to20 doesnt seem to warm up in cold weather?

hello everyone, first time posting, but have read a lot of the threads on here, big help. so, heres a little background....i got the tractor last spring, its a 1949 ferguson to20 with a davis front loader, and a rear blade. over the summer i did a bunch of work to get it working a bit better, which included replacing the radiator (had leaks, when youd fix one, another would popup) and the thermostat and temp gauge. when its warm, works great tractor comes up to temp and then the needle drops when the thermostat opens, and does that until it evens out and doesnt fluctuate as much. now that it has started getting cold, 20s 30s, i go to use it to clear some snow from the road, and i watch the temp gauge staying on cold, and it seems to increase to warm and drop down to cold and doesnt really even out, the needle spends more time in the cold area than it does the operating temp. tried driving it for a while and never warmed up to balance at operating temp. something tells me to try putting some cardboard to cover the radiator with, not the entire thing of course, but i was curious,, is there another solution to this? or is there something wrong? what to you think guys? thanks!

-danny
 
I am married. Thinking gets me into trouble.
I would replace the thermostat in the upper hose.
Beyond that is to drill a small hole,
(1/16-1/32) in the flat area to allow any, any trapped air behind the NEW thermostat to escape upon initial installation.
That hole also allow any air, in the system, in the future to also bleed off, and also will allow a bit of warm water past the stat and it
will open and close more evenly and diminish wider temperature fluctuations during engine operation.
I sold a tractor once with a Davis FEL on it. Might have been a Fergy. No rear blade though. . .
 
when you say "the flat area" are you meaning the flat end or side? i am assuming end, but want to make sure. i got the tractor without the back blade, and bought it separate. im in washington, and i got the tractor from a guy who got it from another guy around spokane area i think, green acres i think. seems to be holding together better than that hoyt clagwell mr. douglas had though. thanks for the reply!
 
I agree with Bruce. Thinking can be dangerous. You did everything possible to keep it running cool. And that is exactly what it is doing.
So if you are still unhappy, find a cardboard box and a small piece of dark duct tape. Stick the cardboard infront of the radiator, stick the tape on the glass of the gauge.
 
Flat area being where there is nothing to the in the way of the proper operation of that stat with the slight modification.
This hole will be in the direction of the water flow stream and should be at the top of the hose. Air rises. Your desire is to keep the stat
bulb submerged in water at all times. Speaking of water, use a good quality of green coolant. Not the cheap stuff.
I can tell you of cheap coolant and head gaskets.
 

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