861 overheating

I have an 861 that has been sitting in a barn for 2+ yrs. The last time I used it I mowed a field and the tractor coughed and sputtered and died after 20 min. The field was not that thick. So I want to replace the radiator. My question is should I replace the water pump too. Just a side note when I flushed out the cooling system it did not have a thermostat in it. Am I going in the right direction to fix this problem? What else should I do?
 
Let's back up a little bit.
How do you know it was overheating? Does it have a temp gauge? Does the gauge work?
Does your wife have a meat thermometer you could put down the radiator to verify the temperature?
Aside from flushing it, did you clean out any dirt and debris from the fins on the radiator?
Your troubles may not be temperature related at all.
It could be you lost good spark to the plugs.
Did you check your points and clean all connections from the switch to the coil?
Did you pull a plug wire and make sure you have a bright bluish white spark?
It could be a fuel problem too but hunches and theories rarely work on fixing these things.
Taking things one step at a time does.
 
(quoted from post at 16:24:49 09/21/14) Let's back up a little bit.
How do you know it was overheating? Does it have a temp gauge? Does the gauge work?
Does your wife have a meat thermometer you could put down the radiator to verify the temperature?
Aside from flushing it, did you clean out any dirt and debris from the fins on the radiator?
Your troubles may not be temperature related at all.
It could be you lost good spark to the plugs.
Did you check your points and clean all connections from the switch to the coil?
Did you pull a plug wire and make sure you have a bright bluish white spark?
It could be a fuel problem too but hunches and theories rarely work on fixing these things.
Taking things one step at a time does.
 
So i have cleaned the fins with a power washer, did not check the temp with a probe. Gauge does not work. Replaced the points condenser, points, plugs, wires and rotor.
 
I too agree with Ultrdog. I would add to his list that running for 20 minutes and then shutting down makes me think of a coil that is overheating or an ignition switch that is overheating. Both would be diagnosed by noticing a lack of good spark after 20 minutes immediately after it shuts down.
 
The things you replaced - points, plugs, sp wires, etc are all downstream from your switch.
If you don't have one get a cheap analog VOM and check voltage on both sides of the switch, both sides of the resister and at the coil.
Make sure you are getting adequate voltage upstream from the coil.
Also remember the mantra; "Keep 'em clean bright and tight" - means it's a good idea to remove all your electrical connections one at a time and clean the posts and connectors.
Once you are certain your electrics are good then thinking ahead here it could be fuel. A lean running engine will cause them to run hot.
But do one thing at a time and Verify as you go.
Lots of good help here. Folks will guide you if you ask.
 
Ultradog has it right,tossing parts at it without know why is a waste not to mention frusterating. Is this a new problem? How long have you owned it? It needs a t-stat year a-round and pulling the pump isn't difficult to see if impeller is defective or if shaft is slipping in impeller or pulley. Get tempature readings first.
 

When I got my 860 it would overheat in the summer and never warm up in the winter when I did a partial restoration to it I put a new radiator and added a thermostat and it runs perfect now. gets up to operating temp in about 15 -20 minutes and I have yet to over heat it working it hard in the summer.

my uncle had an 8n that would run for about an hour or so under heavy load and shut off just like yours we couldn't figure out why. we would have to let it sit till it cooled off then it would be fine I think he narrowed it down to the electronics and it runs good now as far as I know.
 

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