Is my MF 231 running too hot??

[Winmac]

I may be able to explain a couple of the new issues you created, let's see a picture of the underside of the new cap.

 

[Travis_R]

I may be able to explain a couple of the new issues you created, let's see a picture of the underside of the new cap.

I did create new issues, but whatever it takes to get the cooling system how it's supposed to be. There's no doubt it wasn't right before. I'll get to the bottom of it however long it takes. Done come too far to give up!

Here are the pics...

 

[Winmac]

It's a very odd looking cap... But I suspect that it is designed to hold a vacuum, some are not.
What dose this mean if you had the cap off with hot coolant then reinstalled it and allowed the system to cool. You now have a negative pressure in the system, this will collapse the rad hoses.

Same deal trying to drain the rad with the cap on, you need to allow air in the top before water flows out.

 

[Travis_R]

What dose this mean if you had the cap off with hot coolant then reinstalled it and allowed the system to cool. You now have a negative pressure in the system, this will collapse the rad hoses.

When I had the tractor running up to temp, I removed the cap to look at the water/see what it was doing.
I reinstalled the cap and let the engine idle a minute. I shut the engine off and went and drank a few cups of coffee. I gave the engine long enough time to cool off completely. No warmth on the engine whatsoever.
When I came back, I noticed the bottom radiator hose was completely collapsed. All the other hoses were fine.
I then opened up the radiator cap and the hose immediately expanded again.

So what you're saying is normal??

Thanks

 

[Winmac]

It's not normal to take a cap off a hot engine......

Just trying to explain away your new "problems"

 

[Travis_R]

I just can't understand why the needle on the temp gauge is right at the white mark (verge of running hot according to gage) when the infrared thermometer is reading 180F at the thermostat housing.
It really makes me scratch my head.

Like I stated earlier, it either has to be a faulty sending unit, AND/OR a faulty temp gauge.

They're ordered, but just can't get here fast enough.

I think I'm gonna pull the radiator off in the morning and go have it tested.. Especially since I'm waiting on the other 2 parts to arrive.

Since I've been draining and adding water, I'm now starting to see a good bit of rusty/brown color.

 

[TomSeller]

Now here is a new problem that I KNOW isn't right.

I took the bottom hose off the radiator (cold engine).. Took radiator cap off and filled radiator up with garden hose through the bottom of radiator. When the water came out the top of the radiator I put the cap back on and sealed the bottom of the radiator opening with my hand.

Well guess what?! No water came out the radiator UNTIL I removed the cap!! Then all the water came out!
.

Travis, have you ever been served a soda and inserted a straw to the bottom of the glass, then capped the top with your thumb while pulling the straw out of the soda? The soda stays in the straw, doesn't it? The air is not able to make it up the straw to allow the soda to drain back out. The radiator tubes are like straws. The air can not make it up the small tubes to allow the coolant to drain. When you take off the cap, it allows air to displace the coolant in the tubes from the top.

 

[Travis_R]

And another important thing...

When I first start the engine, and have the radiator cap off, water tends to "push out" the top of the radiator neck as the engine warms up.

It never did this with the old cap. Not sure if it's supposed to do this or not.

 

[TomSeller]

And another important thing...

When I first start the engine, and have the radiator cap off, water tends to "push out" the top of the radiator neck as the engine warms up.

It never did this with the old cap. Not sure if it's supposed to do this or not.

The cap is off, how can it have anything to do with the coolant level?

 

[Travis_R]

Travis, have you ever been served a soda and inserted a straw to the bottom of the glass, then capped the top with your thumb while pulling the straw out of the soda? The soda stays in the straw, doesn't it? The air is not able to make it up the straw to allow the soda to drain back out. The radiator tubes are like straws. The air can not make it up the small tubes To allow the coolant to drain.

Thanks Tom, I never looked at it that way. It is normal then. I thought it wasn't but it makes perfect sense now.