Draining coolant 1936 A

Ken11487

Member
My 36 A came to me with permanent antifreeze in it, the red stuff. This would not circulate with the thermosiphon and was replaced with water. The tractor has been parked in a heated shop but now I need the space for a job and want to drain the water out.
I guess they did it in the old days, so do I just drain the main plug, ( actually mine has a ball valve) or is there another place to drain from as well. I want to put it in the shed where it will freeze. I plan to put some kind of antifreeze in it soon but it has to move now. Would cool guard II be the best choice to fill with? Will it circulate with the thermosiphon?
Thx Ken
 
ONE drainplug. A 50:50 (or reasonable mix) of permanent antifreeze and water WILL thermosyphon in a Johnny Popper(at least up here on the tundra). YAMMV!
 
Sounds like you may have a real problem. If it has had the green stuff in it and then the red stuff added to the green that can turn into a jell sort of stuff in the system and clog it up real good
 
There is only one drain plug. Drain it and premix the antifreeze and water before putting it in. If you don"t it will stay seperated and not circulate. Jim
 
If you drain it and don't refill it then leave the plug out because more will collect in the bottom and if what is in there will freeze then it will freeze and break the bottom off the cyl. head.
I'd try and put a piece of screen in there to keep the mice out but let the water still drain.
 
The tractor runs well. on a thresher it will read 200 to 210 deg after working for 30 min.
i just want to know if all the water will drain out and be safe to freeze with the system empty os i can get on with other work.

It looks like the p.o. refilled with the red stuff after work on the tractor.

I have the recipe for rad cleaner from Caterpillar engines of that era and want to try it. It uses muriatic acid, formaldehyde and 48 parts water. Mix formaldehyde and water first. Operate for there hours, drain and flush.
I think it should work as there won't be any aluminum parts in it.
 
Insert a stick or screw driver in the drain hole to make sure no rust has blocked the hole and all the coolant is drained. BTDT!!
 
It is better off to not leave them empty as then it dries out the gaskets.

This would be a perfect place for some old used but tested freeze safe antifreeze. Fill it up with some old stuff and let it sit. If you don't have any maybe somebody you know does ? They may have some nice looking stuff drained from a sleeved engine for yearly maintenance.
 
Two jobs away is my 4240, due for coolant change. Hmmm.
I made room in my storage area so it won't freeze just yet.
Thanks All
 
We mix it all the time, no problems. Any properly MIXED antifreeze will work fine in a thermosyphon system. If it boils over, replace the radiator core, its partially plugged.
 
I have been told by more then one person that if you mix the green and the red antifreeze it can and will clog up a cooling system and cause major over heating problems
 
Pretty sure it is the "use straight from the jug, no mixing" red stuff like we had in a truck at the time. Drained it out ( to use somewhere else) and replaced with water. Runs well now but I think it needs some corrosion protection so I will get some glycol and mix 50/50ish after the muriatic acid flush out.
 

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