Newbie questions - Blown Head Gasket?

[CPTP]

Greetings,
This is my first post so I apologize if this has been addressed in prior forum posts, but I didn稚 find anything in the search to address my issue.

I am the owner of a YM1610 with a front end loader. I purchased this tractor in conjunction with my house and land ~5.5 acres in late 2010. It seemed to run fine until it suddenly broke the weld on the neck of the radiator. I had the neck re-welded reinstalled and then the tractor sat for a year while I was on deployment all of 2011. In spring of 2012 I started the tractor up and did some land clearing. It worked for about 2 days of light clearing (1-2 hours each day) but on the 3rd day my repaired radiator again broke its weld at the top. I ordered a new radiator and had a mechanic come to do a once over. He changed out all the fluids and installed my new radiator. We started her up but there were bubbles coming from out of the radiator into the reservoir. The mechanic said that this was due to a blown head gasket and he didn稚 have the expertise to deal with that (he was more of a mower/lawn tractor mechanic). I searched in vain for another tractor mechanic but was deployed again soon after and haven稚 had the time to invest until recently. So, considering this has sat for a year since having its fluids changed out, I have the following questions:

-Is a blown head gasket what is causing my overheating/overpressure problems?
-Is this something I can fix myself? I am fairly good with tools, mechanical systems, and can follow directions like a champ.
-Is this something that could lead to more problems? E.g. taking the head off, see X needs to be changed/replaced, leading to X needing to be changed, and down the rabbit hole we go. I understand that some of that is inevitable this being an old tractor, just that if the head gasket change out is my level but the follow-on is not, I am worse off than when I started.
-If this seems like something beyond my level (or available time) is there anyone that the group recommends for service/repair in my area (Fayetteville, NC)?
- What other delights can I expect to find with a tractor that has sat this long (exposed - I know i'm a horrible person).

Thanks. I appreciate any information.

 

[winston1]

Welcome to the forum. :welcome: Yes, the head gasket can cause overheating, the radiator cap should take care of over pressure.

Yes you could do it yourself if good with tools. You would need access to a torque wrench, Harbor Freight sells some cheaper ones but I use them. Some borrow or rent them from Auto part stores.

If the tractor runs good with no unusual smoke, blow by, or oil usage then a head gasket would likely get you on the road.

 

[V1Rotate]

Welcome to TBN.
I'm curious about what is making the neck of your radiator break off, a blown head gasket won't do that.
A blown head gasket would produce bubbles and make it overheat. I think you could change the gasket yourself (if that is what the problem is). I'm sure there are some Yanmar experts here who can walk you through it.

 

[eray1066]

Most likely the broken weld is from the hood or some other part putting undo pressure on the radiator. See if something is loose or missing. Head gasket is easy if you are both handy and organized. You have to take quite a few pipes, hoses and other parts off. Getting it back together properly requires being careful with the disassembly, keeping parts separate and clean. When you are done you do not want a bunch of "extra bolts"

 

[artfull dodger]

If you were closer I would help you repair the tractor. I just replaced the head and the associated gasget on my GT14 Yanmar. Not an overly hard job, there is a specific sequence for retorquing the head bolts and to what torque value. Mine were done in 3 steps of torque values in sequence 1st bolt thru 6th bolt. You would want to get the head checked for warpage by a shop that does automotive machine work. Get yourself the service manual for that tractor thru Hoye or one of the other Yanmar dealers. Good thing to have around if you want to do your own repair work and not pay someone else to do it. I am also a lawn/garden mechanic but one that knows his way around a compact tractor and thier diesel engines. If you tackle the project, take lots of pics as you take it appart, then you can always upload them on your computer, enlarge them and see where stuff goes if you get stuck or forget. good luck!