Running hot in San Antone

[SteveElk]

Please help! I have a Massey Ferguson 1529 that started losing power and over heating. So far, I ve bled the fuel fines, serviced the hydrolics,serviced the engine, all works great but just over heats. Next I changed out water pump, rodded out the radiator, checked the belt, and changed out thermostat. It still runs Hot. I heard about burping the radiator and I’ve heard about an air pressure bleed by the thermostat but I don’t think mine has that. I have not a clue what to do next , any suggestions ? Thank you!

 

[SteveElk]

Also I have noticed that the top radiator hose gets hot and hard while the bottom hose is not so much

 

[Dmacleo]

thermostat installed in correct orientation?
any milkiness/discoloration or incorrect level in engine oil?

 

[thclimer]

Welcome to TBN, lots of good people here that can help you out.

How long have you owned your tractor?

Did this happen gradually over time or when did the overheating start?

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Check your Air filter. Once had some blockage and it caused my JD to run hot after mowing.

maybe a blockage in the radiator?

 

[JWR]

Assuming that you checked the thermostat, have correctly blown out the crud from the radiator exterior, made sure the water pump belt is tight, made sure there is no blown head gasket, etc. Don't forget a bad radiator cap (or a leaky gasket on one) can cause overheating.

If none of the above, I suggest you price a radiator on Amazon. I had essentially the same issues you describe on a Kubota and gave up when a mechanic friend kept saying "it's the radiator." Some radiators are ridiculous in price but I found one at reasonable price for the Kubota, installed it easily and sure enough the heating issue was cured. These small tractor radiators are very hard if not impossible to get completely cleaned out (flushing, etc.) and radiator shops that do work on them are a thing of the past, sadly.
By the way most repair shops have guages and tools to see if your cooling system is maintaining pressure AND if there are combustion products/bubbles coming in to the cooling system from blown head gaskets.

 

[SteveElk]

thermostat installed in correct orientation?
any milkiness/discoloration or incorrect level in engine oil?

I have had the tractor for about 6-7 years. I bought it from a friend mine and borrowed it from time to time so I had experience with it. The problem seemed to have happen like over night. I used it to help dig a hole and all of the sud

 

[SteveElk]

I have had the tractor for about 6-7 years. I bought it from a friend mine and borrowed it from time to time so I had experience with it. The problem seemed to have happen like over night. I used it to help dig a hole and all of the sudden I felt it lose power and further checking it was getting hot. I checked coolant and it was a little low but not bad. I topped it off, checked motor oil and found no real problem. Then it started having a hard time starting and smoking. First with some white smoke then some black and may some more white before it stopped smoking. Then step by step I started weeding options. The only thing I haven’t changed yet is the glow plugs..

 

[Dmacleo]

SteveElk said:
I have had the tractor for about 6-7 years. I bought it from a friend mine and borrowed it from time to time so I had experience with it. The problem seemed to have happen like over night. I used it to help dig a hole and all of the sudden I felt it lose power and further checking it was getting hot. I checked coolant and it was a little low but not bad. I topped it off, checked motor oil and found no real problem. Then it started having a hard time starting and smoking. First with some white smoke then some black and may some more white before it stopped smoking. Then step by step I started weeding options. The only thing I haven’t changed yet is the glow plugs..

head issue.
glow plugs not issue.

 

[SteveElk]

thermostat installed in correct orientation?
any milkiness/discoloration or incorrect level in engine oil?

No the oil and consistantcy is ok. The new thermostat is in correctly. There are no leaks anywhere to be found. The radiator was professionally cleaned and riddled out. He did say it appeared to be about 25% blocked but cleaned up well. The silly thing just gets hot.

 

[Dmacleo]

loss of power combined with the smoke colors are key here I think.

 

[5030]

Fan belt tight? Sounds to me like a lack of airflow through the rad. Something blocking the airflow maybe? Problem is, if you overheated it more than once, the head gasket will be suspect. Diesels don't cotton to being overheated and will pop head gaskets among other things like cracked heads or cracked blocks in the deck area.

One thing I never do is allow my diesels to get overheated.

