L185/L1801 oil pressure and coolant temp question

85Hokie · Aug 2, 2014

meanjean said:
Alternator is fluctuating between 12.5 and 12.7
Correct me if I'm wrong here but 14.2 is ideal.

with an inexpensive meter, things could be off, hell 10%....

you buddy with the laser has the right idea, those little gizmos are usually off like .1%

IF the VR says the battery is fully charged, then it might only show a small trickle charge ......12.5+ volts.....what happens if you cut on your lights? Should show an increase? I would get me a "nice" VOM and check the battery while OFF , should be about 12.5 ish, then crank it, while running it should be higher......13+ish ....14.2 is cooking it, that is a smidge on the high side.
And as your buddy mentioned, the coolant gauge is NOT electrical is it? Just a night light? There is no electrical system on the meter, it is just a bimetalic strip that move according to heat.....so I dont see how the alternator has anything to do with the thermometer.......

meanjean · Aug 2, 2014

The temperature gauge is electrical.
$17 Power Fist.
Buy a different one?

Used the cultivator and the peak temp on the gauge was 205F.
Water flange showed roughly 180F with the laser.

I have no idea how a high charging can affect temp reading.
Electrical is NOT my thing.

I'm going to re-attach the tiller tomorrow and get it good and hot.
Will report the various temps with the laser.
Is the flange the best spot?

Alexisferos · Aug 2, 2014

i think that you are just 10 degrees Celsius in the hot zone.
change the coolant with just water and see what happens, my kubota in very very hard work it climes to 107c but never to 250f (120c) like yours.
i have read and read a lot for thermosyphun systems and i have check a lot of kubota and yanmar tractors, and i think that 110 degrees Celsius are ok for this little monsters, they are ok even at 120c if you don't hear the whistle.

meanjean · Aug 2, 2014

Alexisferos said:
change the coolant with just water and see what happens,

Do you run your tractor on just water?
Do you do this when it's 28C outside?

I haven't got a whistle but I'm sure it would be singing!

Daren Todd · Aug 2, 2014

What does your thermostat read at ambient temperature outside before you start it? Say if it's 80 degrees out, does the gauge read 80? If it's 80 and the gauge reads 100 then chances are the resistance is bad in the sensor and your readings are gonna be all over the place.

meanjean · Aug 2, 2014

The dial does not start start until 100F which is roughly 38C
Thankfully it does not get that hot here very often.

Tooljunkie · Aug 2, 2014

Like your buddy says, a resistor to correct calibration. 250 that thing should be pushing steam out. Most rad caps will buzz or howl when boiling over. I figure its reading high,especially after putting a heat gun on it.
Too bad its so high, hard to use for reference when-its topoed out.

12.7 isnt enough. 1 volt over normal battery voltage minimum.
Reconnect alt without ammeter and check again.
Cheap ammeters pass current through them. Not the best, especially for an alternator that puts out 20-25 amps max. Cant see it being very accurate.

meanjean · Aug 2, 2014

The cap is rated for 13psi and has not boiled over.
What's the normal boil over point for a cap of this rating?
What's the proper cap psi for this tractor?

I'm going to boil the temperature sensor tomorrow to check for accuracy.

I'm going to remove the am meter and test voltage again.
I will likely replace with a volt meter.

meanjean · Aug 2, 2014

Several sources confirm 13psi is the proper cap.
It's not boiling over so I guess it's not really 250F which is reassuring.
I perused a few websites and found a new temp gauge I liked...$148!
Not gonna happen.

Agree with Tooljunkie, the am meter is most likely proving a bum reading.
Alternator just went in for a rebuild a week ago.
13.7 to 14.2 is what I want to see.

Alexisferos · Aug 3, 2014

meanjean said:
Do you run your tractor on just water?
Do you do this when it's 28C outside?

