L2350DT Ran Hot - Quit

[FRANKLY]

So I was bush hogging yesterday and after about 45 minutes it appeared to be getting too hot. I have no temperature gage, but it seemed a lot of heat was coming back to the drivers seat. I was going to quit and let it rest as soon as I got closer to the house, but it slowed and died first. I did not try to restart then, but went back to the house and came back 2 hours later. It started right up and I made one circle around the field and then back to the house. I blew off some dust and chaff off the radiator, but it wasn't too bad. It was too hot to check anything, but I will check cooling fluid level tomorrow.

I am going to try to install a temperature gauge, as I am tired of flying blind. Not sure if I can find a threaded tap for one? What would cause it to just shut down after getting too hot? It is a 1993 model with 421 hours.

 

[Diydave]

So I was bush hogging yesterday and after about 45 minutes it appeared to be getting too hot. I have no temperature gage, but it seemed a lot of heat was coming back to the drivers seat. I was going to quit and let it rest as soon as I got closer to the house, but it slowed and died first. I did not try to restart then, but went back to the house and came back 2 hours later. It started right up and I made one circle around the field and then back to the house. I blew off some dust and chaff off the radiator, but it wasn't too bad. It was too hot to check anything, but I will check cooling fluid level tomorrow.

I am going to try to install a temperature gauge, as I am tired of flying blind. Not sure if I can find a threaded tap for one? What would cause it to just shut down after getting too hot? It is a 1993 model with 421 hours.

Any motor that overheats can have moving parts that seize together. Sometimes it's massive, and permanent, and requires a complete teardown. Hopefully the fact that you got it restarted after cooling down, is a good omen. If it is low on coolant, check for obvious leaks, and internal leaks from a blown head gasket, warped head, cracked head, or cracked block...

 

[FRANKLY]

Well, it wasn't low before I started, and I saw nothing coming out anywhere, but I will check the level tomorrow. I also want to check to see if that is a plug in the head where I can install a temperature sensor.

Thanks.

 

[rentthis]

You said that you blew chafe off of the radiator. Did you blow chafe, etc out of the radiator? I have the hardest time getting my people to understand that a radiator has to be inspected for crud in the radiator fins. If you can't see light through all of the radiator,proper air can't get through it either. They like to build up crap around the outside and sooner or later close up to the point that they won't cool the engine. Another thing to check is the thermostat and water pump. That machine is old enough to need replacements. I am particularly concerned by over heated engines. I have one on an engine stand in my office. It was over heated and fried. Do everything you can to avoid crap.

 

[FRANKLY]

I blew through it both ways. It's a little hard to see through it, as the engine is on one side and the battery is on the other. I do see air and dust exiting the opposite side of the radiator as I blew through it.

It sounds like I need to keep drilling until I find something wrong? Because just bush hogging with a small 4' unit should not cause it to overheat. I did buy a temperature gauge today, and look forward to getting a gauge on it. I wonder if I could just remove the thermostat - it's already pretty hot in Alabama - not sure it needs much regulation now? If it still overheats without it, it pretty much points to the radiator being fouled or the pump not pumping?

Thanks.

 

[sawmill]

Sometimes without the thermostat the coolant travels through the radiator to fast to be cooled. (Not with every motor, but some.) It might be worth a try.

 

[Jim L.]

In addition to the things already mentioned, if the inside of the radiator is crudded that can cause overheating. As long as you're opening it it might need fresh antifreeze and distilled water.

Could be as simple as a collapsing hose. I would keep looking until the cause is found.

 

[FRANKLY]

I spent the evening installing a temperature gauge. The antifreeze looked very clean and it was not low, so nothing really boiled out. After I completed the gauge install and charged back up with coolant, I let it idle for 15 or 20 minutes and it settled out around 190 F. I'm going to go by the dealer and get a thermostat tomorrow. I will try to do a little more bush hogging and see what happens with the temperature. What is the high temperature limit? The gauge goes to 260, but I was thinking 230 would be the max?

