CK20 Running hot

[TJP89]

Screens and radiator have been cleaned ( removed battery shop vac-ed out all debris, blew out radiator with med-pressure air from fan side) coolant looks clean, no oily residue, no bubbles and is topped up. Hood screens are free of debris and air filter has been replaced. Oil has been changed recently, topped up and no froth or any detectable abnormality. Could the pto be bound up somehow so that the tractor is working too hard to turn it?

Ok, I thought you had, but couldn't remember. Have you checked under the mower for something wrapped around the spindles? Also, does the tractor overheat when you just use it for loader work or such? If it's a PTO problem inside, then it's a major issue.

 

[DK35vince]

I recently purchased a used (obviously) 2006 CK20 with 330 hours on it. I bought it to do a variety of jobs, mowing being the most common. To do the mowing I got a 60" Bush Hog finish mower. The trouble I'm having is that after about twenty to thirty minutes of work (mowing fields, 6"-8" grass) the tractor starts to run pretty hot. The gauge gets up to about 1/3 between the middle and the red and stays there. I have checked the coolant and oil levels, they are both fine.

It may be running hot simply because you are running a 60" finish mower, cutting 6"-8" field grass with only 17 PTO HP.

 

[oldpilgrim]

It may be running hot simply because you are running a 60" finish mower, cutting 6"-8" field grass with only 17 PTO HP.

bingo...............

 

[SwedeSpeed]

Could be. Although the owners manual says it should run A 60" finish mower, and there are reports on this forum of the same machine running a 72" mower with no problem. I bought the mower from a fellow who was running it with his 25 yr. old 19hp Yanmar (don't know what the pto hp was). And, I have the same problem when the grass is short.

 

[Coyote machine]

One way to know for sure is to flush the coolant, install new, and change out the thermostat at the same time.
Your tractor may have a problem with it's T-stat or something more serious like a head gasket issue that hasn't quite manifested itself yet. Tractors are sometimes like people. One may be able to run the mower, and another might not.
You won't know for sure until you change the symptoms, if they follow the work you do then you're onto something. If not, well, you'll have to deal with the outcome then. One thing is for sure if it were me, I would not continue running it as it is right now. JMHO.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Could be. Although the owners manual says it should run A 60" finish mower, and there are reports on this forum of the same machine running a 72" mower with no problem. I bought the mower from a fellow who was running it with his 25 yr. old 19hp Yanmar (don't know what the pto hp was). And, I have the same problem when the grass is short.

rule of thumb is 5 hp per foot of mower. Just spinning it without cutting takes hp.

Based on that 'rule' you're over loading your machine by about 40%.

 

[SwedeSpeed]

So you're saying this tractor should only run a 40" mower?

 

[SwedeSpeed]

One way to know for sure is to flush the coolant, install new, and change out the thermostat at the same time.
Your tractor may have a problem with it's T-stat or something more serious like a head gasket issue that hasn't quite manifested itself yet. Tractors are sometimes like people. One may be able to run the mower, and another might not.
You won't know for sure until you change the symptoms, if they follow the work you do then you're onto something. If not, well, you'll have to deal with the outcome then. One thing is for sure if it were me, I would not continue running it as it is right now. JMHO.

I think that's good advice. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[Hill Billy Bob]

You have eliminated just about everything but the thermostat......for petes sake, go to Advance Auto or Auto Zone and buy a Stant.....it cost me $8.08 to do this to my CK30. By the way, factory thermostat was a 160*, replaced with 180*, temp gauge runs right between the two normal marks, oil temp runs 180* even after 3 hours of mowing on an 80 plus degree day, with a 73" flail mower.

 

[SwedeSpeed]

You have eliminated just about everything but the thermostat......for petes sake, go to Advance Auto or Auto Zone and buy a Stant.....it cost me $8.08 to do this to my CK30. By the way, factory thermostat was a 160*, replaced with 180*, temp gauge runs right between the two normal marks, oil temp runs 180* even after 3 hours of mowing on an 80 plus degree day, with a 73" flail mower.

I ordered a thermostat from Tractor Joes, but, after more than a week they still haven't sent it. I'd love to to just get one at Autozone, any idea how to find the right part number? I've been looking on the internet, so far I can't find a cross reference.