Overheat question

[Jasper1675]

Possible overheat question.
I have been brush hogging my field, grass is thick this time hasn’t been cut in a few years. Using 5 foot hog have it set pretty high, also trying to keep the cut to about 2 to 3 feet wide per lap. A lap is about a quarter mile. Here is my issue.

Fluid starts to slowly steam out of the radiator cap after a few laps. The radiator cap is not super tight, its tight just the seal is probably not the best since it is old. The antifreeze in the tractor is from this year and looks really clean. I did not put the anti freeze in there, cause I just got the tractor, but it is a bit to full. I’m going to go get a turkey baser and take some out after it cools. Whenever I see some coolant bubbling out I consider that the tractor is hot and time to stop. I let it sit for a few hours then go do a few more laps. The engine actually doesn’t seem that hot when I shut down. Also it starts right back up and the tractor has never shut off from over heat. I never have this bubbling issue when I’m not running the hog, tractor can go a few hours in the field no issues. Basically if I’m just knocking over small ant hills in the field and moving a few hundred pounds in the loader could probably work all day.

I know the tractor is working hard, and I’m babying it. My field has a slight slope (maybe 1% grade if that) it is a very long rectangle 800 feet long by 150 feet wide. What I have been doing is when I go back up hill for the second lap is I turn off the hog and just drive the tractor to the upper part in first gear to give the engine a rest. Also I always get the hog spinning in neutral, then I shift into first so the engine doesn’t have to start the hog and the tractor at the same time, ORC clutch installed.
Looking for any tips, that would make it so I could get maybe 8 to 10 laps done at a time instead of 2 to 3. Once I get the field cut down, I will keep it cut so not as hard on the tractor each time.
Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[HCooke]

N tractors should only have coolant at the top of the core to be full.

 

[Caryc]

Follow the advice above about the coolant level. I would also get a new radiator cap rated 4 pounds.

With the brush hog on it, it's working harder and getting hotter. Your old cap may may not be holding enough pressure and letting the water boil.

When I first got my 8N I was brush hogging and pushing it hard. It over heated and sprayed out coolant. I replaced the cap with a new one and have never had any overflow since.

 

[G6 at Snook, TX]

Jasper,

If the cap is not new and the coolant is escaping past the cap I would say it is time to invest in a new cap. Also, if the radiator is over-full then it will ooze out the relief tube on the right side of the radiator; nothing to worry about there as your radiator like everyone else's finds a "happy" spot and will ooze out coolant until it gets to that fluid level. Then you should have no more problems with "overheating". (Again, to clarify it is not overheating.)

The only thing I would suggest you feel for is a thermostat in the upper radiator hose which should be near the head. If you feel one, great, if not don't worry about it until you have to work on the tractor.

When the tractor actually overheats it will loose power, sputter, diesel when you shut it off and so forth. Otherwise, work that tractor as these things were made to work all day for 12 hours if need be and if the grass gets too tall or thick, raise the shredder or take a 1/2 swath instead of the full swath.

Lastly, if you don't have it, buy an I&T 4 tractor manual. It is a must have for the n series.

 

[Roger in Iowa]

what model tractor is this? Did 9N and 2N's have pressurized cooling systems? I thought only 8N's were.

Coolant should be coming out of the tube at lower right of radiator when overfull. That tube can rust shut or bees fill it full. Check it with a wire.

 

[DON TX]

Make sure you keep the radiator fins clean. Blow out the chaff, seed, and dust that build up. Coolant should just cover the core. HTH
DON TX

 

[Anonymous-0]

Check your radiator fins to make sure they are not becoming clogged with grass and seeds or such. Blowing out with air works for me, Water hose can get in your distributor. But keep it clean by some means

 

[Bruce (VA)]

The most common reason for an N to “over heat” is over filling the radiator. Only add enough fluid to cover the core. (check out tip # 24, below as well as tips 25 & 35) It is not actually over heating; it is just spewing out the excess water.

If the radiator is not overfilled, check for low coolant, a loose fan belt, debris in the radiator fins or a stuck thermostat. A bad water pump will usually squeak or leak.

The fan belt should have 1/2" of flex at the mid-point; no more, no less.

Unless you have a pusher fan, blowing out the radiator from the engine side is always a good idea.

Use 50/50 anti-freeze & distilled water as your coolant. The anti-freeze contains rust inhibitors, pump lubricant & raises the boiling point of the coolant.
50 Tips

 

[lha]

You didn't say what tractor you have,9ns did not have pressurized radiator,but had 6 bladed fans for more air flow .When you post on here,its helpfull to tell what kind [8n,9n,2n,front,sidemount,etc]you have.---lha

 

[lha]

You didn't say what tractor you have,9ns did not have pressurized radiator,but had 6 bladed fans for more air flow .When you post on here,its helpfull to tell what kind [8n,9n,2n,front,sidemount,etc]you have.---lha

 

[Jasper1675]

thanks for all the replys, It actually turned out to be a combonation of things. The coolant was to full but not by allot. The main issue is someone had put the wrong radiator cap on the tractor. I went down to napa with my old cap and we looked up the right cap, there were simalar but not the same. Tractor ran fine, did about 10 or 15 laps, then I had to stop to pick a section of rocks in the field, but atleast it wasn't because the tractor was dying on me.