Mowing BX25 overheating while bush hogging

[Jack32878]

Hello, newb here with a question. Please forgive me if this has already been asked as I couldn't find anything to answer my question when I searched.

I have a BX25 and a County Line (TSC brand) 4' bush hog. I am cutting my field, about 6 acres, but my tractor keeps over heating. I have cut this field previously with this same tractor and cutter. I checked the tractor coolant, oil, hydro fluid, and gear oil in the cutter. All fluids are fine. The cutter blades look ok but could be a little dull. When I am cutting the field, grass is about 1 to 3 feet throuhout the field, the temp guage slowly creeps up. When it hits the temp threshold I just stop, stop the PTO and reduce the RPM down to about 2200. When I do this the engine seems to run fine and the collant flow will cool the engine down below the red area on the temp guage. Once it drops after 3-4 minutes I raise the RPM to about 2500-2600, start the PTO and take off. I might get 5-10 minutes before I start the process over. This time the grass is a little taller/thicker than last time so it may be an issue.

Any other ideas???

 

[bcp]

Are you mowing in "rabbit" or "turtle?"

Radiator unblocked?

Bruce

 

[Jack32878]

Running in high gear, "rabbit." I make sure to keep the radiator free from debris. I did raise the cutter a bit and that increased the time it take to over heat.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Is your radiator screen clean, it just pulls out

 

[Jack32878]

Yes, I reach down and wipe the screen below the steering wheel every time I do a cool down stop. One time I pulled the screen off to make there wasnt a filter behind the screen.

Im beginning to wonder if it is simply the grass is just too thick. When I give it "full throttle" while cutting its a little sluggish a d I can hear the engine bog down a bit in thicker grass. Otherwise it runs great. I cleared some brush and briars today without even a hint of pver heating or engine bogging. Then went back to the grass and the same issues persisted.

 

[zlock24]

What rpm are you running the engine? I would run it at the rated pto rpm of 3200. If you are only running at 2600 it could be bogging down the motor too much.

 

[Jack32878]

I will go back and read the manual but I thought 2600 rpm was where the pto was rated. I did notice that when I tried to bump the rpm from 2500 to 2600-2700 it over heated faster. I didnt try to get 2700 but can try it out the next day or two when I get back out there.

 

[bcp]

3200rpm in "rabbit" is probably about 8-9mph. Seems too fast.

Working in tall grass, check your fan under the tractor, too.

Bruce

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

There's a pull-out screen just behind the radiator on my '24. I'd hope there's one on the '25. Are you cleaning that one too?

"Rabbit" seems too fast/high a gear for hogging. I run my '24 in "turtle" when hogging 4 acres, and it still gets pretty close to the red on a warm day.

Z.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

My little BX has had the removable screen clog up on occasion running the MMM. When it's happened temp runs hot. I try to clean it regularly and no problems running hot.

 

[Coyote machine]

Give us some stats. Are you original owner? How many hours on your tractor? Last coolant flush? Do you know if the T-stat is opening at correct temp? You can pull it and check it in boiling water.
There's a recent thread about a guy who had both an overheating Kubota and Yanmar. You might want to read through it.
Also, pull your hog blades and sharpen them, set your RPMs lower before engaging the PTO then bring up the RPMs to PTO spec, this puts less strain on the tractor, hog and PTO drivetrain.
Use the lower ground speed, turtle, and pay close attention to when the tractor starts to bog down, and then slow down ground speed to compensate.

 

[Jeff F.]

I agree the filter screen must be full

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Jack there is a screen between the radiator and motor. You pull it out on top by the radiator cap.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Here is somebody else's pic

 

[carlcroom]

Your radiator is plugged with debris. Take a garden hose with a nozzle and spray thoroughly from both sides. Bush hogging kicks up the size and kind of dust that loves to cling to radiator fins. And as previous posters said, sharpen your blades and slow your ground speed.

 

[BotaBigot]

...Take a garden hose with a nozzle and spray thoroughly from both sides...

X2...even with screen, chaff/dust coats radiator, reducing cooling efficiency. Keep hose water pressure low...don't want to damage radiator fins...

 

[Jack32878]

As for stats, I am the second owner. I just bought the property and there is a equipment rental place about 4-5 miles down the road. He was the original owner and traded this one in for a new one. He does that every 3 years or so. I bought his trade in off the dealer as it was a great deal. It had 617 hours on it when I bought it. The dealer told me he did a complete service on it with all new fluids. It has about 690 hours on it now (I love using this thing and play whenever I get a chance). I have no idea if the stat is opening at the correct temp but can tell you it normally runs fine except in this grass. The last time I cut the same field I didn't have this problem, but the grass wasn't as tall either.

Either today or tomorrow (when I can get some free time) I will go look for the screen everyone is referring to and double check the radiator. Also I will try to hog in "turtle" for a bit and see if that makes a difference. Cutting that much in turtle will take forever, but it's better than ruining my tractor I guess. The best answer may be to cut more often. I'm actually thinking about boarding horses in the field so I don't have to cut it nearly as much.

 

[Jack32878]

As for stats, I am the second owner. I just bought the property and there is a equipment rental place about 4-5 miles down the road. He was the original owner and traded this one in for a new one. He does that every 3 years or so. I bought his trade in off the dealer as it was a great deal. It had 617 hours on it when I bought it. The dealer told me he did a complete service on it with all new fluids. It has about 690 hours on it now (I love using this thing and play whenever I get a chance). I have no idea if the stat is opening at the correct temp but can tell you it normally runs fine except in this grass. The last time I cut the same field I didn't have this problem, but the grass wasn't as tall either.

Either today or tomorrow (when I can get some free time) I will go look for the screen everyone is referring to and double check the radiator. Also I will try to hog in "turtle" for a bit and see if that makes a difference. Cutting that much in turtle will take forever, but it's better than ruining my tractor I guess. The best answer may be to cut more often. I'm actually thinking about boarding horses in the field so I don't have to cut it nearly as much.

 

[dodge man]

I agree with the others, you probably aren't getting the second screen clean. It also helps to pull out the battery and clean the radiator from that side. I think you will be shocked at how plugged the radiator will be.

 

[LD1]

I agree with the radiator being plugged. But I dont use water to clean it. I used compressed air.

My happens quite often as I bushhog a few hundred acres a year. In thick stuff, gotta clean that screen once every few hours. But once every 10 or so the radiator needs a good blow down. I tried it onces very thoroughly with a hose and water, and had to struggle through my next job. Compressed air gets WAY more stuff out of the radiator.