Coolant Temp Gauge on L295DT

[Tgore76]

So I'm a First-Timer and bought an old L295DT.

I am trying to do preventative maintenance (just assuming none has been done in a LONG time) and fix things as I discover them. I've changed the oil, greased, new battery, new alternator, new hydraulic pump and fluid, new fuel filter.

So I want to change the coolant. After reading, I'm thinking I should go ahead and change the thermostat and maybe hoses? Do you "pre-emptively" change the water pump? Then I read that after changing the coolant, air can get stuck and cause it to overheat. But the problem is that my temperature gauge doesn't work. So I'm thinking I should actually start with that. How do you (in simple steps and terms PLEASE) start to troubleshoot this? I'm thinking take the dash cover off and follow the wire(s).

I see several places where wires just "terminate" (were cut off at some point) and since a previous owner spray painted, there is lots of overspray on fuses, etc. too. Any guidance is appreciated. I wish I knew enough to look at a schematic and "clean up" the wiring!

 

[Roadworthy]

In many cases (but not all) the temperature sending unit is located close to the thermostat. If wires were removed your temperature gauge wire may have been among them. Try to score a manual for the tractor. If the water pump is working and not leaking there is no real reason to change it.

 

[85Hokie]

Get a hold of a infrared thermometer - about 30 bucks ............ many will debate the accuracy of the device, but I have found the 5 I own to be plus/minus about 1% which is damn close enough for what I need them to measure.

I would run the machine to a point where it is "hot" - whatever you are doing, allow the engine to get "hot" - cutting grass, or if not cutting grass, run around up and down a hill to place a load on the engine SO that it will get to a working temp.

Take the laser pointing infrared thermometer and check at several different points along the cooling system - at thermostat, at that housing , at top of radiator neck, cap , bottom of radiator neck - write them all down - if the thermostat/housing is something around 180-200 F - then you are in great shape - also, the bottom of the radiator should have a lower reading than top of radiator by about 80-100 F.

If after doing this - you see some numbers that do not look good - report back and info can be provided as what to do next.