 

[SteveElk]

Fan belt tight? Sounds to me like a lack of airflow through the rad. Something blocking the airflow maybe? Problem is, if you overheated it more than once, the head gasket will be suspect. Diesels don't cotton to being overheated and will pop head gaskets among other things like cracked heads or cracked blocks in the deck area.

One thing I never do is allow my diesels to get overheated.

Today I heard someone say something about the thermostat. That to make sure it was installed and turned the correct way. I wasn’t sure what was meant by that. I opened the thermostat housing to see the position of the thermostat. It was placed straight with the engine. The thermostat spring was not centered and I was told to turn it where the spring would ace the engine, which would also be inlinebwith the housing. I also took radiator cap off to watch the glow of coolant after adding. I burped the hose some and continued poring coolant in until it finally started churning. Well lo and behold the tractor starts quickly with very little smoke at start up. I’m gonna watch it some to make sure but I think after all this that’s what it was, however, the tractor was started with all this trouble with the original thermostat and nothing wrong until all at once so I’m still not completed satisfied my trouble is over. What do you guys think?

 

[SteveElk]

Today I heard someone say something about the thermostat. That to make sure it was installed and turned the correct way. I wasn’t sure what was meant by that. I opened the thermostat housing to see the position of the thermostat. It was placed straight with the engine. The thermostat spring was not centered and I was told to turn it where the spring would ace the engine, which would also be inlinebwith the housing. I also took radiator cap off to watch the glow of coolant after adding. I burped the hose some and continued poring coolant in until it finally started churning. Well lo and behold the tractor starts quickly with very little smoke at start up. I’m gonna watch it some to make sure but I think after all this that’s what it was, however, the tractor was started with all this trouble with the original thermostat and nothing wrong until all at once so I’m still not completed satisfied my trouble is over. What do you guys think?

Ok my problem still exists. After adjusting the orientation of the thermostat it did help a lot. On a cold start it still has a problem and smokes. After it has started you can bump the key and it starts correctly. Any suggestions ? Thanks for any help

 

[Dmacleo]

what color smoke and is there still power loss?

 

[SteveElk]

what color smoke and is there still power loss?

At a cold hard start it finally starts with a white smoke then black and may show a little more white. After that I can just bump the key and it starts up. And it’s a normal amount of black smoke and it’s over. I believe I’ve got the power back for the most part. I haven’t been trying to use it as usual with this going on. Also, so far I think since I correctly orientated the thermostat I’m not having the heating problem. I’m still leaning towards glow plugs going out. What do you guys think?

 

[bearthebruce]

I think it is the glow plugs or the length of time you are holding the key for the glow plugs...

Early on with our 1533, I did not know how to properly start it. I did not hold the key long enough for the glow plugs to warm things up. I do a slow count to 10 on first start of the day in warm weather and a slow count to 20 in cold temps/winter. Then she fires right up, makes a bit of white smoke, girgles and burbles for a moment and then idles well.

 

[SteveElk]

I think it is the glow plugs or the length of time you are holding the key for the glow plugs...

Early on with our 1533, I did not know how to properly start it. I did not hold the key long enough for the glow plugs to warm things up. I do a slow count to 10 on first start of the day in warm weather and a slow count to 20 in cold temps/winter. Then she fires right up, makes a bit of white smoke, girgles and burbles for a moment and then idles well.

Thanks for that. I’ve kept that in mind and have just waited for it for minutes. Doesn’t seem to matter but that’s the only thing left that I know of that haven’t changed out. I worry some though because I sometimes smell some maple smells which I fear it being head gasket. However, I see no signs of leaks, water in the oil , or missing any fluid levels.

 

[Bootstrap]

Does it have a fan shroud in place?

 

[JWR]

Thanks for that. I’ve kept that in mind and have just waited for it for minutes. Doesn’t seem to matter but that’s the only thing left that I know of that haven’t changed out. I worry some though because I sometimes smell some maple smells which I fear it being head gasket. However, I see no signs of leaks, water in the oil , or missing any fluid levels.

As I said in post #6 most repair shops have vacuum gauges and equipment to test for leaks AND to see if combustion products are getting into the coolant, etc. Those are grossly simple tests and not costly if any charge at all. You need to do that. For one thing that will either confirm or eliminate the possibility of a blown or leaking head gasket.