Opinions Requested

Richard · Mar 1, 2005

May I try to requantify the question?

I'm relating the question to my tractor (not turbo) verses my backhoe (which IS turbo)

When I'm cutting the fields, the tractor temp gauge shows VERY warm to hot. Seems to me, if I then shut down after SOLID hard use the engine is clearly "at temperature" and could use time to cool down.

However, when I'm done cutting the fields, by the time I putter the tractor back to the house, the temp gauge drops down to barely off the first mark and the engine has 'cooled down".

My point being... I can let the tractor sit there all day and the temp gauge will NOT go down any further.

I work the tractor when cutting, then use the puttering back to the house routine as it's "cool down" and shut it off.

Tractor has no turbo.

When I'm on my backhoe using it for what ever, I use the same logic... my trip back to the house (easily over 3 minutes) is my cooling down trip as most of the trip is at near idle going down the gravel road.

So, my point (finally /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)

Is it not fair to say, "if the tractor is "at temperature", then some cool down time is a great idea" but if it's not running in the middle of the temp band, then it's less of an issue?

How many people use their tractor in a plowing situation, then immediately shut it off?

I'm not advocating turbo-destructions, I'm just thinking that in the real world, if you "worked" the tractor 30 minutes prior and the last 30 minutes has been puttering around, then it's not as big of an issue.

Am I setting myself up for a $$$ repair??

BarryinMN · Mar 1, 2005

I have a neighbor who was plowing with a CASE tractor & the plow hooked something & stalled the motor. He did not get on the clutch fast enough. The motor ended up with a warped head & getting rebuilt.

Soundguy · Mar 1, 2005

( shows VERY warm to hot......, by the time I putter the tractor back to the house, the temp gauge drops down to barely off the first mark .".
)

Hmm..I think this may be part of the issue.

I don't see that kind of temperature flucuations on my engines.. diesel or gas.

Once my gauges come up to temp.. that is.. the opening temp of the thermostat.. they pretty much set right there and stay there till the tractor shuts down.. whether that is 2 hours of driving around at low load/rpm.. or 3 hours of hard mowing... same temp...

Perhaps your cooling system is a tad compromised? and actually needs no load time to cool?

What does everyone else see on thier temp gauge / behavior.. etc

Soundguy

rambler · Mar 1, 2005

Likewise when I drive home from the fields that gives my turboed tractors time to cool down. I put them to idle & give them a couple seconds to be at idle, but that is fine. Got 5000 hours on each. One turbo I had worked on, mechanic said it was just ready to go at 4000.

You do want to give it the 3 minutes of no-load time to cool down, many turbos have no actual bearing but use a layer of oil as the bearing. It will burn up solid if you don't let it cool down with a flow of oil across the bearing.

So your question is misleading, you need the cooldown time absolutely. No-load conditions at low-mid throttle will get you there.

My gas tractors fluctuate a lot on the temp gauge when I'm working them. The 2 smaller diesels I can overload & watch the temp climb but not a great deal (one it climbed too high, just replaced the thermo and will let you know this summer what it does now), the big ox seems to hold his temp about the same no matter what I do with it.

--->Paul

LarryD · Mar 1, 2005

I see differences in operating temp depending on outside air temp, but little difference in an operating "day". I do not have large areas that require a constant load so I may not see the same effect as plowing a hay field.
One would also have to ask what sort of change is required to see movement on the guage...50º, 100º. I'm not sure what sort of incremental changes are required.

kozak · Mar 1, 2005

Yeah...Soundguy,

I see the same thing. Temperature comes up & then just sits at operating temp even during heavy work. (Rock steady)
Just what you want to see I think. I mean it's the same way with anything else I own. I agree with you, if temperature starts rising or is fluctuating alot depending upon what you are doing, something is wrong.

db2 · Mar 2, 2005

I have had the same experience as Soundguy.

I brushhog for hours on end in the height of the summer heat with my NAA. Temperature gets up to operating temp and stays there.

With all my power equipment I idle for a bit before I shut them off. I have not had any motor problems. It seems to just feel better too. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Richard · Mar 2, 2005

( something is wrong. )

I can vouch for something being wrong lol, my wifes uncle owns the tractor. I'm laughing about that and understandably you don't know why... but his M.O. seems to be... run it until it stops, then figure out why & fix it. I don't think he EVER does any preventative maintainence. This is an old IH 444 and ... well... let's just graciously say, it's had better days.

I have nagged them about getting a newer (much larger) machine to cut the fields (approx 125 acres or so as a guess) instead of the arcane 5' cutter we (primarily I, due to their age) use now.

The first summer, cutting the fields was kind of a fun different thing to do... since it took me literally all summer to give the farm a single cut though, it quickly grew on my "I hate that job" list.

I'd not mind it so much if we had a 15' flexwing behind a cab. That would allow my wifes uncle to keep at it too...and he ENJOYS it.

Anyways, yes... the old 444 has some cooling issues but as long as it keeps chugging forward, it stays status quo.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Roto · Mar 2, 2005

My IH 544 fluctuates big time on the temp. In the winter in never hardly moves. 30 degrees today and Im plowed for 2 hours strait and it never moved off cold hardly and in summer its over half way up and sometimes close to the hot and it shows hehehe It dont like runnning hot. My Tc33d gets up to temp and stays there. I think they all should but the older ones probabbly didnt have sufficient cooling or something.

mike

Soundguy · Mar 2, 2005

( My IH 544 fluctuates big time on the temp )

Sounds like time for a radiator flush.

Stick a hose in the top and turn it on. If the water won't drain thru fast enough to keep it running over at the top.. you have flow problems.

May also try one of those water-wetter products.. like silo-engine kool.. you can get them at napa. they are great for 'under-cooled' engines.. but not great for thermosyphon engines.

( My Tc33d gets up to temp and stays there. I think they all should )

All my gas and diesel tractors with temp gauges do that.. and I also think that is how they should run.. pretty much staying right around the thermostat 'open' temp.

( but the older ones probabbly didnt have sufficient cooling or something )

You probably need to define 'older ones'.

For instance.. most 'older' fords.. I.E. the N series ( 1939-1952 ) had an oversized cooling system. Those engines ran notoriously cold if you didn't use a thermostat. Once your cooling system got so plugged up that you could get an N to overheat.. you had major radiator or pump flow problems...

The early ones even ran on a non presurized system.. while the later ones ran ?4 psi.

Soundguy