Tractor Over Heated

[Lloyd_E]

About a week ago I was snow blowing 6" of heavy snow. RPM's set around 2000. Mid range in 3rd gear. Did lane - about 1000' plus a few neighbors small driveways. Everything working fine. I went to do a bit of clean up before calling it a day. Tractor use about 3.0 hours. I was blowing a large pile of snow - driving backwards and looking backwards. Turned forwards and steam, smell of anti-freeze everywhere. Temp gauge in the red. Shut tractor down. I let the tractor cool down and checked overflow tank - full. I toped up rad and restarted tractor - took about 4 litres. Gauge shows normal - finished clean up - everything fine.

I used the tractor very little over the last 3 or 4 days but every time I do I smell a mild smell of anti-freeze - gauge shows normal. Today I opened the hood and took a look and there appears to be anti-freeze on top of the rad. Overflow tank is full and gauge shows normal. Rad cap is tight.

Am I missing something? Also, there doesn't seem to be al lot of heat coming out of the
heater - some but not a lot. Before I call dealer for check is there anything I can do on my end? Dealer is about 2 hours away....

Many thanks... what could have caused the over heating?

 

[Steve_Miller]

Thermostat stuck closed? Start tractor with rad cover off and let heat up until thermostat opens and you should see circulation. If not hot water pushing back into overflow tank or out the rad opening.

Steve

 

[kenstrac]

I would check the radiator cap and line going to overflow tank,overflow tank should not be full.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Will check in the morning.

Thanks.

Lloyd

 

[wallace]

Make sure you didn't bump the aux remote lever into one of the on positions that will heat things up like you can believe.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Wallace,

Thanks. I did that once...

I found the problem. Not sure why it over heated but the plastic housing - top of rad - that connects to the rad hose is cracked.

Will call my dealer.

Wallace - can you order separate parts or do I need a new rad?

Thanks Lloyd

 

[wallace]

It is the whole thing

 

[wallace]

You might want to go to a radiator shop and see if they can fix the tank cause you looking at almost a $800 bill

 

[Coyote machine]

Lloyd_E,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I thought it sounded like a header issue. How old is the tractor; how many hours on it?
I'm wondering if you might have had some kind of impact to the tank header at some point that might have gone unnoticed?
Any chance the pieces are still in the radiator housing or on the frame somewhere- (assuming it is broken and pieces are missing or is it just cracked)?
The reason I ask is if there are pieces missing it may be impossible to fix if it is just cracked it might be able to be repaired by a skilled plastics welder...
Unfortunately, my experience has been that once a plastic header fails the entire radiator usually needs to be replaced- not what you want to hear- I know, but they don't usually make header parts available for repairs to be accomplished.
I could be wrong though since things may have changed as to what is available to radiator shops for aluminum core plastic header radiator repairs.
Usually the tank headers are crimped onto the radiator at the factory and that may be the repair issue in the field.
You might be able to have the shop size an all aluminum radiator without the plastic header to your rig. It would be a better radiator and might actually cost less.
Good luck,
Post back how things progress - and I'd suggest replacing the thermostat as well due to its being exposed to the extreme heat of an overheat situation. Its cheap peace of mind going forward.

 

[Lloyd_E]

The top is cracked - no pieces missing.
I am assuming this is under warranty. Something failed causing the tractor to overheat and cracking the rad. What I don't understand is why it would crack. Is there not an over flow pressure release somewhere?

The tractor has 416 hours and they just completed a service about 3 weeks ago.
Up to now it has been working flawlessly for the most part. There is still 2 years left on the warranty.

I tend to baby this thing. Always wash it and grease and do a check of things. Most of the manual charts I scanned and enlarged and printed and tacked up in the shop as a visual reminder of maintenance...

Will post back later...


Lloyd