2011 DK45SE - Do I need more tractor?

[MotorSeven]

Not just chafe...between the rad and the oil cooler is perfect space for mouse houses. You can't see them from any angle, but get a powerful hose nozzle and spray water from the front and the rear working your way over the whole rad. I had the same problem and I had already cleaned out the chafe. When I got to working that high pressure water in there I flushed out a softball sized nest....now no more overheating.

Also, never clean chafe with the engine running, even at idle the fan sucks all the stuff you knock off the screen right into the fins.

 

[hypotenoose]

I really appreciate all of the responses. I am about an hour from my tractor during the week. I am headed back this weekend with my gas powered leaf blower to try and blow off the rad. I don't have running water at the property (yet). Thinking about buying an air compressor to help me keep the radiator clean in the meantime. I have kicked a couple mice nests off the top of the radiator area. Funny you should mention, because the first time I stopped to pop the hood after 3 hours of mowing, having noticed the heat gauge, a mouse came out from UNDER the radiator or so it appeared. I have no idea how that thing was still alive as the engine was putting off loads of heat.

As for the boiling coolant, is that a definite sign that I have bad pressure in the coolant system? The tractor only has 100 hours, has been running great and I had all of the fluids changed last year at my Kioti dealer right at 50 hours. Now I am a little stressed thinking I didn't catch the engine temp in time to prevent more damage. Won't know until I am back this weekend. Wish me luck!

 

[4bama1]

To clean the radiator good you will need a hose with some pressure but not to much or you will bend the fins...Air pressure will do some good but the water will do a better job..Also check your air filter.....

 

[hypotenoose]

I made a run out to my tractor this evening. I spent some time cleaning the screens and blowing out the chaff with a leaf blower. I got most of it blown out. Would need more directional pressure to blow out the little I saw remaining. I mowed for about an hour on gently rolling hills then headed for the steeper hills. The coolant gauge did not budge away from the narrow normal range. Looks like that did the trick. I took a closer look at the coolant reservoir for the debris I thought I saw. Turns out there were tiny specks of grey - almost like super soft putty - near the inside top of the reservoir stuck to the side. I could not see anything floating in the reservoir and the coolant looked clean. Could the boil off of coolant that I saw when the tractor was running hot have yielded this "residue"? The oil level is fine and no air bubbles, so I do not think there is any interaction between the rad fluid and engine oil. Again, the tractor mowed for an hour tonight with a perfectly normal coolant temperature.

 

[k0ua]

I made a run out to my tractor this evening. I spent some time cleaning the screens and blowing out the chaff with a leaf blower. I got most of it blown out. Would need more directional pressure to blow out the little I saw remaining. I mowed for about an hour on gently rolling hills then headed for the steeper hills. The coolant gauge did not budge away from the narrow normal range. Looks like that did the trick. I took a closer look at the coolant reservoir for the debris I thought I saw. Turns out there were tiny specks of grey - almost like super soft putty - near the inside top of the reservoir stuck to the side. I could not see anything floating in the reservoir and the coolant looked clean. Could the boil off of coolant that I saw when the tractor was running hot have yielded this "residue"? The oil level is fine and no air bubbles, so I do not think there is any interaction between the rad fluid and engine oil. Again, the tractor mowed for an hour tonight with a perfectly normal coolant temperature.

Glad to hear you are going good now. See you don't have to trade off the tractor, just blow out the radiator! I don't know what the little gray flecks are, but just a guess that they may be from the water pump lubricant that sometimes manufactures put in the coolant. Water pump lubricant is a gray viscous fluid. Perhaps the high heat stress caused some of that to precipitate out of the coolant solution?.. Just thinking out loud here, I don't really know. Keep in mind that rad can stop up rater quickly again depending on how dusty your materiel is, and also the outer grill can stop up pretty quickly too, and require cleaning also.

 

[MotorSeven]

all rodents must die.........

 

[k0ua]

all rodents must die.........

Or at the very least stay the heck out of our tractors...:laughing: