoses bend fins over. Before you do anything, while it is dry, spray hot soapy water on it from a squirt bottle. Soapy water will absorb into dry debris. Will not help at all if it is wet. Spray with it dry. I use hot water and powder detergent, like Tide or something. Nothing special, just strong. Let that sit and then the water hose next. You can also use powder dishwasher detergent inside the radiator to flush it. Dish powder does not foam. Then after a few days of running, flush radiator out and see if garbage turns loose. Cooling system maintenance must be done. It is a far cry better than engine rebuild maintenance. Dirty coolant systems get hotter faster and stay hotter longer. Heat is your enemy. I have ran many a tractor on a dynamometer.

 

[Thomas]

You may want to blow out air filter.

 

[zdman]

You may want to blow out air filter.

thanks. I should have mentioned i did this already and do it periodically.

 

[zdman]

I generally don't use anything but water hose pressure on a radiator. Air hoses bend fins over. Before you do anything, while it is dry, spray hot soapy water on it from a squirt bottle. Soapy water will absorb into dry debris. Will not help at all if it is wet. Spray with it dry. I use hot water and powder detergent, like Tide or something. Nothing special, just strong. Let that sit and then the water hose next. You can also use powder dishwasher detergent inside the radiator to flush it. Dish powder does not foam. Then after a few days of running, flush radiator out and see if garbage turns loose. Cooling system maintenance must be done. It is a far cry better than engine rebuild maintenance. Dirty coolant systems get hotter faster and stay hotter longer. Heat is your enemy. I have ran many a tractor on a dynamometer.

Thanks. I will give the soapy water and hose a try. Biggest issue is getting back there as the fan is in the way and then the condenser radiator is right in front of the regular radiator so they really dont give you good access to clean things.
Next to impossible to get water straight into the condenser radiator back to front. maybe if i capped a hose and cut a slit in the side so water sprayed out the side.

 

[lpakiz]

I'm not sure how MY condenser is mounted, much less yours, but I recall from my Diesel Mechanic days that the AC condenser on our 9670 IH semi tractors was mounted in such a way so you could remove the mounting bolts and swing the condenser out of the way, like a door on hinges. No need to unhook the AC hoses. Then you can get a straight shot at the main radiator.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Thanks. I will give the soapy water and hose a try. Biggest issue is getting back there as the fan is in the way and then the condenser radiator is right in front of the regular radiator so they really dont give you good access to clean things.
Next to impossible to get water straight into the condenser radiator back to front. maybe if i capped a hose and cut a slit in the side so water sprayed out the side.

Long piece of small pipe with an ell on the end. Or tubing and bend the end. Adapt it to a ball valve. Adapt the ball valve to fit the hose. Stick it down in there and spray away.

 

[zdman]

The thanks all. Cleaned the radiator and coils good with air, soap and water. Started brushhoggjng and it went up to 4 bars (90 degrees out). Seems like it used to ever get above 3 bars. Does anyone know where it shoukd run (bars/temp range). Not sure if I have a problem any longer or not. Maybe a laser temp gauge pointed at the engine and take a reading??