SteveInMD
Platinum Member
I once had a lot of smoke (and a few minor flames) from a mouse that built a nest on top of the engine.
EMERGENCY: Smoke Coming out of Tractor Engine Area!
- Thread starter GreenAcres
- Start date
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The Haymaker
Veteran Member
I just happened to drive by their place today. Maybe this picture will help you guys troubleshoot?
Mark_in_NH
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2002
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- 1,554
- Location
- Moultonborough, New Hampshire
- Tractor
- New Holland TC35D w/ 16LA FEL
Steve_Miller
Veteran Member
Here's my two cents worth. When you say the tractor stalled, did it stop all of a sudden or did it seem to be getting sluggish (less and less power) and then quit? If so, I'm assuming that with the wet grass loading down the engine and (I'm assuming an exhaust outlet to the front) an almost wide open throttle that the black smoke from the exhaust was being sucked up by the engine fan into the engine compartment and a la black smoke. Sound plausible?
Steve
Steve
jinman
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
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- 20,387
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- Texas - Wise County - Sunset
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- NHTC45D, NH LB75B, Ford Jubilee
Greenacres said:
I'm going back to the original post because I see a lot in the statements Greenacres made. She was mowing heavy grass and distracted because it started raining heavily. Either the temperature gage was faulty or she did not notice the engine getting hot due to low coolant. As the engine heated up, the diesel started to boil and the engine sputtered, "cut out." The engine was shut down, but it was so hot the hydraulic oil residue along with water from the rain washed down onto the exhaust and began to smoke. The smoke lasted until the residue burned away.
I think the problem is clear. Greenacres overheated her tractor due to low coolant. The damage done may have been minor enough to not have long-lasting effects, but we won't know that until the tractor has a few more hours of operation at normal operating temperatures. It's not likely that the level of the grass had anything to do with this problem except to make the tractor work very hard. With the proper coolant level, she should not have had any problems. She and her husband need to make sure the radiator is clean and clear for air passage and that the proper amount of coolant is in the radiator and overflow container ("antifreeze tank").
I have been guilty of not checking my operating temperature enough when mowing and getting trash blocking the radiator vents. It's easy to do. I actually wish our tractors had an audible alarm rather than just a gage or a light. It's easy to get distracted and not keep an eye on the gages. I hope Greenacres and her husband end up "dodging the bullet" on this event and not having serious damage to their tractor. They do need to keep an eye on all the radiator hoses for dripping or pressure leaks. Stuff happens, but you have to learn from experiences like this and work to prevent them in the future.
johnnylight
Gold Member
Where did you get this sad picture?
GreenAcres,
keep us updated on how your tractors doing.
ByronBob
Veteran Member
Shutting the engine down if you're not certain of something is never a bad idea. Asessing the situation is always a good idea.
This has happened to me too. After a while you learn to pay more attention to the temperature gauge and stop periodically to clean the outside surface of the radiator.
The Haymaker
Veteran Member
Downtown Lincoln Center, Maine. Luckily they got the two townsfolk, goat, and one horse out of the cab so there was still a dance friday night.
I took this picture last fall, I believe, on my way through town. Scary part is I sent the picture to my dealer with a sarcastic "2009 models come equipped with a fire extinguisher", and he said someone bought the thing and was in the process of restoring it.
