Ferguson to20 cooling system question?

Hi everyone had a couple of questions about my to20 on the cooling system. I don't have at the moment a temperature gauge on it so I can't tell if its overheating or not but I don't think it is. I don't have a thermostat installed but I know you don't technically need one. But any ways I checked the temperature of the block with a hand held temperature gauge. On the head where the spark plugs are in the middle it runs about 160 to 170 in some places and down lower on the back 90 to 130 depending how long I run it. But when I checked the temperature on the head on the end of the block roughly where the voltage regulator would be its about 200 to 205. Is that normal because its right next to the manifold where its super hot. I am almost positive the water pump is working and pumping coolant because the coolant near the top of the radiator gets hot so it has got to be serculating. So should I worry about not having a gauge at the moment now or no. Because tomorrow possible have to take a big load of mulch with it down the road it the hot michigan heat. Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks!
 
Did those even come with a temp gauge from the factory?

You are probably pretty familiar with all it's normal sounds, smells, and personality.

As long as you keep the radiator clear of grass and to the normal coolant level, it should be fine.
 
Your coolant level should be just above the fins. If you start the tractor with the rad cap off and no thermostat, you should see the coolant pour into the rad. from the engine immediately.

If you have a working thermostat, you will see the coolant flow only after the engine is hot enough to open the thermostat.
 
Okay thanks for the help I filled it up about a week ago I think a little higher than above the cooling fins so I might syfin some of that
out because I for it needs a little room for it to expand and to breath. Also by taking the radiator cap off and starting the engine the
coolant should flow out of the top hose into the radiator from the engine because I have no thermostat installed at the moment. That would
mean that my water pump is working fine and my engine won't overheat correct?
 
Okay just took some of the coolant out of the radiator with a syfin hose to where I could see the top metal part of the radiator hose inside the radiator. I started it up and the coolant was vibrating but could only see bubbles coming from the front part of the radiator. Is that where the coolant comes out or should it be closer to the engine? I stuck some down in there when it was running and the coolant seemed to be fairly hot for only running a couple of minutes?
 
The pump pushes water out the thermostat housing, through the upper radiator hose, and dumps it in the top of the radiator.

The level is not that critical, an inch or so below the cap is fine. All that will happen if it is overfull it will expand and overflow, seeking it's own level.

Sometimes it's hard to see much circulation. Best viewed with the RPM up off idle.

As long as the upper radiator tank is getting warm, the air coming through the radiator is warm, it is circulating.

As long as it is not loosing coolant or steaming out the overflow, it is good. The most common cause of overheating is grass clippings sucked into the front of the radiator. If you are mowing or driving through tall grass keep a close watch on it.
 
Okay thanks so much really appreciate it. Yes I tightened my fan belt and sucks air through the radiator much better. Blows warm air back towards the tractor seat and measured the temperature of the rope of the radiator after running hot it's about 120 and bottom is 105 to 120 farenheight. And the head with a hand held temperature meter the head around the spark plugs reads about 155 to 160. I know that's fine because my other to20 with gauge and thermostat goes to 180.
 
You may want to put a thermostat back in at some point .

It helps keep the engine cleaner, gets the crankcase up to temp to boil off moisture and vapors. Helps get the head up to temp, better efficiency, less carbon, less plug fouling.
 

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