Tractor overheats when mowing. No dealer actions fix it. Any ideas?

[CADplans]

What mower are you using that causes this tractor to overheat? (brand, width, etc,,..)

Are the blades sharp? are the blades correctly installed? Is there any defects (bearings, etc,,..) in the mower?

 

[brs78660]

What mower are you using that causes this tractor to overheat? (brand, width, etc,,..)

Are the blades sharp? are the blades correctly installed? Is there any defects (bearings, etc,,..) in the mower?

The mower is a Brush Hog squealer 6'. The brush hog is not the problem because I can run it on another 40hp tractor with no issues at all.

 

[brs78660]

Believe me guys, this light blue piece of $#%$# is on its way out.

I just need to get it all fixed up and its gone. I was hoping this was just something easy overlooked and I will try all the things you guys listed.

 

[aczlan]

Put in a new thermostat, they are cheap. My bet is on a plugged radiator, hydraulic fluid along with dust and dirt. I’d pull it and take a good look.

Had an overheating problem with our L3830 today, for some reason it didn't like running a 5x5 round baler with the radiator plugged with chaff from cutting hay.
Blew the radiator out and the temp dropped back to the middle and stayed there.

Aaron Z

 

[the old grind]

Another 40 hp tractor? Is it also HST with AC? Some things run better when new and barely broke in but not forever.

Hours add up. Tall grass and a low cut height just make things tougher for the engine AND cooling system.

I wouldn't turn a 6' BH with ~30 PTO hp in >90^ weather with the AC drawing power too.

I wouldn't buy it if I heard that this combo was also used in 100^ weather. I'd think of it as flogged even if it ran ok.

Dust that 'insulates' a radiator's fins might let it still pass the flashlight test. I too would see if silt rinsed out when washed.

 

[kthompson]

If this was discussed missed seeing it, some engines will tend to run hot if run at full throttle or at throttle higher than to get 540 rpms. Have bumped into that a couple of times over the years.

 

[pmsmechanic]

This should probably be a shop tip. I've found a varsol gun to work quite well for cleaning radiators. Only don't use varsol. Use water. The air pushes the water hard enough to clean the dirt out but doesn't bend the fins the way a pressure washer does if your not careful. Just make sure you let the radiator dry before you use the tractor as wet fins attract dirt etc.

 

[rew1953]

I had a similar problem with a Ford F-150 4x4 when it was 2 years old. Threw a lot of money away on new hoses, thermostats and radiator flushes. The factory radiator was a single row model and marginal at best. Finally solved the problem by replacing original with a 2 row radiator meant for AC and tranny cooling. Now temp stays at the very low end of the normal operating range. New radiator was a direct bolt up replacement. Everything fit perfectly. Best $80 bucks I ever spent.

 

[brs78660]

I'm kind of in agreement with the above thinking. Besides thermostat problems, what gaskets got replaced and why. Head gasket by any chance?

No, I guess gaskets is not the right word. Like the seals under to hood that keep the air flowing in the right direction. The foam around the radiator, the rubber gasket that the edge of the hood sits on. Stuff like that.

 

[rademamj1]

Nobody truly knows, specifically why this tractor overheats. All recommendations and suggestions have been spot on, in regard to resolving the issue. Even the OP's dealer has failed to determine the exact cause of overheating after doing alot of work on the tractor, that in the end was probably unnecessary.

I would suggest to implement the recommendations in this thread from other users, and if they don't fix the problem, call a mobile tractor mechanic, or an experienced diesel mechanic to your farm location to diagnose and repair your overheating tractor. Sometimes these guys are so experienced, in just 30 minutes they can identify and repair your tractor.