WD overheating

[David R Inman]

My dad's WD keeps running too hot. We've had the radiator professionally cleaned, we took the thermostat housing apart, and there was nothing there, and the water pump is good. What else do we check? Head gasket? or the water ports in the block?

Thanks

And just in case, it is a WD block- Ive looked at the block serial number.
 

[old]

Block could well be plugged up with years of rust and crude. Drain the cooling system then fill with vinegar and run it till good and warm. Let it cool off then drain and back flush it by rigging up a host to the block drain. Pretty easy to do with a short piece of garden hose and a couple pipe fittings and back flush it for say 30 minutes or so. Done this same thing with many a tractor that had a heating problem
 

[Zachary Hoyt]

Are you saying there is not a thermostat? I have heard of engines overheating because the the coolant doesn't stay in the radiator long enough to cool down.
Zach
 

[David R Inman]

Yes, we took the two piece neck/ "manifold" apart, that's between the block and the top of the manifold, and there appeared to be nothing inside, and I'm 99% positive we didn't put one in. And we all but didn't get it back together as the 3 bolt holes were trying to strip out. We just assumed that it didn't have to have one. All though were not sure as the radiator seamed quite clean when we sent it out to be cleaned.
 

[old]

Yep no thermostat can cause that problem also but I would still flush the block as I said and install a new thermostat. Clean the treads up with a tap or if totally gone drill out and heli coil them
 

[BushogPapa]

If you take the drain plug out of the engine block and the hole is plugged..
It would be a good idea to remove the freeze plugs on that side and make sure the sediment is removed from around the sleeves..
Might need to use a wire, to work the sediment loose..
Problem with not running a thermostat is that the front side of the front cylinder will always run cold...
Any similar "inline" engine will always show the Front cylinder worn TOWARD the front side..
Ron..
 

[CHUCK CAMBIS]

can we assume you have set the timing and carb correctly? out of time and lean carb is the fastest way i know to overheat an engine but you could have a bad carb or manifold gasket sucking air and not fuel. kinda like a wife, never just one thing! best of luck!
 

[David R Inman]

Probably worth the check...I don't know that we've ever touched ether. I can't recall if Dad said once the reason he's never used it much is its done that ever since he got it, or weather 20-25 years ago it ran fine, but after largely sitting for the last 15-20 started this heating problem.