Overheated my LS XR4140hc while bush hogging. Should I worry about long term effects?

[bulldog81]

I am a newb with tractors. I had limited use with a couple before buying my xr4140hc.

Last weekend I bush hogged for a couple hours. Well I didn't notice the temp gauge rising. Once the warning flashed though I realized it and shut the tractor off. I turned the key a min later and the temp had risen more and the guage was maxed out. Thirty seconds later the vacuum hose that connects the top of the radiator blew apart where it connects to the radiator. It looks like it melted or something I don't know. It let some steam out and blew a little antifreeze out.

I guess I didn't realize how fast the radiator screen fills up as you literally couldn't see through it. The stuff I was bush hogging was thick. I blew the screen out. I cut the blown hose and reconnected it. The coolant reservoir still was between the high and low marks. I let the tractor cool about half an hour. I then finished the bush hogging without issue.

I checked the reservoir the next day. It was just below the low line. I checked it because I know you are supposed to check it when the engine is cold. Anyways I topped off the radiator with antifreeze and added some to the reservoir. I replaced the vacuum hose as well.

Should I be worried I damaged something? It seems to run fine.

Lesson learned I need to check that screen often!!

 

[jimmysisson]

Next time clean the screen while it's running, so coolant is still circulating. Time will tell if you got it so hot it damaged something. Hope not.
Jim

 

[N80]

Probably nothing to worry about in regard to your engine. Not sure why a hose would burst though. I'm assuming this was the hose that leads to the overflow reservoir. Make sure it is completely open and unobstructed.

My tractor has only overheated once. Same issue: radiator screen covered in grass and mower debris. Now you know to keep an eye on that screen and your temps.

 

[BTDT2]

Lesson learned I need to check that screen often!!

Lesson #2 Cooling down an overheated diesel engine, assuming it has coolant, is best done by letting it idle.

 

[Cataclysm]

Your probably fine, only time will tell. Watch for it to over heat and or lose coolant especially under a load at PTO speed.

As stated above, watch the temp gauge, when it starts climbing stop and let it idle until it cools, then shut it off and clean the screen. If you waited too long then leave it idling and clean the screen. The screen comes out easier if you turn the wheel all the way to the left.

It doesn't take long to clog because the fan set up on these runs lots and lots of CFM.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My little Massey overheats sometimes, I don't have a temp guage, I have to look for coolant overflow.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Here's another tip, when it starts over heating, shut it off when you clean the screen. Otherwise it'll suck the stuff into the radiator. Start the tractor up as soon as possible to help circulate the coolant and get it cooled back off

Brett

 

[Industrial Toys]

I did the same thing early on when I bought my JD 770. Rad got plugged up with weed seeds. Who looks at the temp gauge, too busy avoiding obstacles. Would a four dollar buzzer be too much to ask for from OEMs? It could save thousands!

 

[CalG]

I did the same thing early on when I bought my JD 770. Rad got plugged up with weed seeds. Who looks at the temp gauge, too busy avoiding obstacles. Would a four dollar buzzer be too much to ask for from OEMs? It could save thousands!

The buzzers were tried long ago, Owners would call the dealer and complain about the annoying noise. "It must be a failed bearing or worse".
People just will NOT read the f%%king manual, they won't watch the gauges, and they haven't got a clue as to how an engine cools it's self.

But as long as they sign the papers and make the payments, THAT IS PERFECTLY OK! ;-)

 

[boggen]

my experience. if i see temp guage get into red, "do not turn it off" instead stop and drop it down to idle and let it run at idle. this way coolant system keeps running and helps cool everything off. if you just turn off, coolant system goes dead, and heat in the engine will quickly skyrocket to rest of the parts.

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make sure you are cleaning "radiator" and "hydraulic oil cooler", and pending on tractor/truck the (transmission oil cooler)
--all 3 of them look like radiators, and generally 1 to 2 directly in front of engine, with one of them ""hidden"" behind another one.
--the transmission oil cooler some times located at rear of engine area, or near bottom of tractor and located between engine and transmission.

leaf blower can be an awesome quick way to blow stuff out. with the large amount of CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air it can toss out.

for an air compressor blow gun, i end using a whip-it (a piece of hose attached to end of blow gun), so i can wiggle the hose were i need it.

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rotary cutter = (bush hog = brand name / lamen term),

learn what you need to do, in order to adjust your "slip clutch" this needs to be done on new slip clutches and min 1 time a year servicing of the slip clutch. and in that adjusting the slip clutch and getting it to slip some.

PTO shaft, generally they come "long" and then you need to cut them down to fit your given tractor with given 3pt hitch implement. everythingattachments.com has a youtube video that explains measuring and cutting of a PTO shaft.

and before you loose a "turn buckle" piece (2 long screws with a long nut) 3 of them total on the 3pt hitch (one per lower lift arm and then top link), might suggest wrapping a wire or use a zip tie, to hold the turn buckle together. so vibrations due not cause the turnbuckles to unscrew and fall of some place.