more cold

[RobB7300]

With all this talk about cold weather I thought I'd pick your brains for some opinions. I have installed a temperature indicator on my B7300 (see previous post). I've been using it to plow with a back blade, up here in upstate NY. Doesn't seem to make the tractor work too hard. The reason I put the indicator on was because I didn't think it was warming up in the winter. I have checked the thermostat and it is a 180 degree setpoint and I checked it and it seems to open at the right temp. Now I can tell the temp it only seems to warm up to about 140 degrees. So I decided to experiment and block the radiator most of the way and see what happens. I figured I could always uncover it if it got too hot. So I did some clean up work today and it warmed up to 180 and stayed there. I figure without the radiator blocked the bypass flow was enough to lower the temp. So my question is what are your thoughts on leaving the radiator blocked for the winter? Does any one think that I could damage something? Thanks for all your input, and Happy holidays!

 

[Thomas]

RobB7300,
Sounds like you did some puttering today. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
I have a B7100 and I haven't had any problems of it warming up nor I block the radiator durning these cold snaps.

If your comfortable and the B7300 working even better than go with it,but just keep an eye on your fluid in the raditor...okay.

Have a pleasant evening an a Merry Christmas.


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[JerryG]

RobB7300,
Go ahead it is fine to block the radiator as long as the gauge stays in the normal operating range. If you have noticed lots of the over the road diesel truck has theirs blocked off for the same reason. Their snap on radiator covers can be had from the truck manufactures.
JerryG

 

[paccorti]

I'm having similar warm up issues with my TC35D. What should I use to block the radiator? A piece of cardboard? A Piece of plywood? Any ideas? It is far easier (for me) to directly block the radiator then the grill on the hood of the tractor (curved grill surfaces, etc).

Peter

 

[RobB7300]

I use a peice of thin flashing that I cut to be the same size as the screen that is in front of the radiator. I cut it about 2 inches shorter, that seems to allow enough cooling. It just slides in with the screen

 

[msocko3]

paccorti, Keep anything metal way from your radiator, that is unless you want to have it repaired. I would use good old cardboard. I used to have a cold blooded car [censored] heater would never do much until I blocked off half the radiator. I used cardboard because it wouldn't harm the radiator and almost everyone has it laying around to be thrown in the trash.

 

[paccorti]

Thanks Guys.

I tried cardboard and that works just fine. Just a little paranoid that it might ignite under the wrong circumstances (particularly after I shut down and walk away).

Peter