8700 overheated

I was round baling w/the 8700 Wed. afternoon when I noticed it overheating. I shut off baler and ran back to house (was close anyway). Let it cool off, filled up w/water, washed out radiator, then went back to baling. Got hot quickly. Came home again. It had gotten hot enough this time that it looks like it blew a little oil out around the left side of the head gasket, mostly at the front behind the a.c. compressor and some at the back. No leaks around the water pump. Can the pump go bad and not leak, or is the thermostat not opening, or possibly a bad cap? Or...is it the head gasket? Tractor's ran like a champ until today...
 

Sounds like you have already checked the easy stuff. Next in line is be sure that the belt is turning the pump, then check the T'stat. Next probably the pump, they will loose the vanes with time.
 
I have had the thermostat stick on the 8700 before while disking. Didn't take long for water to boil out the overflow of the radiator.

Dad overheated it on the blower one time. Got so hot it stopped. After he let it cool off it started right up. Found that there was a hole in the bottom of the radiator and not one drop of water in it. Drove it to the shed and dumped the oil. Fixed the radiator, put in new oil and filter. No problems since then and this was over 3000 hours ago. Doesn't burn oil and doesn't have any more noticable blow by then it did before the overheat.

Does it push water out the overflow when working hard? If it does then it could be a head gasket issue. Any water in the oil?

Jason
 
(quoted from post at 14:59:12 10/25/12) I have had the thermostat stick on the 8700 before while disking. Didn't take long for water to boil out the overflow of the radiator.

Dad overheated it on the blower one time. Got so hot it stopped. After he let it cool off it started right up. Found that there was a hole in the bottom of the radiator and not one drop of water in it. Drove it to the shed and dumped the oil. Fixed the radiator, put in new oil and filter. No problems since then and this was over 3000 hours ago. Doesn't burn oil and doesn't have any more noticable blow by then it did before the overheat.

Does it push water out the overflow when working hard? If it does then it could be a head gasket issue. Any water in the oil?

Jason

J. I couldn't help but laugh out loud reading you post about "overheated it on the blower". Blowers and PTO irrigation pumps must account for more tractor engines than everything else put together.
 
It was the thermostat. Had a feeling it was, so that was the first thing I checked. I pulled the dipstick yesterday evening and again today and oil is clean - no water. Brought thermostat in the house and boiled it - never opened. Soo...quick trip to town for new thermostat & antifreeze, dug out my tube of gasket dope, and 30 min. after I got home, it was fixed and roared to life. Sounds as good as ever. Finished baling & got it all in the dry before tonight's rain.

J - naw, it doesn't push any water out the overflow when it works hard. The temp gauge works and the needle never gets close to the red either. Thanks for the responses. Glad it was simple.
 
(quoted from post at 18:50:39 10/25/12) It was the thermostat. Had a feeling it was, so that was the first thing I checked. I pulled the dipstick yesterday evening and again today and oil is clean - no water. Brought thermostat in the house and boiled it - never opened. Soo...quick trip to town for new thermostat & antifreeze, dug out my tube of gasket dope, and 30 min. after I got home, it was fixed and roared to life. Sounds as good as ever. Finished baling & got it all in the dry before tonight's rain.

J - naw, it doesn't push any water out the overflow when it works hard. The temp gauge works and the needle never gets close to the red either. Thanks for the responses. Glad it was simple.

Good for you!!! we all need a break now and then. I called about my 8240 today. It's been in the shop since mid June. They just split it again and ordered some more parts and tools.
 
Yeah, I needed a break! 40 bu/corn & 20/bu beans this year has been a real downer. Plus, I've got issues with my TW 35 that may cost some money, the old 8000 is down, so I was glad for the good news w/the 8700. What's wrong w/your 8240 that has kept it in the shop for so long?
 

The tranny had a bad clutch pack so the whole thing is being rebuilt, and the kept having to work on other customer's equipment.
 
Thanks for the reminder. What would you recommend? I added Bars, because that"s what I usually do, but what should I add to prevent cavitation?
 
Fordtractorman,
Ford makes a collant conditioner. I think it's FW-15. Like 8 bucks for a bottle, that should cover you. I believe this was discusseed within the last couple of months. Search for "conditioner" in the ford forum.
HTH
Keith
 

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