FarmerBlair
Member
Hi,
I've been trying to figure out why my Ford 881 (gas tractor) is running hot. I have a temp gauge plugged in where the original temp gauge would go and when brush hogging it will climb up over 225-230F. It goes that high within 20 minutes of hogging with a 5ft mower in 4-5 inch tall grass. When it starts getting to that point I let cool a bit and shut it down. I checked the timing with a timing light. It was off and now set at 4degrees BTDC. Points gap is good. I adjusted the carb so it was less lean, though you have to turn the air adjust a lot to make a difference. None of this made a difference and still runs hot. It has a fan shroud and belts are tight.
I replaced the coolant today. Funny though, according to the manual the cooling system holds 15 quarts. I could only get out may 1-2 gallons. I removed the lower radiator hose to drain. I then opened the stopcock on the engine block, but nothing came out there. Added new coolant and only took as much as came out. Tried running and could add maybe another half gallon.
Looked in the open radiator cap while running and a lot of sloshing around. No obvious bubbling. I kept watch till engine reached about 200F at idle with no change. Capped it back up. I checked for possible blown head gasket by disconnecting the fan belt and revving the engine up briefly with the radiator cap off. No disturbances or bubbling in the rad fluid, so I am assuming the head gasket is good. No white smoke from exhaust.
Could it be the thermostat is stuck closed? Or is it the waterpump? Should I have gotten fluid out, or does the smal volume of rad fluid drained indicate the T-stat is stuck? How do you tell if one of these isn't working. Looks like impossible getting to the thermostat with the pwr steering pump in the way, and a loader attached to the tractor. I don't want to deal with that if that isn't the problem. I may be overlooking something dumb...I'm not a mechanic! Any help and suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I've been trying to figure out why my Ford 881 (gas tractor) is running hot. I have a temp gauge plugged in where the original temp gauge would go and when brush hogging it will climb up over 225-230F. It goes that high within 20 minutes of hogging with a 5ft mower in 4-5 inch tall grass. When it starts getting to that point I let cool a bit and shut it down. I checked the timing with a timing light. It was off and now set at 4degrees BTDC. Points gap is good. I adjusted the carb so it was less lean, though you have to turn the air adjust a lot to make a difference. None of this made a difference and still runs hot. It has a fan shroud and belts are tight.
I replaced the coolant today. Funny though, according to the manual the cooling system holds 15 quarts. I could only get out may 1-2 gallons. I removed the lower radiator hose to drain. I then opened the stopcock on the engine block, but nothing came out there. Added new coolant and only took as much as came out. Tried running and could add maybe another half gallon.
Looked in the open radiator cap while running and a lot of sloshing around. No obvious bubbling. I kept watch till engine reached about 200F at idle with no change. Capped it back up. I checked for possible blown head gasket by disconnecting the fan belt and revving the engine up briefly with the radiator cap off. No disturbances or bubbling in the rad fluid, so I am assuming the head gasket is good. No white smoke from exhaust.
Could it be the thermostat is stuck closed? Or is it the waterpump? Should I have gotten fluid out, or does the smal volume of rad fluid drained indicate the T-stat is stuck? How do you tell if one of these isn't working. Looks like impossible getting to the thermostat with the pwr steering pump in the way, and a loader attached to the tractor. I don't want to deal with that if that isn't the problem. I may be overlooking something dumb...I'm not a mechanic! Any help and suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you.