Temp gauge position

[Clint.In.Trees]

Hello all,

First off I love reading the new posts every day. This place is like an adult playground for the do it yourself-ers. Thank you for the collective knowledge on these beautiful machines.

I have a new to me l3250 (1990) and I'm wondering if it has a thermostat installed or if someone has taken it out. I know some tractor people out there just remove them and let the coolant constantly flow.

Why I ask this is because my temp gauge only gets 1/5 or just a little ways off of the needle. I will take a pic tomorrow and post it for you guys to see exactly what it looks like. I just replaced the radiator but didn't think to check the thermostat because at the time my temp gauge didn't work. The previous owner had it unplugged so that was an easy one to fix!

Thank you for your inputs if you have a similarly aged tractor.

Clint
Northern Utah


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[hank2000]

I have an L3000 and the temp gauge does not move much on it ether unless the radiator gets a lot of trash in it from bush hogging most of the time been that way since it was new


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[85Hokie]

clint,

first of all - the thermostat is there for a reason! ALWAYS use one! Diesels need to be run as hot as a gasser, but it takes a little longer to get them up to temps(ever notice big rigs and busses have cardboard or flaps across the radiator grill?) Engine needs those temps to burn off all the moisture that gets inside with oil.....

You want any engine to get as hot as it can (within reason) and stay there - so a thermostat allows the water to heat quickly - then release the warm water slowly through to the radiator and thus staying "hot" as the thermostat continues to open fully.

I would not trust the old gauge - by a infrared laser pointing device, most are accurate to a couple of degrees - test the temps of a fully warm engine ( run it under load for 15-20 minutes) at the engine head where the thermostat is located, at the top neck of the radiator and more importantly at the bottom neck of the radiator! temps should be something close to 200 F at head, around the same at the top of the radiator and about 50 degree cooler at the bottom of the radiator. These thermometers are inexpensive and can be used for lot of neat things around the house!

Report back your findings

 

[Clint.In.Trees]

Thanks for the input guys. I understand that they need to run warm that's why I'm curious if the old owner removed it. Thank you for the info, I believe I already have a temp gun somewhere. I will give that a shot too.




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[North Idaho Wolfman]

My L 3450 And my Bobcat (same class of Kubota engine) only come off the bottom of the gauge under normal use.
I can get mine in the 2/3 to 1/2 range if I work them really hard for a time.
So it sounds like your fine.

 

[kuboman]

Seems odd anyone would unplug the temp gauge.!!??

 

[Tooljunkie]

Seems odd anyone would unplug the temp gauge.!!??

I believe the guys were referring to removing thermostat.
L4610 ran cool too,for winter pulled screen and slid in a tenplast panel in its place. Hole cut in center to allow some air through.
Still wouldnt watm up unless it was wotking hard.

 

[Clint.In.Trees]

Thanks guys, I guess this is just fine then.