Old to Me, Steiner 230 questions

[LouNY]

Nice mower, and good work getting her going.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks Lou!

The 2 new PTO belts are working great. You have to hit some tough bahia grass at speed to get it to even think about slipping. I did some mowing, but most of the stuff has frozen and died, but still some green stuff down low to the ground.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The Beast's kubota D905E temp runs on the hot side, seems many kubotas do.

I took all the panels off the rear engine compartment, and took out the radiator. I cleaned thru the fins, they weren't clogged that bad. Previous peeps had removed the thermostat. I've ordered a replacement. Still waiting. I took the radiator to a shop. The guy told me that it seemed to flow just fine. And that he could take it apart and rod it but could easily damage and ruin it trying. So I told him not to and could he boil it. He said he doesnt boil them anymore.
So while I'm waiting on the thermostat, I decided to do a little body work and straighten the engine compartment panels, prime, and paint them.


I bought a fresh belt for the engine's fan. The old belt was stretched and loose, beyond what I could tighten (adjusting the alternator outbound). So, maybe just a belt will help it run cooler, if the old one was slipping.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I will attempt to boil the radiator out with muriatic acid. The radiator is brass and copper. I talked to some chemist friends at work and they agreed that a 1/3 acid, 2/3 water ratio sounded about right. So I'm going to put the acid in the radiator for about 5 to 10 minutes and agitate it to get it to hopefully remove some of the scale buildup. I will then flush it by mixing some baking soda with water and running it through there before installing it on the machine. I was hoping for warmer weather, to boil it out to improve the acid's action, but the chemists said be careful, each 10 degree rise will make the acid attack that much more. And they said the chlorides in the acid will attack any cracks or imperfections MORE than they will attack the flat surfaces. So, BE CAREFUL.

 

[daugen]

The Beast's kubota D905E temp runs on the hot side,

Kyle, hot as in how hot? More than 220?
170-190 I think is normal range.
Modern gauges often provide just green and red ranges, I want to know the number.
Diesels like heat, up to a point, assuming the cooking system is not plugged somewhere.
You are doing a great job with that very interesting piece of machinery.

 

[txdon]

Kyle, don't know if you have seen this but some interesting discussion on the reason for overheating.
3 cyl Kubota keeps overheating | The Diesel Stop

"In past experience with people performing their own work, I have found that removing the thermostat allows the coolant to flow to fast. This allows the engine to overheat because the 'rushing coolant' does not stay in contact with the engine block/head to cool properly. Also straight antifreeze overheats. Use 50/50 mix."

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks Don, I have seen that. I hope the cleaning/boiling works with the thermostat, and new belt.
Drew, thank you....it has not boiled over, but it has crept up to 220, and I just turn off mower PTO, turn rpm down to about 1500, and it cools down.

My neighbors have a kubota ZD and it over heats easily. Mine takes 20-30 minutes of cutting thick deep grass. It is set to low range, and full speed is about walking speed. Maybe 4mph.

 

[ronjhall]

The Beast's kubota D905E temp runs on the hot side, seems many kubotas do.

I took all the panels off the rear engine compartment, and took out the radiator. I cleaned thru the fins, they weren't clogged that bad. Previous peeps had removed the thermostat. I've ordered a replacement. Still waiting. I took the radiator to a shop. The guy told me that it seemed to flow just fine. And that he could take it apart and rod it but could easily damage and ruin it trying. So I told him not to and could he boil it. He said he doesnt boil them anymore.
So while I'm waiting on the thermostat, I decided to do a little body work and straighten the engine compartment panels, prime, and paint them.
View attachment 682550View attachment 682551View attachment 682552

I bought a fresh belt for the engine's fan. The old belt was stretched and loose, beyond what I could tighten (adjusting the alternator outbound). So, maybe just a belt will help it run cooler, if the old one was slipping.

Old school stuff on thermostats. When I drag raced we took thermostat out of Plymouth 426 wedge. Installed a plate in it's place with a 5/8" hole in it. Not sure that is the size needed for you engine.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Boiled radiator today. It was cool today about 54F, and I left the acid in it for about 15-18 minutes. Looks like I could have left it in for another 10 minutes.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I went ahead and started mounting it back into the beast.