BX running hot

[chucko]

My little bx was running hot and did not seem to be pumping water so I removed the thermostat and it is now pumping water but still will run hot. My assumption is the radiator is so small the coolant will not slow down enough to just run without the thermostat. I have one ordered and it should be here Friday.
Do you guys feel my assumption is correct or might I have another problem?

 

[Texas Fella]

Chucko,

I have seen this 1,000 times. I would like to give you some advise. Please don't get mad at me, I could be wrong. However, if I answered this way to everyone who had your complaint, I would be right far more times that not. If I were you, I would remove the radiator from my tractor and visually inspect. On these smaller units, I have seen numerous times where a customer does clean his radiator, and the radiator looks to be clean while it is inside the tractor. Upon removing the radiator in my shop, I find that it is not clean, although it did look that was when it was installed in the unit. Also, removed the raidator cap from the radiator (not with hot coolant). Look at the groove or ledge in the top of the radiator that the cap seals on. Is it smooth or is it damaged and erroded? If it is not smooth (it should be raised, don't get me wrong, but it should be nice and smooth), then you need a new radiator because yours is not sealing properly and it will not hold pressure like it should.

As for the thermostat, removing the thermostat will only cause (at least negative effects) the engine to take longer to reach operating temperature. It will not allow the coolant to flow so fast that the radiator does not work. The fins inside the radiator restrict the flow of coolant (due to their size), the thermostat only turns "on/off" the coolants access to the radiator (and regulates how much flow goes to the radiator based on temperature). It does this for the sole reason of getting the engine up to operating temp.

I hope this helped you out some. Like I said, I would get that radiator out and inspect it before I spent any more money or used the equipment again on a hot day. Just my 2 cents.

 

[chucko]

thanks. I will check that out


I have not looked at thating the radiator out is it fairly easy to get out?

 

[Tom_H]

There are numerous threads on this issue. Sometimes the problem has been the thermostat. Most often, it seems to be tiny stuff clogging the radiator. When I brush hog my wild oats after they've dried, huge amounts of fluffy chaff gets into the air. The fan sucks it into the input in front of the driver, below the steering wheel. I have to wipe the outer screen clean about every 4 min. Every 25-30 min. I have to take the tractor to the garage and use the whole house vacuum with the skinny wand attached to clean both screens AND the radiator face. This is a powerful vac. It's important to get behind the battery and clean every sq. inch thoroughly. Some use an air compressor hose to blast from the other side. This has been a problem for numerous BX owners and there are many threads about this in the archives if you care to search for lengthier discussion.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Like Tom says, clean the side screens and look for a screen at the radiator. My B1750 used to run hot as h_ _ _ until I started blowing out the screens with my leaf blower after each mowing.

 

[grsthegreat]

I always blow out the radiator fins with compressed air. Its amazing how much crap gets stuck inside the fins. Totally neutralizes any cooling action on the radiators part.

 

[oldnslo]

Where is the temperature sesor located on the BX1800? If it is like my 1850 it is right next to the muffler and this also helps increase the temp reading. Another board member suggested putting an insulating wrap around the wires and sensor and this helped on my BX. The wrao is typically used or race cars etc. I am sorry but I can not remember the name of the product at this time.

Roy

 

[pro-tell]

My BX began to run hotter one time too. If you remove the slide in screen you will likely notice debris clogging the radiator fins. Just blows it out with an air hose and the temperature will return to normal. No need to remove it.

 

[radioman]

did you clean the prefilter screen yet like other poster said? did you take screen for battery and clean that too? slide the battery out and observe the rad fins. chances are it needs to be cleaned out. IF none of this is working out, I would pull the rad out and take to your local radatior repair shop to have it inspected and tested. several of your cooling tubes may be clogged.

 

[chucko]

I clean the screen every time I fuel . However like suggest I looked a little closer and it was clogged with what looked like wet babby powder


Tex was 100% right


Seems the screen would should be finer than the radator not the other way around
but now I know what to look for so it's no big deal

 

[OrangeRidge]

There are gaps at the bottom of the screen-holder , hence it's the
lower middle that blocks as the fan sucks it against the rad. I stuffed
a piece of foam stick ( about 12 - 14" ) at the bottom of the
rad guide , but it's far from perfect and still needs clearing every
10 hours . It's mainly a MMM caused problem due to cutting right
below the rad. The round case screen does it's job , since there's
nothing on the battery etc. I really do think the rad is too small and
should be the size from the B##20's ....................

 

[Tom_H]

It's mainly a MMM caused problem due to cutting right
below the rad.

What I experience is different. I get far more chaff that's sucked in and clogs everything up when I use my brush hog on dried out wild oats. The tractor is moving forward while the rough cutter is behind the tractor with a rear discharge. The chaff is so light that it just stays in the air. When I'm mowing with a tailwind, it just pushes the chaff forward where it is sucked into the outer screen. If there is no wind, it stays in the air, and every time I make a 180, I'm just driving right back into the still floating debris from the previous pass. If I don't clean the outer screen every 4 min. and clean the inner screen and the radiator face every 30 min., I wind up redlining. This constant cleaning gets to be a PITA, but it's better than blowing a gasket or warping some engine component.

When I cut live grass with the MMM, it is mulched and falls to the ground. If it is an early season cut, it will not all mulch and I get side discharge. I only use the MMM on green grass that does not float in the air. In any case, I never have a radiator clogging problem from the MMM.

 

[rdsaustintx]

It's important to get behind the battery and clean every sq. inch thoroughly.

AMEN. Every time I pull out the battery the radiator is caked *solid* back there.