New (to me) 1538 Shuttle Questions

Molalla1 · Dec 23, 2019

JerryK said:
I believe your tractor is a MCrD Tier 4 emmisions engine. You need to run it at higher RPM. A 'warm up' RPM of 13-1400, then crank her up to 2K or so an run it there. Since you have been working it at 1K RPM, your ECR is probably sooted up and needs to be cleaned. Then you will be good to go. Once it is warmed up, you can idle her at 1K, but she needs more RPM when working her. On my 2555, the EGR cleaning process is to unplug the electrical connector, remove the two bolts, remove the EGR being carefull with the reusable gasket. Then clean the exposed soot off with brake cleaner, blowing it dry at the end. Replace the EGR and you are good to go. I had a dealer mech clean mine once, when I abused my motor like you have. Never had a problem since. I believe the flashing of the CPU gives a little more voltage to the EGR to help it move. Once it binds up from the soot, you get the smells and poor engine running. Surprised you do not have a ' Check Engine ' light on.

Very good info for him Jerry . . . :thumbsup:

RVbeemer · Dec 25, 2019

OK, yesterday it was 73 degrees. I warmed the tractor up and worked it at 1800 - 2000 rpm for about 3 hours. Temperature gauge never registered. When I parked the tractor, I went in for maybe 10 minutes and then went back out and put my infared thermometer on the top of the radiator, thermostat housing, engine block. It read about 160 degrees everywhere I checked. I'm thinking thermostat.
I haven't had any lights come on so far. Thanks for the tip on cleaning the EGR!

JerryK · Dec 25, 2019

Have also to remember these things have a lot of cast iron, big radiators, over aggressive fans, etc. In the winter where it is cold, I have to run 1/4" sign plastic with holes in the center to get my equipment up to temp. I am currently running a 7.5" hole in a 2555 turbo 55hp tractor I use to blow snow. If I don't block it off some, she never registers just like yours and I do not get much cab heat. If I am blowing for a long time, I have to yank the thing out or she will get too hot. They put a radiator fan in it to keep it cool when someone is bush hogging in 90 degree weather, so much air movement that it super cools the engine/radiator even with the thermostat closed trying to come up to temperature. You may be ' working it ', but not ' WORKING IT '. With your 72 degree temp I would think it would work, though. You might have a wire off going to the temp sensor, too. I think they put in a lot lower temp thermostat than the 180-190 degree we are used to be thinking about.

RNeumann · Dec 25, 2019

I wouldn’t be changing the thermostat. These have a known temp gauge reading “issue” that was fixed with a reflash. 160° after 10’ of not running sounds about right. The reflash has/makes the temp gauge read in the middle instead of the bottom. I wouldn’t be too concerned about your temps.

RVbeemer · Dec 25, 2019

OK, I appreciate all the input. I'm not real concerned but I would like the temp gauge to show me something or why have one? I think I'll go over and see the local dealer and ask them about a reflash. I haven't been there yet so I don't know much about them. It will be a good chance to check them out. Thanks!

LouNY · Dec 25, 2019

I have physically verified temperature sending units and gauges it is not hard.
1) locate your temperature sender and wiring for the gauge.
2) get an extension wire for the sender lead and a clip on lead for the sensor body threads
3) extend the gauge wire for the sensor and connect it, attach a lead to the sensor threads, do not damage them, attach that to ground on the tractor
4) with a container of hot water around 160F immerse the sensor in the water up to the threads and observe the gauge,
give it 5 minutes and see were it reads
5) begin heating the container of water propane torch or electric hot plate observing your gauge
6) when the water boils it's 212F within a couple of degrees depending on your water and altitude observe your gauge it should be indicating just to the start of the hot in the gauge

RNeumann · Dec 29, 2019

RVbeemer said:
OK, yesterday it was 73 degrees. I warmed the tractor up and worked it at 1800 - 2000 rpm for about 3 hours. Temperature gauge never registered. When I parked the tractor, I went in for maybe 10 minutes and then went back out and put my infared thermometer on the top of the radiator, thermostat housing, engine block. It read about 160 degrees everywhere I checked. I'm thinking thermostat.
I haven't had any lights come on so far. Thanks for the tip on cleaning the EGR!

I worked my machine and the temp gauge came up to “normal” in that it read about middle of the display. I turned off the machine and waited a few min (trying to simulate your reading but it’s colder here so I didn’t wait 10’) and shot the top of the radiator. I got 159.4°f.

RVbeemer · Dec 30, 2019

That sounds similar to my reading so, like you said, there doesn't seem to be a heating issue but a gauge issue. I'm going to go by the dealer sometime this week and see what they have to say about it. Thanks and Happy New Year

TractorNH · Jan 10, 2020

RVbeemer said:
This is my first post since joining although I have been here before. I have now had my 2016? 1538 Shuttle for 2 weeks. It had 213 hrs. on when I bought it. It now has 220 hrs. Very happy with it but.... I did not get an owners manual with it so I have some questions. Yesterday I noticed the temp gauge is not registering. Actually, I didn't realize it had one! Wondering if the tractor is not getting hot enough or gauge is malfunctioning. Also, the fumes coming off the tractor are real bad, like when I get off and work in front of tractor or park it in the shed, the fumes seem excessively strong. Could this be an emissions issue?
What is the explosion looking icon on the gauge cluster when I turn on the key? Does my FEL have a float setting? I have an owners manual ordered, been 10 days, but from what I've read on the forums, I'm not expecting much from it. Thanks in advance for any answers.

If you go to this Mahindra link, enter your name and an email address, the next page select "operator manuals" and on the 3rd page you enter the serial number and then you can download the pdf of your owners manual.
| Mahindra

johnsonauto · Jan 10, 2020

RVbeemer said:
OK, yesterday it was 73 degrees. I warmed the tractor up and worked it at 1800 - 2000 rpm for about 3 hours. Temperature gauge never registered. When I parked the tractor, I went in for maybe 10 minutes and then went back out and put my infared thermometer on the top of the radiator, thermostat housing, engine block. It read about 160 degrees everywhere I checked. I'm thinking thermostat.
I haven't had any lights come on so far. Thanks for the tip on cleaning the EGR!

Sounds like you need to have the ECU reflashed as there was an update to address this problem