Will Herring
Well-known Member
I've got a new temp gauge and thermostat I am about to install on the WD tractor, and fresh anti-freeze. The problem I have, is that when I start the tractor (after it burns off some carbon it is up and running smoothly within 5-10 seconds of starting, we only run it once every month or so), and as I run it, I start getting white foam (air bubbles) in the green radiator fluid. I'm not sure if I have bad anti-freeze or a shot temp gauge/thermostat combo. What really worries me is that I may have a blown head gasket (or worse?). And I'd like to diagnose it before I do this small fix, in case I need to fix something bigger first.
My question is, is there a way for me to check and see if the head gasket is blown (or something worse) without taking the hood and the head off of the tractor? People seemed to recommend some sort of thing that you put in place of the radiator cap and it would turn color if it was exhaust gassing out the radiator.
If it is the head gasket, how hard is it for somebody like me, who has never done this before, to install a new one? The most work I've done on these tractors is cleaned the carburetor and put on a new waterpump.
I did pull the oil plug and had no water in the oil pan, which was a plus.
My question is, is there a way for me to check and see if the head gasket is blown (or something worse) without taking the hood and the head off of the tractor? People seemed to recommend some sort of thing that you put in place of the radiator cap and it would turn color if it was exhaust gassing out the radiator.
If it is the head gasket, how hard is it for somebody like me, who has never done this before, to install a new one? The most work I've done on these tractors is cleaned the carburetor and put on a new waterpump.
I did pull the oil plug and had no water in the oil pan, which was a plus.