Thanks for the comments.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Didn't see anyone mention a loose belt will cause them to overheat as it won't spin the water pump or the fan properly.
So check that too.

 

[rentthis]

You mentioned not being able to see through the radiator because of the battery etc. I have a customer fill a radiator with mud once in a while. I know it can be a lot to do but I have my guys remove the radiator, clean it and replace it. l know that there are some here that will think i"m nuts but I think it's the only way to be positive. With most tractors it's not really hard to do and you might be amazed what you might find. Keep in mind, they still haven't found Jimmy Hoffa.

 

[Daren Todd]

I pull the battery on mine. Then take a garden hose and flush water through the fins. If it's really bad, I take it to work and hit it with the pressure washer. Only do this if you have an adjustable wand where you can back the pressure all the way off. If not you will damage the radiator. The pw at work has a heater so I can steam out any grease and trash. I'll also hit it with some soap/ degreaser and let it sit for a bit before flushing the fins

 

[rentthis]

Daren, I like to put mine in a wheelbarrow full of soap and hold it up to the sun and look for light.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Daren, I like to put mine in a wheelbarrow full of soap and hold it up to the sun and look for light.

WOW you must be really strong to hold up the wheelbarrow full of soap!
And how much light do you see through the wheelbarrow of soap???

 

[FRANKLY]

Last night after work I changed the oil, checked over the gauge installation, and checked the fan belt. I then bush hogged for about an hour and the hottest it got was about 190. So I guess cleaning the fins and the fluid changes made the difference. I may go ahead and pull the battery to be sure I have the lower half of the radiator clean. I can see through the top half, but it is hard to blow straight through the lower half. At any rate, having the temperature gauge will be a great help in preventing a recurrence of what happened last weekend.

Thanks for all the tips. You all will be the first to know, if I find Mr. Hoffa.

 

[rentthis]

Wolf, I suppose I could have said that better.

 

[85Hokie]

Sometimes without the thermostat the coolant travels through the radiator to fast to be cooled. (Not with every motor, but some.) It might be worth a try.

Excellent point !!! SOooooo many people feel that the thermostat is a restriction that should be removed in the summer......dead wrong!!!!!

An engine that gets to operating temps quickly will last longer than one taking longer to get to temperature. The restriction is needed to heat the water up and then allow the flow to be controlled!!!

I have seen engines overheat because the water flowed through the jackets so fast that it did NOT get hot enough to allow the heat to be transferred away.

After cleaning the radiator real good - check the 50-50 mixture, as discussed before, a 70 water - 30 antifreeze will actually cool a little better than 50-50........straight water will cool the best, but ......it has no protection for the pump and rust problems.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Wolf, I suppose I could have said that better.

You do know I was just "poking fun at your wording".

It is important to make sure the radiator's fins are clean and yes seeing light threw them is a great way to verify that.

 

[rentthis]

I knew you were just having fun. I was laughing my head off. I couldn't find the emoticons.

 

[olthumpa]

I blow my radiator clean with air and run water through the finns periodically. BUT- if I do not pull the battery and then clean it I am missing at last 1/4 - 1/3 of the rad even it it looks clean from every angle that I can see if the battery is in place. Something to think about and be aware of.

 

[FRANKLY]

Not to beat a dead horse...but...I did some more bush hogging after work tonite and after about 30 minutes the temperature started creeping up above 200. So at about 220 I headed for the garage to check out chaff build up. Sure enough it was covering at least 25% or more of the radiator. So I went out and did another hours work with temps less than 200 until near the end when it crept back up to 215 or so. More chaff build up. I bought this land from my next door neighbor, and he did not cut it at all last year and it has very high dead grass all over it, and it is obviously producing a lot of dust and chaff. I got it in my eyes and have been sneezing also. I need to get some dust masks. It looks like I will have to stop and clean the radiator about every hour. The temperature gauge is an invaluable tool to keep watch on things.