1939 Farmall H

[rshideler]

Our family recently got Grandpa’s 1939 Farmall H back from being refurbished (not show quality but looks good and runs good except for one issue). My brother and I have taken the tractor out twice to get it up to operating temperature, and both times it overheated (temperature gauge needle in the red HOT zone). Both times we shut the engine off immediately and let it cool down for a while. Here’s the weird part, because on both occasions when we started the tractor back up after sitting for a few minutes, the temperature gauge needle was right where it was supposed to be, in the middle of the green RUN zone or cooler. The cooling system was gone through with a refurbished radiator, new thermostat, etc. Any ideas what might be going on here? It’s a mystery to us but we wonder if the thermostat is sticking. HAS ANYONE ELSE EVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR? The guy who rebuilt the tractor said he didn’t have any problems when he tested it. He lives 2 hours away. Any ideas?

Thank you. Randy Shideler - Topeka, KS

 

[NY 986]

Our family recently got Grandpa’s 1939 Farmall H back from being refurbished (not show quality but looks good and runs good except for one issue). My brother and I have taken the tractor out twice to get it up to operating temperature, and both times it overheated (temperature gauge needle in the red HOT zone). Both times we shut the engine off immediately and let it cool down for a while. Here’s the weird part, because on both occasions when we started the tractor back up after sitting for a few minutes, the temperature gauge needle was right where it was supposed to be, in the middle of the green RUN zone or cooler. The cooling system was gone through with a refurbished radiator, new thermostat, etc. Any ideas what might be going on here? It’s a mystery to us but we wonder if the thermostat is sticking. HAS ANYONE ELSE EVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR? The guy who rebuilt the tractor said he didn’t have any problems when he tested it. He lives 2 hours away. Any ideas?

Thank you. Randy Shideler - Topeka, KS

Before disassembling anything I would verify what the temperature gauge says with something such as an infrared heat detecting gun or similar device. If a new gauge it may not be reading correctly. Possible that the thermostat is in upside down. The fan belt may be loose enough for the pump pulley to slip.

 

[CraigWis]

Make sure the Thermosat was put in the right Direction. You may also be getting air traped behind the Thermostat and it will not open till it sits and the hot coolant gets to it to open. If that is it you may have a head gasket that rusted away over the years. If it is a small leak and the Tractor runs Good and not Used for Heavy Work. You can drill a 1/8" hole in the Themosat to let the air out