I haven't got a whistle but I'm sure it would be singing!

the whistle it would be singing only if steam is coming out, and at 120c its impossible.

i run my tractor with distilled water and antifreeze, about 60% water and 40% antifreeze.
the temps here are over 30c -35c outside a lot of days and i haven't see over 107c with the temp gauge or a laser gun.

basically physics says that water will boil at a higher temperature as pressure increases
now as for the cap, a 13psi(0.9bar) radiator cap, which means the water would reach 120c degree before it boils add some antifreeze to it and the water climes more, 50/50 coolant/water will boil at 260° F with a 15 psi cap near sea level.

so as you see mathematically you don't overheat,
maybe you are in the hot zone but you are ok, as you stay under 120c for my opinion you are perfect, this things are bullet pouf.

i cant explain to you how they work but trust me, if as i see your head gasket is new and everything is working like they should be, the new radiator and the cap you will never see over 120c.

try to play with the mix of the antifreeze and with a laser gun to very fine the accuracy of the gauge.

now as for the alternator, this unit is very small and it will hold a load of 100watt, enough for everything open in that small tractor, i have somewhere the information of the alternator but i don't find it right now,
even with a rebuild alternator you will never see 14,2 v because i think that the maximum that out puts is 13,8.

sorry for the very big post. plz read it and ask if you have questions.

meanjean · Aug 3, 2014

Thanks for the reply Alexisferos, I certainly feel more at ease.
I'm going to replace the temp gauge with a mechanical one and test, it's a known good one. Will play with mix ratio a bit as well.
Also going to use the heat laser to check accuracy.
Am meter/volt meter will have to wait.

Tooljunkie · Aug 3, 2014

You wont get the capillary type in place of the electric one.

meanjean · Aug 3, 2014

Tooljunkie said:
You wont get the capillary type in place of the electric one.

Can you please elaborate?
Is the probe larger for a mechanical gauge?

Also

You're an hour north of me.
I know who I'm calling when I need a hand!

meanjean · Aug 3, 2014

Engine purring at 1800 rpm.
Temp gauge sitting at an even 180F
Laser shows 150F at coolant flange.
Laser shows Hottest part of the head is 180-190F

Alexisferos · Aug 3, 2014

look at this test to see that this monsters can run up to 110c when at full load,
and look and the normal temp that it is around 100c.
i forget to post it before..nebraska test

Tooljunkie · Aug 3, 2014

Was in wpg today.

The capillary type is 3/4 inch daimeter thread- give or take. Im thinking 1/2 npt.

It will be worth the trouble once you get it sorted out.

meanjean · Aug 3, 2014

The sensor is located right at the coolant flange.
Is this where the coolant is likely to be at it's hottest?

Electric gauge showed roughly 220F
Laser showed the top of the head between 205F and 230F.
It was at its peak near the exhaust port and got cooler as I moved to the front of the engine.

I managed to get the gauge up to 245F and expected the head to be north of 260F. Was pleasantly surprised to see it holding just over 200F with the laser.

I didn't get around to testing the sensor with boiling water.

Tooljunkie · Aug 4, 2014

If you are concerned about water pump, cold engine, start tractor and watch rad to see what temp thermostat opens, should notice water flowing.
Water pumps rarely stop moving water. They usually leak and bearings fail.
Only a couple times have i seen impeller fall off. Ford used a composite impeller that would break and fall off shaft.

meanjean · Aug 4, 2014

Tooljunkie said:
If you are concerned about water pump, cold engine, start tractor and watch rad to see what temp thermostat opens, should notice water flowing.
Water pumps rarely stop moving water. They usually leak and bearings fail.
Only a couple times have i seen impeller fall off. Ford used a composite impeller that would break and fall off shaft.

Doesn't have a thermostat or water pump.
Thermo syphoning is what circulates the coolant.

My primary concern is running too hot.

meanjean · Aug 5, 2014

Battery was completely drained when I went to start it yesterday.
It was a real low point for me as I've been fighting this tractor for the last 3 weeks. It was not charging because the small plastic clip on the alternator had worked it's way loose. Please let this be the last problem!!

L185/L1801 oil pressure and coolant temp question

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