Mowing Temperature toooo high

ruffdog · May 18, 2019

Ranchofla said:
I tried to blow out the radiator from the fan side (not much room) did not get the whole area done.

Did you verify air could get through by putting a light behind it and LOOKING THROUGH it? I saw a tractor radiator so packed with dust that no light would go through. The top radiator tank (plastic) melted because it was that hot. If you can't SEE through it, air doesn't go through it, and it doesn't cool the liquid.

Ranchofla · May 18, 2019

Bavarian said:
Where did you take the temp from the rad? If you took it close to the bottom, it'd too high for my liking.
If you have a way lower temp reading at the bottom of the rad, but the engine's temp is still up, you have a flow problem. Either thermostat or water pump. Thermostats "usually" fail in the open position and makes it difficult to warm up the engine.

Temp was taken at the top of the radiator, did not check the bottom, will do that today when mowing as the yard is not done yet.

Thanks

Rancho

Ranchofla · May 18, 2019

Getting close to either the front or rear of the radiator on this tractor is almost impossible the fan and shroud block the engine side and the hydraulic radiator blocks the front.

Can anyone tell me what the normal temp should be (if gauge is in the middle).

Thanks

Rancho

Ranchofla · May 18, 2019

ruffdog said:
Did you verify air could get through by putting a light behind it and LOOKING THROUGH it? I saw a tractor radiator so packed with dust that no light would go through. The top radiator tank (plastic) melted because it was that hot. If you can't SEE through it, air doesn't go through it, and it doesn't cool the liquid.

Same issue with the light, took my brightest LED out the other night and shined through and where I could get close enough there was light on the other side. I might just have to pull radiator and try to clean it or take it to a local radiator shop (we still have one in Tallahassee).

Rancho

Billrog · May 18, 2019

I've cleaned a couple rads that were off the machine using Lime Away . Poured some in the rad let it sit ( shake a bit ) flush with garden hose and repeated doing this until no more pieces of calcium or anything else was coming out. Off the machine not so sure i'd want that chemical get near my water pump just in case it harmed the seals.

Deere Dude · May 18, 2019

One thing I would try is to stop at a HVAC dealer in town and get a little commercial coil cleaner. Spray it on the outside of the radiator with a hand sprayer and let it be for a while. It will seemingly cook all the crud from in between the fins, then spray it off until clear, according to instructions.

4570Man · May 18, 2019

I think it’s too hot. The fact that the radiator is also hot would mean to me that the water pump and thermostat is working. I’m guessing dirt in the radiator is the problem and my next guess is the fan isn’t operating correctly.

ruffdog · May 18, 2019

4570Man said:
I think it’s too hot. The fact that the radiator is also hot would mean to me that the water pump and thermostat is working. I’m guessing dirt in the radiator is the problem and my next guess is the fan isn’t operating correctly.

That is what I thought.....the heat is getting to the radiator, but is not releasing heat to the air.

Ranchofla · Jun 4, 2019

So I finally had time to get the radiator removed, it was a pain but it's out and yeah it was DIRTY. Here are a couple of pics. Blew it out from the back first with air then the other way then noticed there was still stuff in it so I took the hose with a nozzle that did not put too much pressure on the fins and rinsed from both sides again starting on the engine side lots od\f nasty stuff came out then blew it out again with air. Then finally took the nozzle off and ran the hose in the top and it would flow as much as the hose could put out. So tomorrow maybe I will try to put it back in, that should be fun....