Bolens G174 coolant loss: head gasket?

[Rod in Forfar]

A couple of weeks ago I was mowing weeds with a 4' bush hog in a 5 acre field of pine/walnut rows when my trusty Bolens G174 spurted the contents of its radiator all over the front of the tractor. A tow back to the shop established eventually that a rubber washer on the plastic drain plug of the radiator had given up the ghost after 41 years.

For the last month the repaired Bolens has done yoeman service on the bush hog while the newer HST Kubota is monopolized on belly mower duty. But then today I returned to the scene of the earlier spill, and wouldn't you know it, I had to get my wife for another tow -- out of the centre of a five acre square of overhanging branches. This time the engine had stalled during the coolant loss.

Back at the shop I removed the glow plugs, topped up the radiator, rolled the engine over and then started it up. The radiator holds water, but I notice the coolant is dirty and bubbles as if exhaust gasses are getting in. The oil level seems a little high, but still Rotella 0W50, not water. I should probably mention that the temperature gauge is long gone from this tractor. I have owned and used it since 2008 and don't ever remember it having one.

Next step seems to be locating a head gasket. Suggested sources? Other parts needed before disassembly? Other next steps?

Thanks,

Rod Croskery, Forfar, ON

 

[nyone]

If your getting cylinder gases as bubbles in the coolant overflow I would say it could be a head gasket. They also sell test kits to really check this.

Any mower that's mowing tall grass like your doing should have a temp gauge. Rads clog up real easy and you could have been overheating it many times and this time the rad drain let go.