Faulty Thermostat

Within 5 or 6 minutes of first start following TO 20 lower engine rebuild, the coolant temperature headed into the redline area. After thermostat (pointy end forward) removal, temp remained in cold area unless radiator was covered. Thermostat tested OK in hot water on the stove, but obviously didn't allow much, if any, coolant through to the radiator on the tractor. Since the rebuild was precipitated by an overheat condition that wrecked 2 rod bearings and the crankshaft to begin with, I'm inclined to run in the summer with no thermostat if they're no more reliable than that. (The thermo in question was new in 2013, presumed to be 160 degree, and was used less than one mowing season) Have others had similar experience?
 
These are man made items just like the regulators, coils, spark plugs, generators, I would bet if you got another thermostat it would have better results if your rebuild was all done properly. At one time I went through three different regulators before I got one that worked properly. What I did with the third reg. was I ordered it from a different supplier so I figured it may not have been in the same group as the first two. Sometime things just don't go our way. I would certainly try another t'stat rather than running with out one.
 
I had bought two thermostats during a rebuild a few years ago, one was supposed to be for another tractor. Anyway, put the first one in and it
didn't work tried it on the stove in a pot of water nothing. Tested the other one worked fine. Nothing is made like when we were younger.
 
As Richard said, I recommend you use a thermostat. The engine will run better and last longer. As Steve mentioned, some of the thermostats are 180
deg., but I know some are 160. Not sure which brands relate to which temp.
 
This issue pales next to the knock from the rear of the engine that developed yesterday after a leisurely stroll outside the barn - total run time for the engine has been about 15 minutes. When my blood pressure improves, guess I'll pull the pan and have a looksee.
 
When I installed missing thermostat in my 8N Ford I drilled a small 1/8 hole in the upper edge. This allows a trickle of warm coolant to move through for quicker opening.
 

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