Clogged Radiator Screen Cause Motor to Idle Back?

[cdcole]

I have two questions.
1) If the screen on a TC25/29 clogs with dandilion "hairs" will the engine speed decrease? Seems like mine did - I cleared the hairs from the screen and everything went back to normal. (happened ealier in the season). Is there a temp. sensor that eases back the engine power some how? If so - what exactly does it do?

2) On the TC25/29 - When mowing - where on the guage is your temperature needle when mowing in 85-90 degree weather powering a 60" MMM through 4" grass (normal)? There is two green ranges and then a red range. Mine ran in the lower part of the upper most green portion. Yours too?

 

[thcri]

On my TC29D mine runs right smack dab in the middle of the two greens. I don't care how hot or how cold it is, it just seems to work itself to the middle of the two greens. If I am plowing snow it will even eventually get there unless I let the tractor idle down. My screen one time did fill up and my tractor did then run up higher but I just pulled the screen, cleaned and the temperature went right back down. As far as the motor slowing down mine did not do that the one time it did get warm. I guess as far as yours running in the upper green I would question my dealer about that. It may not be a problem and that is just where your tractor is going to run.

murph

 

[cdcole]

Thanks Murph. Asked the dealer and he did not know. Time for a temperature guage and an email to NH engineering.

Cliff

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue">There is two green ranges and then a red range. Mine ran in the lower part of the upper most green portion. Yours too? </font>
If it's in the green range, it's normal. Mine runs in the middle of the gauge.

The Owner's Manual, Page 2-4, indicates;

If the needle registers in the green range of the gauge, this indicates a normal operating temperature.

<font color="blue">Time for a temperature guage...</font>
You don't have a temperature gauge? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

<font color="blue">...and an email to NH engineering. </font>
I imagine this is what NH engineering is going to tell you.

 

[5030]

Mike:

After reading the post, If the screen was plugged with "hairs", I'd say the engine would speed up as the fan would be running in a partial vacuum as no air would go through the radiator, hence no drag on the fan.

If the motor slowed down, I'd say that it was seriously overheated . An overheated condition would cause the working clearances within the motor to decrease resulting in more friction internally. That friction would equate to a slower running speed as the motor would have to overcome the drag within itself.

The poster stated that he thought the temp gage was faulty, or the sensor was faulty. If so, I believe the motor was overheated, probably to the extent that internally, the motor has developed some problems that will manifest themselves later on.

To generate enough friction to slow the motor down, there would have to be at least a partial seziure. or at least a scored liner. I'd do a compression check and burn an oil sample. Any good tractor dealer will have pre-paid mailers with a sample bottle included, that you can sample the drain oil and send it off for spectro-analysis. I burn my oil about once a year in all my tractors and my diesel truck gets it done every other change.

Spectro-analysis gives a good indication of how the engine is performing as well as bearing wear and foreign substances in the oil or fuel. It will give you and indication of pending problems before they happen. It will also tell you of current internal problems such as a scored liner or partial seizure.

I do my spectro-analysis through Caterpillar Diesel, but there are numerous testing labs. I get my sample bottles from the Western Star truck delaer and they cost $15.00 each. That includes sample bottle, hose and pre-paid mailer.

One note: When you sample engine drain oil or transmission oil for that matter. Obtain the sample from the oil running out of the drain hole, preferrably a few seconds after the flow has started. Not at the beginning or at the end of the flow.

Hope this helps.

 

[JerryG]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Obtain the sample from the oil running out of the drain hole, preferrably a few seconds after the flow has started. Not at the beginning or at the end of the flow.

Hope this helps.)</font>

Sounds like when you go to the doctor! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[cdcole]

Not sure where my message went - issue was a partially open bleed valve - mixing air with fuel.

 

[cdcole]

One point of clarification - I never stated that I thought the temp. guage was faulty. In any case - I would always error on the side of believing a false guage.

 

[5030]

Would that doctor be a proctologist????? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[5030]

cdcole:

As a good program of preventative maintenance, whether you are suspect of your engine, transmission or not, spectrascopic analysis of an oil sample will warn you of problems that might be developing. I use it as a tool in my maintenance program, not after the fact.