Blown Head Gasket

Jinma284 · Mar 14, 2008

I've now used the tractor about 4 hours and it runs great. No overheating problems and it is charging a lot better, another sign that the belt was slipping. I'm 99 percent sure that was the problem. I'm not putting the old one back on just to confirm it though. I had 450 peach trees on this farm from 1985 to 1997. We now have 600 trees in the ground and will plant another 220 this year and another 180 in 2009. That will make 1000 trees. We tended the 10 acres with a roto tiller, riding lawn mower, 4-wheeler and a pick up truck to pull the spray rig. This tractor was a blessing after that. We bought the tractor in 2002. I will take better care of all my equipment now. I have always just ran whatever I had until it wouldn't start and then get it fixed or get a new one. My wife bought me some tools and a tool box and I plan to tinker a little. I actually tore apart my chain saw, found the problem with it and fixed it myself. Made me feel pretty good. I have had to go to the wizard to get me some patience. When the peaches get ripe I'll post some pic's.

zogman · Mar 14, 2008

I'm glad things are finally looking up for you. Where are you growing all the peaches?

Jinma284 · Mar 15, 2008

Central Florida, Lady Lake to be exact. I live about 3 miles from The Villages.

RobJ · Mar 16, 2008

Jinma284 said:
I've now used the tractor about 4 hours and it runs great. No overheating problems and it is charging a lot better, another sign that the belt was slipping. I'm 99 percent sure that was the problem.

Is the idler pulley for the belt an alternator? A working alternator? When an alternator is under load, right at startup, it takes a load. Watch the autoparts guy test one. I would think if the belt was that loose and the alternator is working, you'd have a dead battery.

If the alternator is not working, then I guess the belt coule slip some. I would think it would be more noticable. I've never heard of a water pump taking a huge load. But stranger things have happened! Also you replaced the head so there still could have been something bad there.

Rob

Jinma284 · Mar 18, 2008

I did have battery problems. Replaced it with a nice Interstate. Ran it down as well. I had pulled my spray rig for about 3 hours. It has a 200 gallon tank and I was spraying an oil mix that has to be continually agitated. The spray rig has no agitator other than the return hose. I built a wooden platforn on top and put a trolling motor on it, ran the trolling motor off the tractor battery. That baby will agitate. The new battery also ran down. I thought, at the time, because of the trolling motor. Bought a trickle charger and hooked it up every time I stopped the tractor, no more starting problems. I think the slipping belt was causing the battery to run down then as well.

Eagleview · Mar 18, 2008

I always said it was the pump impellar intermitently stopping , just did'nt consider you had'nt kept the belt tight enough to keep it turning .

RobJ · Mar 18, 2008

Jinma284 said:
I did have battery problems. Replaced it with a nice Interstate. Ran it down as well. I had pulled my spray rig for about 3 hours. It has a 200 gallon tank and I was spraying an oil mix that has to be continually agitated. The spray rig has no agitator other than the return hose. I built a wooden platforn on top and put a trolling motor on it, ran the trolling motor off the tractor battery. That baby will agitate. The new battery also ran down. I thought, at the time, because of the trolling motor. Bought a trickle charger and hooked it up every time I stopped the tractor, no more starting problems. I think the slipping belt was causing the battery to run down then as well.

Hmmm, as Mythbusters might say...Confirmed!

greg_g · Mar 18, 2008

Jinma284 said:
I built a wooden platforn on top and put a trolling motor on it, ran the trolling motor off the tractor battery.

I'm' not going to say that the belt wasn't your problem. But the standard 200 series alternator only carries a 150 watt rating. So even if you had a good belt - and assuming your trolling motor consumes more that 150w - that means your battery will drain faster than the alternator can replenish it.

//greg//

Ranch_Hand_Supp · Mar 18, 2008

Jinma284 said:
I did have battery problems. Replaced it with a nice Interstate. Ran it down as well. I had pulled my spray rig for about 3 hours. It has a 200 gallon tank and I was spraying an oil mix that has to be continually agitated. The spray rig has no agitator other than the return hose. I built a wooden platforn on top and put a trolling motor on it, ran the trolling motor off the tractor battery. That baby will agitate. The new battery also ran down. I thought, at the time, because of the trolling motor. Bought a trickle charger and hooked it up every time I stopped the tractor, no more starting problems. I think the slipping belt was causing the battery to run down then as well.

I agree also ........ sounds like you got it.

Good job !

Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

Dave_Lilly · Mar 19, 2008

greg_g said:
I'm' not going to say that the belt wasn't your problem. But the standard 200 series alternator only carries a 150 watt rating. So even if you had a good belt - and assuming your trolling motor consumes more that 150w - that means your battery will drain faster than the alternator can replenish it.

//greg//

Alternators are rated in amperes, not watts.