Radiator Cap

[Jerry Grant]

The gas cap and radiator cap I ordered for my 46 ZTN are exactly alike. I was assuming the radiator cap would have a spring seal under the cap but after a look in the radiator, there is no place for a seal to seat. This makes me wonder if this is really a non pressurized system and the cap I have is correct. Is the cap I have correct or should I have something different? What does everybody elso have on their Z"s?

 

[G. L. Grumpy]

Just had that for my R"s and JT,same caps. I tried a few other brands that looked good,but found the centers wouldn"t fit into hole. Did find some at Portland from a fella making tin coolers and tanks. Kind of a generic item. If older Z, it won"t have pressurized cooling and you cant use the type with the lower seal and spring. All you need is two wings to catch the slot in rad and a seal once it pulls down. I paid $10 for them at the show, had to paint them. Here"s address off card.
John D. Wanat & Sons
West Redding, CT 06896
203-938-3771

The gas caps are easier to find, my local FLAPS had one and it is chrome.

 

[Charlie Biler x]

Jerry Grant,
The non-pressuruzed radiators have an overflow tube in the radiator and no bottom for a pressure seat. You can see the vent tube at the top of the liquid level. The #JT9031 radiator cap is just a solid cap with two brass wings to lock on to the radiator neck. There is no provision to vent on the cap. When pressurized systems came along the cap had to provide pressure relief and have a vacuum breaker. The radiator neck has a seat base pressure lip and the overflow tube is soldered half way up the neck, above the pressure lip.

The original fuel caps used the same neck as most of the radiators. While it was not always cataloged; the part number was #RE179A and it was even soldered to the radiators and fuel tanks on the JT tractors. The old fuel caps (#TY442)shared the two brass wings to catch on to the neck. They also had a baffled vent to allow air to replace the fuel as it was drawn away. You see a lot of the older fuel caps on more modern machinery because their design just lasted. The modern caps from the fifties and forward could not take the punishment and they would corrode away in the weather. My grandfather's FTA still has the original fuel caps and they spent many years out in the weather. I should replace them with a set of originals that I stock. Somehow I just have grown used to those old worn caps that I have seen for all my life.
Charlie

 

[Jerry Grant]

So, was antifreeze used in these tractors in the 40s? Do you guys use antifreeze in your R, Z and U tractors now? I noticed that my Operator's Manual and Shop Manual say nothing concerning antifreeze, only that the "water" should be drained in case of freezing. Thanks for responding to my questions.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I run ethylene glycol 50/50 with water in everyting, including the non pressurized MMs.

I tried 'Peak' environmentally friendly stuff and it foamed too much.