Is this a normal temperature while mowing?

[psvines]

I noticed my mowing temperature dropped after cleaning the radiator screen and running at 2900 instead of 2500.

 

[wrooster]

I have no idea. I don't know all the technical details of the thermometer yet, but where on the engine should I be measuring?

Just as background on this type of thermometer -- there will be a visible red LED laser (pointer type) aiming dot which denotes the measurement location. Don't get the idea that the thermometer is simply taking the temperature at that point, however. The thermometer measures IR light intensity, which is a function of temperature. The way that this is accomplished is via a small lens assembly and an IR sensor.

The nature of this approach is that the farther you get from the thermometer, the more the indicated measurement will be an average of a larger area.

For example, you could put an ice cube on a tile floor, and point the thermometer at it -- centering the little red dot right on the ice cube. Depending on how far above the floor you are, you may get readings from 32'F to 60'F. It simply depends on how much of the IR from the ice cube is captured versus the IR from the background, and I stress again that this is dependent on distance. Your thermometer will come with a chart showing you the IR "capture circle" as a function of distance.

I tell you this because when you are measuring items which have a large temperature gradient, you HAVE to denote what the measurement distance was and what the IR window aperture (aka "capture circle") was. Otherwise, there is no way for someone to duplicate your results.

For comparison, let's look at a common application of these thermometers, which is to determine where insulation might be needed in a house. You point the thermometer at a wall or ceiling, and compare measurements with other locations. Now then, even at tens of feet distance, *most* of the measured area will have roughly the same temperature (say, 65'F). So this measurement is useful and can be easily compared to other measurements made by other folks using different thermometers.

In contrast, suppose you are pointing the IR thermometer at an engine, at a distance of 4 feet. The IR "capture circle" at that range may be 10" in diameter. So, for example, within that window is a plastic shroud at 100'F, an exhaust manifold at 700'F, a portion of the cylinder head at 200'F, the starter motor at 150'F, and a whole bunch of other parts at wildly varying temperatures. The IR thermometer will average the readings based on area (larger areas are weighted more heavily, of course). Despite the little red dot being on a small section of the engine block, you have a whole bunch of other temperature data intermixed with it. You didn't really measure the engine block temperature in this case.

If someone else tries to repeat this measurement at 4 feet, but instead uses a thermometer with a IR capture circle of 4" at that distance, they will likely end up with a much different value, depending on what is in the IR field of view of that specific thermometer.

I attach below an example I found via Google images; note the distance-vs-spot size graphic on the left hand side of the instruction sheet. This specification is good for this model only; other IR thermometers will have different specifications for the IR capture circle.

Wrooster

 

[onetrackmind]

I have a BX1860 also. I notice that the temp gauge runs up where yours does whenever I am using maximum power for extended times. For example, when I mow in the fall, with the PTO-powered Trac-vac operating, gulping grass and leaves... However, the tractor seems to operate fine, and the temp stays stable there. So I tend to agree with others, that the tractor is running at its high-power operating temperature, and that the gauge is simply calibrated there.

I have added water wetter Red Line Synthetic Oil - WaterWetter® Coolant Additives - WaterWetter® and will report back later this fall. I have had good success with this product in race cars, and am hoping it works as effectively on the little tractor. I hope it just lowers the high-power operating temp a bit, as indicated on the gauge; to give me a little comfort.

onetrack

 

[casolorz]

Alright so the thermometer has a 2 cm diameter at 15 cm distance, 6.3 at 50 cm distance, and 12.5 cm at 100 cm distance.

What should I aim it at and what should I expect?

 

[SandburRanch]

Alright so the thermometer has a 2 cm diameter at 15 cm distance, 6.3 at 50 cm distance, and 12.5 cm at 100 cm distance.

What should I aim it at and what should I expect?

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Aim it at the top radiator hose (black?) and at the lower radiator hose (black?). By doing this you'll be checking not only temperature but the temp. differential which will tell you the cooling effect the radiator has.

 

[mozark]

Been a couple of years since I did that, but I think my Bx2350 run about 215 at the thermostat housing with the needle about 1/8" from the red. A tip though, you have to be quick to get an accurate reading, diesels start to cool down quickly when you go to idle.

 

[casolorz]

Been a couple of years since I did that, but I think my Bx2350 run about 215 at the thermostat housing with the needle about 1/8" from the red. A tip though, you have to be quick to get an accurate reading, diesels start to cool down quickly when you go to idle.

I'll check tomorrow, where is the thermostat housing?
I checked the hoses today when the thermostat was in the middle and they said 140 for the one up top and 130 for the one on the bottom however the one on the bottom (which I'm not even sure is the right one) was really hard to get to so I might not have gotten an accurate reading. The engine near where you put oil in had a reading of 165.

 

[casolorz]

I have a feeling this may be my own fault. Do you mow on the low gears or high speed gears?
I noticed with the box blade it only reaches high temperatures if I am on the high speed gears. I was moving some very good soil, very easy to move so I put it on the higher speed gears and it got to about 3/4 of the temp gauge. The big black hose on the upper part of the radiator was at 173, and the main engine block was at 203. I couldn't get a good measurement of the bottom hose.

--Carlos

 

[linearxs]

I have a BX2660 and mow about 7.5 acres once a month. When the grass was high and it was hot out I would need to run in LOW range (speed) and engine rpm was at 3050.

HI range and low engine rpm will definitely make it run hotter. In my experience anyway.

 

[Texas Fella]

Ok. My thoughts as a service manager. First off, your unit is not overheating. However, it may be running at above average temperature. I make this point because I often have customer come in and say that "my tractor is overheating." When I first started, I did not realize that I should equate that with just running an little over normal. Point is, make sure you are clear with the dealer where it runs and why you are concerned (this you may have already done). The easiest way to be sure the radiator is clean is to simply remove it completly from the tractor. This would most likely be a good idea anyway because if the unit is anywhere near 2 years old, you need to change the coolant. Coolant over 2 years old becomes prone to a condition called Silicate Drop-out. I am not going to go into great detail here, but basically the silicate comes out of suspension, deposits in the radiator, and impedes coooling. I have never seen a "flush" that gets rid of all of it. I have seen several radiators that even my own techs say are "clean" (and I know the checked them) that when I had them removed, they were still clogged up on the back side of the radiator.

To sum up:

1. Be clear with your dealer what is happening (above average temp, not overheating).

2. Remove the radiator completly from the tractor and clean it.

3. Replace the coolant with the proper coolant and water mixture.

If you do this, I think you will see your temperature drop some. However, most of these units will run above the "half way" mark that we are used to seeing on items like cars and trucks, it is just their design. I hope this helps.