L35 radiator leak.

[GERP]

I noticed today that my L35s radiator has a small leak right on top where the mounting bracket goes its not a big leak maybe 1cup after like 6 hours... I watched the temperature it was just fine and I will keep coolant in it will I be alright to use the tractor? It won't be able to build any pressure could that hurt it? Also it idles around 1k rpm and that is way higher than any of my other vehicles how do I or should I adjust it?

Thanks.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes you can do a lot of serious damage in a quick hurry, get it fixed!

Get the WSM for your tractor and it will walk you threw adjusting the Idle.

 

[Woody Martin]

Listen to Wolfman. Don't toy around with water and oil leaks. Bad news will come in a hurry.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Cooling system pressure raises the boiling point. What happens when someone else gets on machine and doesent realize whats up and cooks your engine? For me a rad repair is no big deal,dont know know whats available in your area, but the local welding shop should be able to help you out. Only thing they usually cant do is pressure test.

 

[Daren Todd]

Just do a google search for radiator repair in your area. Should show up with a yellow page listing for someone local. Thats how I found the guy I use

 

[rentthis]

I just lost an engine (300 hour L3240) to a bad radiator. the "operator" didn't know the radiator was broken and cooked it. It takes a certain kind of crazy to rent tractors. $5000.00

 

[Daren Todd]

I just lost an engine (300 hour L3240) to a bad radiator. the "operator" didn't know the radiator was broken and cooked it. It takes a certain kind of crazy to rent tractors. $5000.00

Yup, thats a hard one to prove liability on, unless you can find where the radiator has been damaged.

We use bright yellow customer responsibility stickers that get posted right in front of the customers face. They work too!!! I've noticed I get more calls about issues and notified when service comes do more often.

It also helps to do a 360 walk around the equipment before and after the rental noting any damage. Thats increased our bill backs for damage ten fold

 

[rentthis]

Daren, You are 100% correct. If you do all that though you still come to the turnip/blood thing.

 

[Daren Todd]

Daren, You are 100% correct. If you do all that though you still come to the turnip/blood thing.

Yup, it's definitely a numbers game. And you still have those certain customers that think nothing of tearing something up repeatedly. My favorite wtf moment was rolling on to jobsite where someone ran a piece of equipment out of fuel. They couldn't get it primed. One of them heard about starting fluid helping, but they didn't have any. Guy sprayed the air breather full of orange water based marking paint thinking it would work like ether They didn't like that bill when I got done. Price of parts doubled for the stupidity factor Same two guys picked up a can of ether after that episode. Filled an oil bath on a deutz motor with about 3/4 of a can blew a hole in the side of one of the heads and caught the oil bath on fire I made sure and had a chat with there boss on that one.

 

[Stubbyie]

Apologies for delayed response but now back in-country.

For L-35 idle make certain your foot-feed isn't hanging or dragging a bit where it comes through the floorboard. I've had to get in the habit of bumping it with my right toe to get it to idle down.

Also, be sure your hand throttle (alongside operator's seat, used to maintain engine RPMs when digging with hoe) is pulled all the way toward 'turtle' setting. This control will override foot throttle.

Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.