Tractor Overheating Issue - why?

NoBite · Sep 26, 2010

I have a Ford 1900 and an overheating issue. Used tractor yesterday for various tasks for about 3 hours. As I was finishing up bush-hogging I started to smell something like a burning wood smell. Sort of like years ago when I had a word burning set. Very shortly after noticing that smell, the temp gauge on the Ford went from just above cool to hot and tractor shut down. After letting it set a bit, I carefully released the pressure on radiator cap. Full of fluid, so I didn't spring a leak there. Checked oil level. Fine, if a bit dark. Let tractor sit for a couple of hours. Went back to it and it started right up. I headed back to the barn, stopping for about ten minutes at the manure pile to rearrange the pile. The temp gauge started moving again. By the time I got the Ford into the barn, it was hot again.

I am no mechanic (obviously). What sort of possible causes for this issue come to your mind? Thanks for the help, guys.

GlenIdaho · Sep 26, 2010

When was the last time you checked the radiator for debis in the cooling fins? Not an uncommon thing to get clogged up and prevent air from passing through. It could be some of the debris in the fins became so hot it created the burning wood smell. Did you check the fan belt to make sure it is poperly adjusted? A loose belt will cause over heating. It could be more serious like a blown head gasket, failing water pump, cracked head etc. But I would check the basics first, check and clean out radiator fins, check and adjust belt; check oil for coolant; check radiator for air bubbles; check water pump for leaks, (look at bottom weep hole for coolant).

Anonymous-0 · Sep 26, 2010

1. Stuck thermostat.
2. Fan belt slipping.
3. Waterpump going bad. Any loose motion there?
4. Corrosion build up in radiator & engine.
5. Bad head gasket. Oil in antifreeze? Water in oil?

Recommend you remove the radiator cap when the engine is cold. Start engine and let it get to operating temp 160-180 degrees. Look for the anitfreeze circulating when the hoses get up to temp. See if there are any bubbles in the water. Tighten or replace belt if needed. Check for side to side motion on the fan blade shaft. Drain, flush and replace coolant with fresh mixture. Post back if this doesn.t help. Good luck. The 1500-1900 series are tough.

NoBite · Sep 26, 2010

Thanks Glen and Oliver!

I am out of town through Thursday, so you suggestions will be followed when I return. I sure appreciate the tips and REALLY hope the cause is one of the simpler possibilities!

I had been bush-hogging through some fairly tall junk. So, it is quite possible something did get into the fan blades. Fingers crossed.

NoBite · Sep 26, 2010

Okay, guys, I did head out and try to troubleshoot this issue this afternoon. I took two videos that I will link to. I ran the Ford for about 20 minutes @ 1300 RPM. While running, the temp gauge registered just shy of 12:00. But, as soon as I shut the tractor down, the temp gauge pegged off the chart hot! as the following picture shows.

NoBite · Sep 26, 2010

Here are the two videos. First, here I show the temp gauge as the Ford has been running about 15 minutes at this point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eudKYbf01xY

Here is a look at the fuel injectors. I have no idea if this could contribute to the problem. But, when I was on this side of the engine looking closely, I saw a drip at one injector. That's not supposed to be there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is6y73l_DpI

Jerry/MT · Sep 26, 2010

Make sure that the cooling system is operating properly. First, since you were hogging, blow out the air side of the radiator to make sure that it"s free from dirt and chaff. Make sure the pressure cap is the correct rating and that it is working properlly. Make sure your air cleaner is not clogged as this will cause high gas tempertures in the cylinders on a diesel. Make sure the water pump drive belt is tight and check the lower hose at high engine speed to make sure it"s not collapsing and reducing coolant flow to the engine. Make sure that the thermostat is the correct one and that it"s working properly.

NoBite · Sep 26, 2010

Good stuff, Jerry. Thanks!

Anonymous-0 · Sep 27, 2010

The 1700 series temp gauge parks to the hot side when the key is turned off as in your picture. Not sure if this applies to your 1900. Try warming the engine then shut down and turn the key to off. If the gauge moves to the right again, turn the key to on, see if the gauge returns to the middle. This is just an inexpensive diagnostic test. I can't tell from your video if the coolant is moving in the radiator. If not, the water pump impeller may be eroded. All the other suggestions apply. The radiator front "appears" to be clean but its hard to tell from the video. Try an IR or traditional cooking thermometer to double check the water temp if it runs hot again, you know to be careful with a hot radiator cap. Try snugging down the injectors and replace all of your return lines. This may fix the fuel drip. Please post back with the results. You could also pick up an IT #FO-44 repair manual for ~ $25.00 .

Anonymous-0 · Sep 27, 2010

In the first video, about 13 seconds in, the fan blade appears to have a little bit of a wobble, or is that an optical illusion? In the second video, the leak seems to be coming from the front injector return hose connection area. By the way, is this tractor new to you or have you had it and used it for a while and this is a new mechanical problem?

NoNewParts · Sep 28, 2010

In your first video
with the temp gauge showing half-way,
your thermostat should be open.
With the location of your top hose,
there should be LOTS of turbulence in there.
I'm not seeing that.

Stuck thermostat
weak water pump

impellers eroded/blocked, sticky thermostats will
sometimes get by in light work, but heavy hogging
will overheat it.

like others have said, get a meat thermometer to
find the real coolant temperature

NoBite · Sep 28, 2010

Thanks for all the replies. I will address them all when I return home from a business conference on Friday.

I hope a bad thermostat is the culprit. I, too, did not see much water movement in the radiator. I believe the wobble of the fan blade shaft was an optical illusion. I tried to make it wobble when I shut down the tractor and could not.

NoBite · Oct 16, 2010

I replaced the thermostat and thermostat gasket. Today I had a chance to hook up the bush hog and run over the remaining junk in the pasture. I made sure the bush hog was low to the ground. It bogged down a couple of times even, but I wanted that to happen. In all, I cut for about 90 minutes and let the tractor idle about 20 minutes prior to that.

The temp gauge never moved above the middle, actually staying just a smidge below the center line. I used a meat thermometer and found the temp to be 146-degrees after I had finished the bush hogging. I think that's pretty good, right?

Another fellow looked at my videos and suggested I might need to get the radiator re-cored. He has two 1900's and has had to do that with both. At this point in time, I think I am good. If I need to use it for several hours, we'll see if anything else crops up.

What do you guys think?

Edit to add - I did notice that when I turned off the key, the temp gauge started creeping up toward H. But, when I turned the key on, it immediately went back to just below midline.

Tractor Overheating Issue - why?

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