Massey Fergusson 231S Lower Rad hose cold

[dhuhncke]

Hi all,
i bought a used Massey 231S 2001 model last year and this year i'm going to put it to work there is only 700 hours on the tractor so its like new. I have an issue and that is when the tractor warms up the top of the radiator is HOT and the bottom is ice cold. The temperature gage sets right in the center, but i have yet to start working it with a finish mower, etc...

So far i have flushed out the Radiator pushing water through and out the engine block so thats tested and i don't have anything plugged. The cooling system takes 2.8 gallons of coolant, so i got lazy and just poured straight coolant (unmixed into the radiator and topped off with water) i hope i didn't damage the waterpump blades by not mixing the antifreezae with the water like your supposed to do. I bought the tractor last fall i pretty much parked it in the shop all winter so i do not have a baseline to draw on concering how HOT the engine runs.

I can't imagine the water pump blades being that delicate but thought i'd put that info out here on the forum. Since then I have reflushed the cooling system and installed properly mixed anitfreeze. The top of the radiator will remain cold then after 20 minutes or about it will turn very hot so i presume thats when the thermostat opens up. I drove the tractor for a couple hours today with a rear blade bladeing the road. The temperature gauge sat right in the middle and after i shut it down the bottom radiator hose was ice cold. Something aint right here, i 'm thinking i got a weak water pump or worse maybe damaged water pump blades. I've never seen a cooling system act like that if its normal. Any idea?

 

[CalG]

If you are not boiling water and loosing coolant, you are OK

If the engine is suffering, It will puke!

 

[Goaliedavid]

We have 4 Massey 135's and 6 Massey 240's here on the farm all of which have over 8000 hour each on them. Just took a look at our service records (they only go back 12 years on computer) but I could not see were we have replaced a water pump, these tractors have the AD3.152 perkins in them where the 231s has they 903.27 perkins, not sure of the difference but my parts book shows same part # for water pump. Thus I would not say the water pumps are delicate. Would agree it does sound like something is a miss, as you would think that the coolant would be circulating and temp would be even at operating temp. I can't remember ever touching hoses to check if lower hose was warm but I will start one in the morning and check it out and get back with you on what I find. But I would kind of agree with CalG, keep an eye on temp gage and also maybe double check with laser temp gage. If the 903 perkins is built anything like the AD3.152's you have a tractor that should last you a life time.