What temperature should a Ford 860 run

What temp thermostat did you put in??? Hard to tell you what you want to know with out knowing if it is 160 or 180 or 195 temp thermostat
 
Well, I'm guessing you put in a 160F thermostat, which is typical. Under no load or light load, the temperature shouldn't get much higher than 160. But that assumes you have a water temp gauge that's accurate, which is not a good assumption.

The main thing is it should never boil over. With the standard radiator 7 psi radiator cap and a 50/50 antifreeze mix, that's something like 240F, way hotter than the thermostat temperature. If water is being blown out of the radiator, something is wrong. It might be overheating, or it could have a blown gasket. Or it could just have air trapped in the system, preventing the thermostat from opening.
 

Use your infrared thermometer to check the temp at various places and during the heat up cool down cycle in order to know where you really are.
 
If its over heating start it up cold with the radiator cap off,if the water in the radiator is bubbling its probably a head gasket or cracked head.If no bubbles after a few minutes the water should start to flow or circulate if it doesn't probably a thermostat.Where you located? I have a brand new radiator in the box for one of those tractors and old stock tune up parts.
 
With "should" being the key word in your question.

The system is designed to have a 4 lb cap on the radiator and a 180 degree thermostat.
The thermostat will start to open at about 160 degrees and will be fully open at 180 degrees.
The 4 lb cap will raise the boiling point 12 degrees so the water in the radiator will start to boil at 224 degrees.

So to answer your question...
A Ford 860 gas motor should run between 160 and 200 degrees with 180 degrees being just right.
 
A brand new Ford 860 in Test #562 at Nebraska in Sep-Oct, 1955 ran 172F in test G and 183F under max load. Air temp was between 64 7 67F. Don't worry if it runs a little hotter than that. Better to run hot than cold.
 
Along those lines, one needs to remember the reservoir at the top of the tank is for fluid expansion, not filling to the top like today's sealed, airless, systems with anoverflow tank. Full on that tractor is just covering the tubes, checking before operating for the day.

When I was a teen I had a gallon jug between the grille and the radiator of my jalopy to catch the overflow, which I would return to the radiator when I thought about it. It didn't dawn on me at the time what I said above. I thought you filled the tank to the top...course back then lawsuits (in my neck of the woods) were few and things you bought didn't come with instructions, or manuals.
 

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