L3800 overheating

[Swamp Dog]

I have an L3800 with 50 hours on it. I have been mowing with a land Pride 5 ft Bush Hog. No matter what the air temperature, after 1 hour of mowing, the temperature gauge gets uncomfortably close to the redline. The radiator and screen is clean, the air filter is clean and all fluids are full. Is this normal? Is the Bush Hog too big for the tractor or should I be contacting the dealership for a service call? If I am using the FEL or a disc, I don't have the problem so could it be related to the PTO. Big time newby here, so all suggestions will be appreciated!

 

[MagKarl]

Is it still under warranty? If so, I'd be getting the dealer involved. A 5' mower shouldn't strain that big of a tractor at all.

Does this unit have a thermostat that might possibly be stuck?

Any foaming of the coolant, oil in coolant, or coolant in the oil?

I'm assuming it's likely hydrostatic, are you mowing in a low gear? Does the hydraulic fluid get routed through a cooler or the engine radiator?

 

[meanjean]

Does the fan kick on while mowing?
I'm thinking no.

I'd venture a guess that it the fan turns on while using the loader and that's why it stays cool.

 

[rlk4015]

My L3800 will run all day with a 5 foot brush hog mowing tall grass in Texas heat in the normal operating temp range. Something is wrong.

 

[birddogger]

You are running it up to about 2400 RPMs right?

 

[bosshogg]

Sounds like a bad thermostat to me...should be easy fix.

 

[kuboman]

First I would check with an IR thermometer that it is overheating. With it only overheating with pto running I would be suspicious of an electrical clitch.

 

[motorhead]

First I would check with an IR thermometer that it is overheating. With it only overheating with pto running I would be suspicious of an electrical clitch.

My thoughts also. You could have just a bad sender, gauge or bad connection.

 

[Bulldog]

First I would check with an IR thermometer that it is overheating. With it only overheating with pto running I would be suspicious of an electrical clitch.

The more information you can give your dealer when you contact them the better off you will be.

 

[searay]

You can't be overloading it I have an L3200 with a 5" rotary cutter and have never noticed the temp come anywhere near the overheating mark. My guess would be the same as those before me either a problem with the thermostat or a problem with the gauge itself. I would just advise you to get it back to the dealer before any damage is done. Good Luck.

 

[Swamp Dog]

Thanks for all your advice, sounds like I need to give my dealer a call and have him check it out. Thanks again for your suggestions.

 

[Rowan Mays]

Not sure of the cooling systems config on that tractor,
But:
If there's a cooling device mounted ahead of the actual radiator (such as hydro fluid cooler), have a very good look at the radiator behind that aux cooler.
There be grass seeds/clippings? My B7100's favourite trick is to block up the radiator out of sight. Stands to reason really, as the air-flow behind the obstruction is slower and hasn't the speed to drag the gunk right on through.
And no-one's mentioned the fan belt yet?

Cheers

Rowan

 

[Swamp Dog]

Thanks for all your help. After talking to the service dept at the dealership, I washed out my radiator even though it didn't look dirty. Boy, was I wrong! I washed out lots of seeds and dust then mowed for an hour with no sign of overheating! Sometimes the simple solution is the best.

 

[motorhead]

Don't you have the screen in front of the radiator?

 

[birddogger]

When you said,

The radiator and screen is clean, the air filter is clean and all fluids are full

everyone assumed this had been addressed.
Anyway, yeah about every four outings I always back-flush the radiator with a hose. While engine is cold. And shake the seed-screen out every outing.

 

[Bluegill]

Mowed all summer with my 3800 and LP 5' mower and a old 6' mower. Never over heated.

 

[KubotaTech]

Be sure to take an airgun and blow all the debris out of the radiator. I have seen tractors overheat with 20 hours on them because the radiator is clogged and you dont see it until you blow air through and all the grass and seeds come out.

 

[Stubbyie]

Consider using a cheap $1 HVAC filter ahead of your seed screen. Cheap and easy. Locally these are at WM, cheap cardboard frame, blue-green-white fiberglas, not the metal-grid type due to proximity to battery terminals.

Can't recommend air blowing through radiator unless very careful with pressure and nozzle tip. Have seen fins bent all to heck. Water is better but only open ended through hose-end not using nozzle for same reason.

 

[Stumpuller]

Thought had a loss in freon bcause the cab wasn't cooling and the ac comprsseor was cycling every 11-12 seconds. Turns out my radiator and cooling vents were clogged. I was reliying on the two removable screens to keep the area free and clear of debris. Guess it doesn't work that way. On GL 5240 I removed the air filter canister for better access to push air. I think I could do a better job with a tool I found on radiatorgenie.com. Hopes this helps with your overheating.

 

[dude693]

i used my l3800 this weekend and found you need to clean that screen about every hour. i was in some heavy grass and it dry in minn and but checking this often keep my machine cool. i think i will check into that cheap hvac filter anthing could help: