John Deere A model cooling system

pickes64 · May 9, 2016

I just bought a 1946 A model S/N 565610. I have a shop manual that talks about a water pump for S/N 700200 and up. No mention of one for my S/N. I can't seem to locate one on the machine. Did they not have one on early models? How does the water flow through the radiator?

DeltaRed · May 9, 2016

Early ones dont have water pumps.They use a'thermosyphon' system.Kind of a percolator. The theroy is hot water rises,cold water settles.It just circulates. The system doesn't use a thermostat,and is very efficient.Many of the older tractors used thermosyphon cooling.

Deere Scotty · May 9, 2016

I am not sure what year Water Pumps became normal; but was never standard for the 46 "A"; but around 1947 - 1950. The water pump would be bolted to the bottom of the Radiator with a pulley lined up with the generator so as to use the same automotive belt. For the "G" it was only the last year (1953) I have heard. I had a neighbor who had a 1952 "G"... No water pump!

The water flows by physics. Hot water rises, the fan blows it cool, & the cold water descends to the bottom of the radiator; pushing water back to the engine which heats it up again. Obviously as the HP's rose so did the problem of moving enough water to keep the engine cool. You might have a set of "shutters" that would help control the temperature between summer, & winter, + Hard, & light pulling.

If You feel it is needed... it can be converted if necessary. I am sure what the cost, or the parts needed.

Leroy · May 9, 2016

The water pump did not become standard on the A & B untill 1952, that could be retrofited to the late 47 up and I think possibly back to 41. Now there were aftermarket pumps that could bemounted on any A back to 1934 up to 51, it could not be installed along with the factory in radiator pump. If filling with antifreeze mix the antifreeze and water before you put it in as it will not circulate to get mixed. I have had that problem. That aftermarket pump also fit the G and I am not certain if or when the G ever had a factory water pump. My 1951 A did not have the pump and untill I had to change out the radiator that was a 4 tube model had no heating problems, replacement was a 3 tube model and heating problems started so it got a factory pump added. This was close to 30 years ago. I have had a 38A, 46B, 49B, 51A & 50AR. and only one to have a water pump was the one I had to ad to because of a poor radiator in that aftermarket 3 tube bought from radiator repair shop.

Old weldor · May 9, 2016

My 51 G has a factory water pump!

Pete in MD · May 9, 2016

Water pumps were factory installed beginning with ser# 700200 in late '52.
At that time kits also became available to install water pumps on late-styled A's from ser# 584000 to 700191. These kits included a new radiator bottom tank.

The Dukester · May 9, 2016

Considering the horsepower output the John Deere two cylinders had a lot of coolant capacity and except fot the early G models there were very few cooling problems. But then when the Korean War came along copper for the radiators became difficult to obtain so JD started using steel which doesn't have the conductive capability of copper so they resorted to water pumps to increase the coolant circulation rate and the efficiency of the cooling system.

Mike(NEOhio) · May 9, 2016

Just be sure to keep the system FULL. The coolant circulates just fine but it will overheat quickly if it doesn't cover the crossover to the radiator.

James Howell · May 9, 2016

"<font color="#6699ff">[i:654c4848f0]How does the water flow through the radiator?[/i:654c4848f0]</b?</font>"

James Howell · May 9, 2016

Sorry clicked the wrong button.

Agree with the descriptions from both [b:654c4848f0]DeltaRed[/b:654c4848f0] and [b:654c4848f0]Deere Scotty[/b:654c4848f0].

Take a look at the illustration below of the [b:654c4848f0]THERMO-SYPHON TEMPERATURE CONTROL[/b:654c4848f0] system in the [b:654c4848f0]JOHN DEERE [i:654c4848f0]GENERAL PURPOSE[/i:654c4848f0] TRACTORS[/b:654c4848f0] A456-39-10 brochure on page 17.

Your 46A did not have a water pump from the factory.

Hope this helps.

John Deere A model cooling system

pickes64

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DeltaRed

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Deere Scotty

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Leroy

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Old weldor

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Pete in MD

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The Dukester

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Mike(NEOhio)

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James Howell

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James Howell

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