Mowing 2615 hst heating issues using a finish mower

[mapp1]

I have a 2005 2615 hst with fel. It has 211 hours on it. I have a general question about the engine temperature on my tractor every time I use a 5' Howse finishing mower. I have to blow out my radiator and filter every time prior to using the finish mower or the tractor will run right at the overheat line. However, it only does this with the finishing mower, not the 4' bushhog. Is this normal? I live in South Mississippi where it is typically 90 to 95 degrees when I mow. The tractor has done this from day one that I have owned it. I took out the thermostat last summer and it helped a little. Is it really that sensitive to dust in the radiator or is the finishing mower too big? I had to blow out the radiator and air filter this weekend and take off the side panels to keep the temperature at normal for about 2 hours of mowing 3-4" grass. I am almost to the point of selling the tractor if this issue continues. Any insight will be appreciated.

 

[wallace]

What range are you mowing in?
Depending on the depth of the grass cutting..I would be using medium range with a wide open throttle even pass the 540 mark on you dash..that will help keep your rpm's where they need to be when using the hydro.
If you lug the motor the tractor will heat up, you need to keep your rpm's high so you fan will draw maxium air flow.

 

[mapp1]

I mow in the medium range right at the 540 rpm mark. I was not aware that I could mow at a higher rpm without damaging the drive train. So you are saying that I need to ramp up the rpm's to keep the engine cooler during mowing?

thanks,
Kevin

 

[Outlander]

Just take off the side panels....End of problem. I've been doing it for years with no ill effects. Just blow the engine off with air now and then. I really don't get side panels at all. Over the years I've been involved with AC, IH, Ford, Case, and some I've forgot. None had side panels. No problems? That said I do like the panels for snow work. Keeps it a bit dryer under the hood.

 

[Gator6x4]

My thoughts and opinions are you need five (5) PTO horsepower for each foot of mowing deck, rotary cutter or bush hog as called by some to insure tractor longevity. The 2615 is rated at 26 engine horse power and 21.1 PTO horse power. The four foot rotary cutter equates to 20 PTO horsepower at five horsepower per foot of width. The mower equates to 25 PTO horsepower at five horsepower per foot of width. You may try cutting a narrower swath 4 foot and as suggested running the engine at a higher RPM.

 

[xlr82v2]

A 2615 should handle a 5' finish mower no problem, and even a 6' should be doable if the grass isn't extremely high or thick and gets cut routinely... heck, I run a 6' on my old Ford 8N. My Dad has a 2615 Gear, and it's a pretty strong little tractor.

I think there's something else going on here...

How high/thick is the grass you're cutting, and how fast are you going? I know you said "Medium Range", but it's a Hydro, so that doesn't really tell anything...

Is it possible that your fan belt is loose, and it's slipping?

If the grass is not heavy (mowed every week) and you're not lugging the engine excessively, I'd have the dealer take a look at it, and have them check the injection timing... it could possibly be advanced a degree or 3 more than it should be... which would cause the engine to run hotter than it should, especially when the tractor is working. It also could be something as simple as a faulty temp sending unit. Several things to check...

This is assuming that you've already done the obvious stuff, like making sure the cooling system is up to the proper level, radiator is clean (can you see light through it) etc...

That tractor should run a 5' finish mower just fine and not even break a sweat, even in relatively heavy grass.

What condition are the blades in on the mower? If they're dulled down to nothing more than steel clubs under there, that takes a LOT of power to run... and isn't good for your grass either. Do you have any stiff/failed bearings, etc?

 

[DavesTractor]

You are getting great advice. We run a 6' flail in an orchard with 8-10" grass with a 2615HST without heating problems. Where it is real thick, we slow down. As a dealer, everytime we have had this issue, the radiator has been plugged with dirt. We tell the customer over the phone to clean the radiator, they always reply with something like "it's clean" or "I cleaned it real well". Then we go get the tractor and clean gobs of crud out of the "clean radiator" and all is well. Your situation perplexes me if it has really been this way since new. If I ignore that fact (humor me), I'd suggest you remove the grill/headlight assembly, remove the battery and get down and really check out the lower part of the radiator.

We are hot where we live, had some 116 two weeks ago, but it is relatively dry which helps things cool. And if it is much over 100, I mow in the evenings. Your situation may be a lot tougher, if so, the side panel removal will cool things.