L2201 water temp sensor

[Thanasis]

Hallo everybody,

tried to hook an analogue water temperature gauge on my L2201DT. Pretty easy job but the readings are 40-45 Celsius when idle and 60 degrees under pressure. I tested the sensor before installing it and works fine. I use 50-50 water with antifreeze so I would expect a normal temperature at around 100 Celsius to 120 under load. The tractor works fine but I can’t figure out why I get these readings on the gauge.
Any recommendations are welcome!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

EDITED:

100c would be 212f
120c would be 248f
Yes, that range would be on the mark.

 

[Thanasis]

45C to 60C is right on the mark.
That is about 113f to 140f

100c would be 212f
120c would be 248f
Both of those you would have a Junk tractor, well a blown or cracked head!

On a post for the l1501 which is the 2 cylinder version of mine 110 Celsius is mentioned as the normal operating temperature. Isn’t 45-50 Celsius a little bit low for an engine?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Sorry, yes your right I got lost in the conversion.

220F is optimal.

Check the cooling fluid level.
Does your model have a water pump?

 

[Thanasis]

Sorry, yes your right I got lost in the conversion.

220F is optimal.

Check the cooling fluid level.
Does your model have a water pump?

Fluid level is fine. I believe there is a water pump but since the tractor is not overheating I can’t see why would it be the problem. My guess is that for some reason the sensor can’t pick the true temperature. So far without the gauge I never had issues.

 

[ctfjr]

Is it possible your sensor and display are mismatched?

That brass piece is just a well??? If so perhaps some heat conductive grease in there might help.

Before you go crazy though, can you remove the sensor and insert it in a pot of boiling water?

 

[Thanasis]

Is it possible your sensor and display are mismatched?

That brass piece is just a well??? If so perhaps some heat conductive grease in there might help.

Before you go crazy though, can you remove the sensor and insert it in a pot of boiling water?

The gauge is analog so the sensor with its cable is preattached to the gauge. I already tested the sensor and works fine. The grease is a good idea though.

 

[BX'r]

How far does the sensor protrude through the brass fitting, is it submerged in the water?
Could there be air trapped in there?

 

[Thanasis]

Update,

I used some heat conductive grease but still the temp is 45-50 Celsius and 60-65 under load. The responsiveness though improved. A mechanic told me that it could be normal for old tractors like mine. I am not sure what to believe. I could try a new brass fitting that goes even deeper or make one where the sensor itself will be directly into the water.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Update,

I used some heat conductive grease but still the temp is 45-50 Celsius and 60-65 under load. The responsiveness though improved. A mechanic told me that it could be normal for old tractors like mine. I am not sure what to believe. I could try a new brass fitting that goes even deeper or make one where the sensor itself will be directly into the water.

Yes, I would do that as all the sensors that I've seen are much longer.

 

[Thanasis]

Major update, there is no thermostat at all installed. Someone removed it with its housing and welded a pipe that goes to the radiator. I will order a new housing and a new thermostat and see how the sensor reacts.

 

[Thanasis]

Latet update,

the sensor works fine. The small tempertures I used to see were due to the combination of cold weather and the lack of a thermostat. Now with outside temp from 20-26C when I use the bush hog it goes up to 100-105C.