CK35 Temp Gauge Not Moving

Tractor Tom · Feb 3, 2015

My CK35 has less than 50 hr's on it, and so far all has been good. Today at 4 deg. F the Temp gauge would not move off of stone cold. Even the Cab heat seemed less than normal. Tractor was plugged in all night, 1200RMP warm up for about 8 minutes, then up to Snow Blower speed about 2300RPM. After an hour and a half the gauge hadn't moved a bit. Normal or something to be concerned about?? thanks

Note: I normally let her warm up for about 15 - 20 minutes before using. Today was a bit of a rush job.

Tractor Tom · Feb 3, 2015

Tonight I put a piece of cardboard on the Rad screen that covered about 70% of the Rad, and that seemed to do the trick. The CK warmed right up to normal operating temp.

SandburRanch · Feb 3, 2015

Without a high temperature safety shutdown or a very good ( loud ) audible warning system, that's a good way to scald an engine. I advise fixing the thermostat so it works correctly for the safety of the engine and your bank account.

joe04785 · Feb 4, 2015

I took my ck35 out yesterday to do some clean up in the driveway and push back banks. I had no trouble with heat or the temperature guage not going up to normal. I had the tractor plugged in for about 2 hours and off I went. I'm thinking you either have a leak in coolant somewhere or your thermostat is stuck. Just my opinion.

Amvcane · Feb 4, 2015

T T ,

I know many have cab heaters, but is it possible that in that extreme cold, your cab heater is robbing much needed heat from the engine?
Have you tried turning off the cab heater to see if the engine heat comes up?
If so, is the cab heater core a bit oversized for the engine? Designed for 35-45hp size and you are at the low end.
Just throwing some guesses at you.
Maybe its just so dam cold that the heat building capacity of the engine cannot overcome the cooling of that air over the radiator.

kco · Feb 4, 2015

It should warm up to operating temperature regardless of the ambient temperature. Have you checked the thermostat? Perhaps it is stuck open.

Tractor Tom · Feb 4, 2015

My Dealer also thinks it may be a thermostat issue. I'm almost due for a 50hr Service, I'll have them check / replace the thermostat. I agree with Sandbur Ranch, I don't want to do engine damage. Last night once the temp. gauge moved I kept a very close eye on it. The Thermostat appears to be opening and closing. The needle would almost reach the double dots on the gauge, hold there for a minute or so and then drop down slightly. This repeated the hour or so I was out snow blowing last night.
Thanks for the reply's..

Looking4new · Feb 4, 2015

My CK takes forever to warm up, too. i usually start it (plugged in all night) then go inside and have breakfast, then go out and IF I have some heat coming out of the heater I go to work. 1500rpm for a bit then 2000 until the gauge starts to move. Once the gauge moves then it is right up to PTO RPM and 'get her done'.

Coyote machine · Feb 4, 2015

Probably a stuck stat. Better to replace it under warranty at 50 hr svc. Check coolant rating too! What kind of ambient temps you having up there these days?
The rise, then drop on the gauge could also indicate a faulty/intermittent stat.
Post back results.

TJP89 · Feb 4, 2015

I only looked at the temp gauge once Monday in 3 hours of plowing (I know, I know, bad idea) in about 15F, it was about an hour in of 2300 RPM running with little warm up. The gauge was between cold and middle, so it was running cold. Usually it take about 30min to warm up to middle of the gauge.

Hill Billy Bob · Feb 5, 2015

My CK30 came from the factory with a 160* thermostat.....I've swapped it out for a 180*, and still run with most of my radiator covered this time of year. (two 1" x 6" openings near center of radiator is all I have) Water temp runs closer to the low side of normal range on gauge. Even with the valve only half open, and the fan on low, the cab heater is pretty good at cooling the engine during winter months. I do keep an eye on the temp gauge though, and do have oil temp, and oil pressure gauges....so no chance of cooking my engine because of a faulty water temp sender.

Monitor your gauges

Coyote machine · Feb 5, 2015

Hill Billy Bob,

Did you add oil temp gauge? If so, can you give us a pic of the install/dash?

Thx,

CM

Retired guy · Feb 5, 2015

Mine runs cool also. I think it is caused by the cab heater--that hose holds a lot of coolant
and you have another heat exchanger in the system. If the temp is above freezing it gets to
the operating range and stays as long as RPM's are up--when it idles the temp drops fast. It has
had the sender changed and the gauge checked with with a voltmeter [dealer under warranty].
Other than in winter it runs right where it should. I would be interested in the oil gauge manufacturer, sending unit # and location of the sensor. Thanks in advance.

Tractor Tom · Feb 5, 2015

Coyote machine said:
Probably a stuck stat. Better to replace it under warranty at 50 hr svc. Check coolant rating too! What kind of ambient temps you having up there these days?
The rise, then drop on the gauge could also indicate a faulty/intermittent stat.
Post back results.

Outside air Temps have been right around -8 to 5 deg F. -25, -15 C Range. COLD, let's say that. I definitely will have the Dealer look things over at the 50hr Service. The cardboard on the Rad works....But that's not the answer.

Retired guy · Feb 5, 2015

Had to move some drifts today--ambient +17 F. When working with heater fan on low and control valve half way @ 2000 RPM the gauge just moved maybe a needle width off the first dot. Shutting the fan off and running @ 2000, it was half way to the two dot range. I then moved the heater control valve all the way closed and the tractor ran right @ the first dot in the normal range. My conclusion is that maybe Kioti ought to put a 180 thermostat in tractors with cab heaters to compensate for the larger cooling capacity with both the extra volume of coolant and another radiator in the system. I then replaced the cardboard I ran previously. It is a 2012 CK30HST.

Hill Billy Bob · Feb 6, 2015

Coyote machine said:
Hill Billy Bob,

Did you add oil temp gauge? If so, can you give us a pic of the install/dash?

Thx,

CM

I have both oil temp and pressure

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/bobcat-tractors/385045d1407096423-oil-gauage-img_0055-jpg

Cardboard in the grill isn't a high tech solution, but helps. When I had to work for a living, I always ran with a winter front on my truck grills, whether they were powered by Cummins, or Cat. This cold blooded thing is not just a Kioti quirk.

Tractor Tom · Feb 6, 2015

I have both oil temp and pressure

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/bobcat-tractors/385045d1407096423-oil-gauage-img_0055-jpg

Cardboard in the grill isn't a high tech solution, but helps. When I had to work for a living, I always ran with a winter front on my truck grills, whether they were powered by Cummins, or Cat. This cold blooded thing is not just a Kioti quirk.[/QUOTE]

Hill Billy Bob, can you provide some info on your gauge install. Model numbers, make, a how to, or a link to a thread on here. Thanks, nice looking set up.
I agree, Kioti's are a cold blooded beast.

Hill Billy Bob · Feb 6, 2015

These inexpensive Stewart Warner gauges are the ones I have....but any brand or type (electrical/mechanical) will work. Bought a couple of cheap gauge mounting cups on ebay. OP gauge is plumbed in on left rear side of engine, where your pressure sensor is now located. OT sender is installed after removing plug in the front side of the oil filter housing. Might need adapter to go from NPT gauge fittings to the metric on tractor.

Access Denied

Access Denied

Hill Billy Bob · Feb 6, 2015

Odd the links I included say access denied....but work when I click them. If they don't for you, let me know, and I will PM you with them.....Hill Billy Bob