JD 650 Overheating - 521 hours - thermostat replace?

[Capricious]

"..it does rotate, I've had to move it out of the way several times trying to wedge the radiator/shroud back in there..."



When it rotates, does the belt slip on the sheave (pulley) for the fan, or is the fan rotating while the belt and the sheave stay stationary?

If the belt is slipping on the sheave, is it possible that the belt has been slipping all along?

 

[Edensgardener]

That's a possibility - but now that I've pulled it on and off so many times, I'm just going to replace it anyway. It didn't seem to slip before. I had turned it a time or two before it all got taken apart, but I'm not as familiar with what to look for as someone more experienced. One person who gave it a slight tug said they "thought" it looked "a little loose", but it wasn't overheating so I didn't mess with it.

I don't want to just start messing with everything anyone who looks under there tells me to, ya know? I'd have the whole thing in pieces. lol

But there is a bit of green paint on the belt, so it's likely an old one. Can't hurt to swap it out. Also, I figure I will run it with the key engaged to light up if it starts to get hot. I can always shut it down and let it cool (after checking the temp), as I only have about an hour's worth of work to do with it and I can do it when it's not too hot out. Cold front coming in tonight.

 

[Capricious]

I thought that the possibility of a slipping/loose/glazed belt had been covered here before, but in looking back over the posts I am not seeing it mentioned.

SOMETIMES a slipping belt will produce a "squealing" noise, but not always. And a slipping belt could be the cause of the overheating.

"..One person who gave it a slight tug said they "thought" it looked "a little loose", but it wasn't overheating so I didn't mess with it..."

If it looked a little loose before the tractor started overheating, it might have loosened up more.



Yes, try a new belt, and be sure it is tight-enough (hard to describe, but if you pick a spot along the belt between two pulleys, and push on the belt, it should not defect much. How much it should deflect depends upon how far apart the pulleys are.

Not sure what you mean by "leaving the key engaged"?? Is there a problem with the key starter switch?

 

[sd455dan]

just a thought- on replacing the shroud/ radiator.

In some cases it may be necessary to first set the shroud by itself (IN) around the fan-
and then lower the radiator in, start its mounts and then attach the shroud to the radiator???

Good Luck

 

[Edensgardener]

So, finally got the radiator back in - needed a bigger hammer is all - and tightened up the belt way beyond what it was (they didn't have mine in stock, of course) and it ran for 2 hours NO problem. So, it's kind of the long way around to do some basic maintenance, but at least I know what I DON't need to check for now.

Thanks Capricious!

 

[arrow]

Thank you Capricious!

The guys at the radiator shop gave me a cap with a thermostat on it to do just what you're suggesting I think. He mentioned that the sender might be off a bit. He wasn't positive at the temp it should run it - but he estimated 190 or so.

What am I looking for, or finding, if I see bubbles in the coolant?

JD operating temp is rated for 165* or at least that is where the stat is supposed to open up.