DC thermostat

Well I am on my way to pitting together the engine for my 51 DC. This was my Grandfathers tractor that he purchased new an has always been in the family. I didn't really think much about it when taking it apart, but then I seen when ordering parts there was a thermostat offered for it. This one didn't have one an my father doesn't remember ever taking it out. I am putting in new radiator core and water pump. So my Question is do I really need to put a thermostat in it?

For my 2 bits, I would. You probably aren't going to work that jewel hard enough and long enough to get up to temp w/o one. This makes for contaminated oil, as fuel mixture leaks past the rings, moisture will accumulate there also, as a by product of cool or incomplete combustion. Lubrication will not be optimal as oil will be cool.......plus a myriad of other things having to with a cold running engine. In any cooler, even fall weather, the problems would be even greater. Again my thoughts and I would imagine a few others will pitch in and you can run everything thru your filter system and go with it.

I believe there are more pros to installation as mentioned below,than naa's. jmo gobble

Put in at least a 180 if you can find it, warmer the better.

probably so ,,.radiator shutters were optional on the dc ,, seems that nearly every tractor maker offered shutters 75 yrs ago ,, I had jd m that was thermal cooled ,,. no water pump or thermostat ,.. it done just fine ,, had a single 18 inch plow that was perfect match

Well said, engines operated up to a proper temp are more efficient and will last longer than a cool running one. Rod.

Have you run a DC? Mine will start blowing steam at 190, and it doesn't take much of a plugged radiator to make her boil, but then again mine is a working girl too. I don't think it has ever had a thermostat in it. In the winter time, it used to get a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. Was used for many years as my Granddad's loader tractor.

I have 2 DC's and neither one has a t-stat in them and always do just fine. Warm up just as fast as my IH M does and it has a t-stat in her.. My 2 cents worth....................Kenny

(quoted from post at 22:02:08 06/11/15) Well I am on my way to pitting together the engine for my 51 DC. This was my Grandfathers tractor that he purchased new an has always been in the family. I didn't really think much about it when taking it apart, but then I seen when ordering parts there was a thermostat offered for it. This one didn't have one an my father doesn't remember ever taking it out. I am putting in new radiator core and water pump. So my Question is do I really need to put a thermostat in it?

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On the earlier tractors not equipped from the factory the elbow is not milled to accept a thermostat, the later elbows had a cut that allowed the T stat to seat and the gasket set on it. Mel

I put a thermostat in my 49 DC by cutting out the center of the gasket so that it would fit over the tstat. worked this way the 6 yrs I had it.

I sure do appreciate all the input. I ordered a thermostat today. Made sure it was American made. Its a 160 degree. I always get GOOD advice from this forum and am thankful for every bit if it.

Most engines that use thermostats have a means of allowing some circulation of the antifreeze thru the block when the thermostat is closed. A common means is the heater circuit on lower power engines. If the antifreeze is trapped stagnant in the engine without any circulation, hot spots can develop and likely cause damage. The older Case engines trap the antifreeze when the thermostat is closed because they have no recirculation means. Thus stagnant antifreeze allows hot spots to happen.

To avoid this problem, older highway semi trucks tended to use automatic shutters in front of the radiator and no thermostats. The shutters allow continuous free circulation of the antifreeze which avoids hot spots. The highway truck engine is susceptible to long down grades under no power that cool the engine and close thermostats--trapping stagnant antifreeze in the block. Long downgrades are often followed by long upgrades so no power is suddenly followed by full power with trapped stagnant antifreeze rapidly causing hot spots.

The new diesel truck engines are designed to be used with thermostats having recirculation passages so that stagnant antifreeze does not occur. As oldproudvet inferred, engines prefer a constant "hot" temperature. Shutters had to go when aftercoolers began to be used.

I have my dad's 38 C Case with no thermostat. A piece of paper over the front of the radiator worked for winter choirs. The engine is still healthy approaching 80 years old. I do not have thermostats in any of my DC's.