I recently purchased this tractor and after some field work I took it back for the tractor lot to repair a overheating issue.
I know its a overheating issue because while working the temp gauge hovered just below 220*F and when it was just a hair under 230*F I stopped the tractor and shut it off to the sound of the radiator boiling over.
They worked on it and replaced the belt which was loose to the point that the fan could be turned by hand. I figured this was it but wanted them to give it a once over so I wouldnt have to drive back another 100 miles to the place where I bought it from to have it looked at again.
Now on to my questions I have.
1) What is the normal operating temperature of these tractors? I currently dont have the factory gauge it was replaced with a stewart warner gauge but I will be switching back to a reproduction one later on.
2) Where did the headlight switch mount at? I have a plug just above the throttle lever on the dashboard but I have another plug on the side of the fender facing aft. I think it would have went here not to interfer with the throttle lever.
3) What was the standard thermostat in these tractors when new? I figure 160* as most vehicles of the '50s used a 160* thermostat as standard and then offered a high temp 180* as optional. I will be pulling the thermostat later on to install the correct stock one if its not correct already.
Only other question I have pertains to tach/hour meter. Did the orignal ones have flags on the needle that said "1", "2", "3", and "4" to make it easy to see what RPM you are turning based off your gear? I saw a reproduction one from Dennis Carpenter but it didnt have these flags and I might have to replace mine if the cable isnt bad as it doesnt seem to work right. At idle it doesnt really move from rest but i I give it a little throttle it comes up just a hair but thats it.
I know its a overheating issue because while working the temp gauge hovered just below 220*F and when it was just a hair under 230*F I stopped the tractor and shut it off to the sound of the radiator boiling over.
They worked on it and replaced the belt which was loose to the point that the fan could be turned by hand. I figured this was it but wanted them to give it a once over so I wouldnt have to drive back another 100 miles to the place where I bought it from to have it looked at again.
Now on to my questions I have.
1) What is the normal operating temperature of these tractors? I currently dont have the factory gauge it was replaced with a stewart warner gauge but I will be switching back to a reproduction one later on.
2) Where did the headlight switch mount at? I have a plug just above the throttle lever on the dashboard but I have another plug on the side of the fender facing aft. I think it would have went here not to interfer with the throttle lever.
3) What was the standard thermostat in these tractors when new? I figure 160* as most vehicles of the '50s used a 160* thermostat as standard and then offered a high temp 180* as optional. I will be pulling the thermostat later on to install the correct stock one if its not correct already.
Only other question I have pertains to tach/hour meter. Did the orignal ones have flags on the needle that said "1", "2", "3", and "4" to make it easy to see what RPM you are turning based off your gear? I saw a reproduction one from Dennis Carpenter but it didnt have these flags and I might have to replace mine if the cable isnt bad as it doesnt seem to work right. At idle it doesnt really move from rest but i I give it a little throttle it comes up just a hair but thats it.