Losing coolant from radiator overflow

[Dmadison]

Tractor blew head gasket. Had coolant coming from overflow. Had head shaved and reworked, put on new head gasket, same problem. Put on new radiator cap and thermostat but that didn't help any. I am at a loss as what to do next.
try another head gasket I guess. Any ideas?

 

[Deere Dude]

What happened to me many moons ago was I torqued the head bolts down but there was some crud in the bottom of the bolt holes that wouldn't allow the head gasket to compress correctly... It was a car but maybe...

 

[SPIKER]

make model eng number etc,.?

Did ya torq from center out and did ya deck/clean the block too or just file it smooth? if you used the flat faced disk/die grinder that can cause you issues. Other things look for crack in head and block liner. Otherwise could be issues with the gasket it's self, one guy had same constant issues ended up getting a copper gasket and that fixed it.

Mark

 

[Dmadison]

make model eng number etc,.?

Did ya torq from center out and did ya deck/clean the block too or just file it smooth? if you used the flat faced disk/die grinder that can cause you issues. Other things look for crack in head and block liner. Otherwise could be issues with the gasket it's self, one guy had same constant issues ended up getting a copper gasket and that fixed it.

Mark

Yes torqued from inside out to 120 ft lbs. Cleaned block really good using really fine sandpaper. I would really prefer the copper gasket but don't think they are available anymore.

 

[Dmadison]

I can see that the water pump is circulating good but also see it bubbling in the radiator. Tractor is a Jinma 200 LE with a Laidong LL380 engine

 

[RonMar]

Maybe you have a crack somewhere...

 

[4570Man]

How did you "shave" the head? A machine like this is made for the task. The milling machine vice is not supposed to be there. I was using it to hold parts much smaller than heads or blocks.

 

[Dmadison]

How did you "shave" the head? A machine like this is made for the task. The milling machine vice is not supposed to be there. I was using it to hold parts much smaller than heads or blocks.

View attachment 440355

machine shop did the work.

 

[boggen]

i am way over my head here so. take it with a grain of salt...

do you have an "air lock" ? some folks have drained there antifreeze / water mixture. and when they went to go fill it up, they got an air lock in the system. i don't remember the details, but they either got unit on flat surface or had to angle front/back to get the air out.

have you double check your antifreeze / water mix... with a tester... to make sure you have correct mixture? they are relatively cheap and at most auto part stores.

have you removed thermostat and tested it in boiling water? who knows maybe factory defect.

===================
not a clue about machine you have....

does unit overheat just at idle? or are you running it hard?

have you double checked carb and adjusted it correctly? perhaps wrong fuel/air mixture causing extra heat.

 

[Affordable]

90 % of the time the overheating on these tractors is due to a radiator that is not clean, we have customers that brought us tractors telling us they just cleaned the radiator, when we showed them the dirt we got out they could not believe it

You must be able to see thru all the fins from top to bottom, if the battery is sitting in front of the radiator remove it to clean,we wash them out with a water hose then take a air hose to blow out the fins, sometimes it takes 2-3 times to get one clean

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales
"Your Jinma Parts Superstore"
Home of compact Jinma, Foton, and Koyker Tractors and Parts, Wood Chippers, Backhoes - Affordable Tractor Sales Company

 

[Fawken]

If it bubbles when still cold and you're sure the head gasket is done right then there likely is a crack in the head or a cylinder wall. Did the machine shop hydrostat the head while they had it?

 

[Dmadison]

90 % of the time the overheating on these tractors is due to a radiator that is not clean, we have customers that brought us tractors telling us they just cleaned the radiator, when we showed them the dirt we got out they could not believe it

You must be able to see thru all the fins from top to bottom, if the battery is sitting in front of the radiator remove it to clean,we wash them out with a water hose then take a air hose to blow out the fins, sometimes it takes 2-3 times to get one clean

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales
"Your Jinma Parts Superstore"
Home of compact Jinma, Foton, and Koyker Tractors and Parts, Wood Chippers, Backhoes - Affordable Tractor Sales Company

Tractor as never overheated, always between 70 and 80C. I can see thru the radiator. I am sure it is head gasket because there is lots of dark grey smoke and very hard to start now.

 

[Dmadison]

If it bubbles when still cold and you're sure the head gasket is done right then there likely is a crack in the head or a cylinder wall. Did the machine shop hydrostat the head while they had it?

Machine shop magnafluxed the head

 

[Fawken]

Machine shop magnafluxed the head

Magnaflux was the word I was looking for. Hydrostat is how they check for cracks in high pressure tanks. If your gasket is the sandwich type with fiber material and metal rings then do not use gasket sealer.

 

[4570Man]

You actually can pressure test a head. They have a metal plate the same size as the block with a thick rubber gasket. You clamp the plate on the head and put the head in water. Then pressurize the head with compressed air, and if you see any bubbles the head is cracked. It is a pretty complicated setup, more than the average Joe could pull off. Magnaflux is way simpler. You can even magnaflux a crankshaft.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Magnaflux was the word I was looking for. Hydrostat is how they check for cracks in high pressure tanks. If your gasket is the sandwich type with fiber material and metal rings then do not use gasket sealer.

Hydrostatic testing usually uses dyed water. It isn't specifically for high pressure tests. You can also vacuum test cylinder blocks and heads as well. You may successfully use a gasket sealer on composite head gaskets provided it is indicated for that service. Indian Head shellac is one brand that comes to mind that works very well. There are others.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Didn't read entire post but, head bolts? Do they need to be replaced on this tractor when removed? Lot of engines these days you can not reuse head bolts.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Did you follow the torquing procedure when installing the head?

Torque the head bolts. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature, let it cool down and torque again. At 50 hours, torque them again.

It's a pain because you have to adjust the valves each time. But it's necessary. When I replaced my head gasket, at the 50-hour retorque the gasket compressed so much I couldn't get the valve rockers back on without loosening them.

 

[Dmadison]

Did you follow the torquing procedure when installing the head?

Torque the head bolts. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature, let it cool down and torque again. At 50 hours, torque them again.

It's a pain because you have to adjust the valves each time. But it's necessary. When I replaced my head gasket, at the 50-hour retorque the gasket compressed so much I couldn't get the valve rockers back on without loosening them.

Yes I followed proper sequence when torqueing the head bolts, also retorqued after running it and after cool down.

 

[Dmadison]

After another head gasket and new head bolts still no go. still losing compression and pushing coolant out.