641 noises, coolant

[46Chev]

Ran the tractor for about 10 minutes and put away. Noticed coolant starting to drip from overflow. I have been hearing some whining up front on occasion. My first thought was water pump. When I grab the fan there is a fractional amount of play.

Or is it the thermostat. They don"t open until it gets up to temperature. Since I didn"t use the tractor long, I wonder if that"s what"s wrong. Any thoughts? I haven"t taken the fan belt off to isolate noises yet. Again they come and go, usually connected with throttle adjustments.

 

[old]

Well coolant dripping can mean you have it over full and yes you can over fill one. You need just enough to cover the tubes and that is it. As for the noise that was just enough time to start to warm it up but not get it warm enough to open the thermostat so you could be hearing the water getting hot and that is ok. Sort of like if you turn off a water heater and then say 8 hours later you turn it back on you will hear it make noise form the water getting hot

 

[souNdguy]

ditto what old said.. was the rad full to the top.. or just covering the core?

 

[46Chev]

You know it could be a little extra coolant. I can't remember if I added lately. Seems like I may have put some in last fall when I had a little left in the jug from another project. Anyway I did use it moderately twice this winter for snow removal. There is about an inch of coolant above the core and about 2 of airspace. Have to watch it when it actually warms up.

 

[souNdguy]

yep.. they will find a running level and puke out what's above it.. if it no longer looses any after it stabilizes, and it's above the core.. it should be ok..

 

[36 Coupe]

640 tractors have a pressure system and thermosttats do stick shut often.My son dragged home a 64 Plymouth Valiant.It was in rough shape.I put a new thermostat in it.I bought a 640 tractor that had no thermostat.Found the old Valiant thermostat.It fit the tractor.The new thermostat stuck shut a year later.The used thermostat is still working 24 years later.So much for preventive maintanance.

 

[souNdguy]

i know the thermo in a 00 series will fit a chevy of certain years too. I got one at car quest for my 134ci engine