JD Model B Cooling System Flush Question

Woodie in TX

New User
I know there is rust in the cooling system based on what I saw when replacing the hoses on the upper water pipe. Am planning to flush it out with water but what chemical flush works better than water without doing some type of damage?

The attached picture shows what I believe is a drain plug pointing down (lower right next to the clamp). It?s round with no visible threads and has what looks like pipe wrench marks on it. Is this a drain plug?

Any advice about the right way to get the rust out of the system is appreciated.

Also, how full should the radiator be once the system is flushed? The last time I ran it the coolant poured out the overflow so I think I overfilled it. Could the coolant not be circulating right due to rust blockage so its getting too hot?


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Hmmmmm! Not sure what you have there. The drain plug is located on the bottom of the head and is a plug with about a 1 1/8" bolt-type head.j In regards to the overheating, if you have added anti freeze, it could be setting in the bottom and stopping circulation. It must be premixed with the water before adding to the radiator. Otherwise, yes, there could be enough rust and crud in there to slow the circulation down. In these old thermosiphon radiators, the hot water from the engine enters the top of the radiator and then sinks as it cools and returns to the engine via the lower pipe. It needs a lot of flow to be effective.
 
That's the drain plug but they're normally a square head pipe plug. That may be a repair job. If your radiator is plugged I don't think any chemical flush would do much good without a water pump. May be better to take the rad to a shop to be boiled out.
 
That is the drain plug at the bottom of the cyl. head. Might cause problems trying to remove it ? You could just remove the lower hoses and pipe. Pipe looks like it may be getting rusted thru ? Easy to replace with exhaust tubing or such. After the pipe is off if you have good water pressure from a hose is probabaly the best bet to flush it out and not do more damage. I once back flushed a 620 with a weak water hose and an air gun. I remove the upper and lower pipes and stuck the water hose in the bottom of the radiator and boosted it with blasts from an air hose. All sort of junk came out the top and it cleared out the tubes in the rad. pretty well.
 
Drain the system and then flush it out with a garden hose. Then once it comes out looking pretty good fill it with vinegar and run it till good and warm let cool then drain and flush with the hose again. If you can do so hooking up to the block drain is the best place to hook a garden hose
 
When you put the water hose and air gun into the bottom of the radiator how did you seal around it so it would build up pressure?
 
Held it all with my hand and a rag stuffed in there. Best if it does leak so as not to get full air pressure.
 

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