How hot is too hot?

gilbertmsg · May 24, 2010

Have 2007 CK 20, purchased new in Dec 2007. Tractor has 194 hrs. I have been noticing the temp gauge moving out of the safe zone the past 3-4 times I have used. It has never gotten to the red unsafe level, but it does not miss it by much. I have changed and checked oil level. Have new air filter, checked radiator level, all look good. I mostly use tractor to pull 4' bush hog in pasture grass that is less than 1' tall. I hate to keep using and something goes wrong, but as long as it stays out of the red, is it ok to continue using?

Thanks

Eddie

MotorSeven · May 24, 2010

Eddie is the pre-screen clogged? If mine get 1/2 full of chafe from hay/weeds the temp starts to rise. I usally have to clean them 2-3 times during a 6-7 hr cut in high hay.

RD

gilbertmsg · May 24, 2010

Nope, everything is clean. There was nothing on screen and nothing on radiator.

Eddie

MichiganIron · May 24, 2010

Check the mower deck. If you only notice the problem when rough cutting, make sure the mower deck gear box and blade are in good shape and spin freely.

Also check the cooling fan. Sometimes a stray can get up behind the radiator and take chunks out of the coling fan.

Between the lines on the temp guage is ok. If you are on the overheat line, there is something affecting the cooling system or making the tractor work hard. it wasn't specifically mentioned earlier, but take a good look in between the radiator fins. We have seen radiators over 50% plugged, even with screens being cleaned.

VictorW · May 24, 2010

My CK30hst has never come close to the red and usually sits right in the middle of normal. Even on hot days, it may go just a hint above the middle of normal/safe zone. Is the fan belt tight? Maybe it's slipping a little if lose. You could try pulling the thermostat and see if it stays cool which may show if it's not opening like it should. I don't think I would like to keep running it close to the red.

Jim in ICT · May 25, 2010

I had all kinds of heating problems with my Kubota last summer, having to stop every 20-30 minutes to cool the engine down (water hosed into the radiator). I changed the t-stat and hoses & cleaned the side screens, only to have the same issues. Was concerned that I'd purchased a used tractor with a bad head gasket or worse, cracked head, but no oil or compression in the radiator. I finally found the pre-screens on the backside of the radiator packed with chaff....... problem solved. I've mowed 7-8 times this spring with no overheating.
I guess what I'm saying is while it's not advisable, you can get one pretty hot if you cool it down correctly and be patient.

gilbertmsg · May 25, 2010

Thanks for the comments, will check fan belt and radiator. I will also run again today and watch the hoses. It took almost 45 minutes to get to the upper limits of safe. I will post updates later today.

Eddie

gilbertmsg · May 25, 2010

Back this morning and cleaned everything again. Sprayed water thru the radiator while motor was running, fan pulled fine mist back thru. Ran for about 20 min and then mowed with bush hog for about 20 min and temp gauge never got half way. I'm not sure what is happening but, if I notice any changes I will post. Looks like everything is ok and I'm not really sure why.

Eddie

VictorW · May 26, 2010

Good to hear that all is well. Brush hogging with all the dry stuff flying around can be tough on the radiator. Maybe there was a bunch of fine stuff that made its way into the radiator core and not just the larger pieces that you would usually see on the surface. I've seen vehicles run hot when the aspen trees cloud the air in Spring with that white fuzzy stuff.