TC24D overheated.. cause????

[clarkfarm]

After brushhogging for less than an hour in 80 degree weather I noticed the temp gauge in the red. When I stopped the tractor the antifreeze was boiling in the overflow resevoir. Fan's working, radiator's full, but the radiator screen was clogged. Is that what caused this or should I be worried about something else? I haven't run it yet as its still cooling. I usually clean that screen every couple of weeks or so, but you can bet I will check it before every ride.

 

[JerryG]

Yes, the stuff on the screen is what made it overheat.When you are brushhogging, you get a lot of fluff and chaff on the radiator. Watch the temperature gauge, when it starts up clean the radiator.

 

[clarkfarm]

I figured as much, I was just a little suprised how quickly it got too hot. I feel better now, it seems to be running fine. thanks

 

[thcri]

I check my screen everytime before I mow. My MMM tends to throw grass out in front of the tractor which fills up that screen pretty fast. Once you hit that red mark then your cap releases the pressure and then you get the boiling. And my cap is real fussy. Some day I will get a new one that will hopefully hold more pressure.

murph

 

[fire72]

Common problem when cutting brush. Every area you cut may be different, depending on the vegetation. I'm working my way through a big job now that's the worst I've done in that regard. Most of the time I have the usual grass seeds clogging up my pre-screen, but the sections with heavy concentrations of thistles (which are now going to seed) are the worst. The fine, fluffy hairs on the seeds clog up the screen in nothing flat, so that I'm stopping to clean it out every 15-20 minutes.

Just keep an eye on your temp gauge. When it gets toward the top of normal range, shut down and clean it out. Just takes a minute or two. Temp will return to normal within a few minutes...until it clogs the next time.