JD 5105 overheating

andrewj · Jun 18, 2006

Hi folks. I had this tractor since early 05. I ran it hard last summer with no heat problems. Yesterday, the heat shot up near red, and then pegged at the hottest indication and stayed there. today, it was maxed out on heat within 30 minutes. I checked the radiator and it is not clogged. I checked the antifreeze and it is just below the overflow tube. When I idle the tractor and spray the radiator with a water hose it seems to bring the temp down a little. Fan is intact, and fan belt is not slipping. It has less than 200 hours on it.

It is still under warranty, but getting it to the dealer is an ordeal. Any ideas?

Miller_tractor · Jun 18, 2006

Have you tried blowing the radiator out with compressed air? It may not look clogged but it can be. There is also a catch screen in front of the radiator, it doesnt always catch the small stuff but it definatley helps, pull that out and blow the radiator out either with compressed air or water (only if the engine is cold). I would start there, if neither of those work then I imagine it is a mechanical failure of some sort and take it to the dealer.

andrewj · Jun 19, 2006

I tried spraying with a water hose - nothing really came out. I did a visual inspection on the radiator screen and it did not look clogged. is there a way to test the water pump to see if it is adequately circulating water?

Cityboyfarmer · Jun 19, 2006

Change out your thermostat. If everything else is working, that seems like the next logical step.

andrewj · Jun 20, 2006

Cityboyfarmer said:
Change out your thermostat. If everything else is working, that seems like the next logical step.

I'm with you on this - it is like a 20 dollar fix...but I called the shop guy at the dealer and he says that is not it. He says blow out the radiator again. I did. still overheated!

bobbyjak · Jun 21, 2006

Is the radiator steaming or hot?..If not, could be ascending unit or gauage is bad..Check top & bottom radiator hoses to see if they are colapseing on you..

tpike35 · Jun 21, 2006

A bad radiator cap can cause one to run hot ... Just my two cent worth !!!

andrewj · Jun 22, 2006

tpike35 said:
A bad radiator cap can cause one to run hot ... Just my two cent worth !!!

this is puzzling - the radiator and all hoses (and cap) look remarkably good. remember, only 200 hours on the machine. no crimped hoses, nothing like that. While 'm no mechanic, I have sat and looked every componant over for problems, and from teh outside, it looks clean. I have also taken a little 409 and made it clean enough to eat off of in some places.

Today, I watched the temp guage move. It reads whatever it wants, high low, and in between. When I called the dealer, they said you can't just buy one guage, it is part of a 300 dollar package ???

crazy.

and they won't come pick it up for less than 100 pick up, another 100 for delivery.

andrewj · Jun 30, 2006

OK update: I took it myself to another dealer. dealer replaced sending unit, and improved the ground connection (battery box) with a wire brush. This appears to have fixed it. Really nice guys. I had a flat on the trailer I borrowed, and they fixed it, free.