Low Temp

[1coolbanana]

Hi all
Since buying my refurbed L1-22 it never seems to get hot or even warm.
It takes forever for the temp gauge to come up, like 15 minutes to get where you see in the pic, and when it does, it never gets beyond that.

This picture is typical of where it sits all day, and it was 36 degrees C today.

Im concerned the thermostat has been removed and its running too cold which is not good
Maybe its the gauge? How do I check?

Thanks
Cheers
Marc

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Take the wire that goes to the sensor and short it to ground if the needle goes all the way up then the gauge is working.
Drain the water/ antifreeze / coolant out and pull the top radiator hose, and see if it has a thermostat in it, if it does than it's probably a bad sensor.

 

[1coolbanana]

Thanks mate, Ill try the sensor first.
Any clues as to where it is located?
Cheers

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It's either right at the front of the motor in the water jacket by the thermostat or it in the top of the head.
I'll look at mine tomorrow and tell you know where mine is located.
I'll also get you the specs for the sensor to check it with a OHM meter.

 

[1coolbanana]

Just went to find it and its at the very back of the head on the right hand side in the most inaccessible place it could possibly be
On the up side, when I shorted it to earth the meter only came up to 3/4, so Im guessing its the meter with a problem then?

A really weird thing I noticed that Ive never seen before!
The radiator fan blows forwards! Yes it blows air forwards through the rad...........believe it of not! Is this normal for tractors

 

[lsmurphy]

What is 'earth'? Neg side of battery?

Just a suggestion- Mount a mechanical gauge inside the engine compartment for piece of mind. In the US I can buy a mechanical gauge......Sun brand for about $12.

The chance of you finding that particular gauge might be hard......sender and gauge must match to work properly..

I have no gauge but I can tell by feel what the temp is. I can run mine hard at 36c and still place my hand on the valve cover with no feeling of burning.......warm? yes of course. I can also feel the temp of the air passing through the radiator and mine just never really gets hot.

If it's not getting 'hot'........consider it a blessing.

 

[1coolbanana]

Yes, by earth I meant negative, or ground, anywhere on the chassis or block
If the OEM gauge is dodgy I will probably do that if I cant get one.
I was a little concerned as running too cold is not good either in the long term.
Cheers

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Where does the needle on the temp gauge sit when there is no connection?
Can you post a pic of that?

 

[1coolbanana]

You mean disconnected or just ignition off?
Looks normal with ignition off
Its sitting on the stop pin.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If your interested in fixing the temp gauge I could tell you how, it's easy.

 

[1coolbanana]

Please do

 

[Lil Foot]

I'd be interested in hearing that myself…...

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

First do these checks and make sure all the supporting parts are doing there job.

 

[1coolbanana]

Cheers, Ill check it out

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

To get to the temp gauge, remove the 4 bolts on the plate behind the dash, remove plate unscrew tachometer cable. Remove 4 bolts that hold the cluster in place, gently pull cluster out remove 2 electrical plugs do tests. Remove the wire off of the temp sensor and make sure it does not touch ground. If both Ohm tests pass then remove the screws to get the frame and clear cover off. On the temp gauge, gently pull up on the needle and pull it off the shaft, replace the needle back onto the shaft only partially at about the 10 O'clock position. Connect the 2 plugs onto the cluster and turn the key to on, the gauge should move down towards the stop and it should stop before the needle touches the stop. Once the needle stops moving, shut off key, gently without rotating the shaft remove the needle, (optional) put a very tiny drop of lock tite in the hole for the shaft to lock it, reinstall the needle where it now contacts the stop. Reassemble and reconnect everything and you should be set.

 

[1coolbanana]

Sweeeeeeet...............done, done and done.
Mine turns out to be a little different to yours but near enough.

Readings were a little high on the ohm's (for the meter, sender seems fine) but acceptable, so the reset is a bit of a compromise because it goes a little too low and a little too high when grounded so I essentially split the difference.
Brilliant, thanks for going to the trouble to explain .
I did have a minor disaster, slipped and broke the needle but managed to repair it and youd barely notice.
To late to run her up to temp now so will try tomorrow.
Thanks again
Let you know how it goes and if the needle doesnt fall off

 

[Toyboy]

I've had the same low temp problem (1/4 up on gauge) on my BX2230 for years now. I thought it was the thermostat, so this past fall I replaced it ($65 from Kubota ouch), but still had the same low temp problem.
I checked the engine temp w/my laser temp gun and found it was running between 180 - 190F. I guess that's where it should be because the owners manual does not specify what the actual operating temp should be.

 

[1coolbanana]

Looks like it might be time to move that needle
I have one of those laser temp gauge so Ill let you know what mine runs at.
Where did you check the temp, on the head?

 

[Toyboy]

Several places, head, block, radiator, etc. I think I finally settled on the head as the best area.

 

[buildspacetrains]

Did you buy this tractor from 'Bizarro World' ?
Lets see.....
ROPS on backwards,
Temp gauge cold when engine is hot,
Radiator fan blowing air the opposite way!!!
Sell it back to Jerry Seinfeld!!