Tractor not warming up

JMynes · Jan 24, 2011

All very good advice, but I would try the simple fix first.
My tractor engine only got lukewarm in cold weather even when working it hard. I never gave it much thought until I got a cab and a heater. A piece of cardboard with about a 5" round hole in the middle now covers the radiator in the winter months, and my heater puts out great heat. Engine temp varies from 170-210F depending on how much snow I'm moving. I watch the gauge, when it gets up to 210F I go a little easier for a bit. I need to strip down to a t-shirt at that point anyway.
The cardboard comes out in the spring and the engine runs at about 180F most of the time.

BeeferMan · Jan 25, 2011

There's about 100 reasons why a engine will overheat, but only 1 why it won't heat up - the thermostat...

digger2 · Jan 25, 2011

Hey Beeferman,
thats a great anecdote,i'll have to remember that

.

This whole thing reminds me that between myself and my brother
we've had three Kubotas,all bought new and none of them will heat up
(according to the gauge) in the winter.I thought it was the gauges being wrong till I realized in the summer they run right about half way on the gauge.
I guess i'll have to be checkin out MY thermostat.Very possible it could be stuck open,or maybe just part way.Seems strange though that all three did it though.Thats why i figured the factory gauges were junk.I'll have to check it out.While i'm at it,i might as well put a decent aftermarket gauge on it too.
digger2

tawilson · Jan 26, 2011

Bypass?

jake98 · Jan 26, 2011

I don't get why people would expect the gauge to read the same in the cold of winter on a little tractor engine. I have to be working mine really hard for over an hour before it gets to read fully warm, when it's like this outside. I thought that was a sign that the gauge worked good.