Super 55 thermostat questions.

[Kevinwterry]

Hey, I'm looking for a thermostat for my super 55. The one I pulled out looks way different than the options I see online. Which one is right? The steiner and yesterday's tractor both sell the same style. Korves has a different style aslo. The steiner parts book says to point the thermostat down, but the website says either way will work.

The picture is the one I just pulled out of my super 55.

Also, while researching I found multiple old posts saying that these engine will overheat if the thermostat is not installed. Why is that? I've ran engines before without a thermostat and they just take longer to warm up or they never hit normal operating temp.

I don't have any history on this tractor. Picked it up last year and did some basic tune up stuff to it to get it running. Drove it to a parking spot and the steering gearbox let go. Sat about a year. Rebuilt the gearbox and went to work it and it's overheating, steaming out of the radiator. The water pump bearing was shot so I replaced it a couple days ago. I can pour water down the radiator and it flows out fine. Also poured water down the thermostat area and it flows out the lower radiator hose fine. I cant get anything out of the block drain by the distributor though.I suspected the thermostat was stuck. I could boil it to test, but it looks in rough shape so I'll just replace it while it's apart anyways.

 

[Jim.ME]

I believe the three pieces assemble to look like this

 

[scootergmc]

This is the thermostat:

 

[scootergmc]

Hey, I'm looking for a thermostat for my super 55. The one I pulled out looks way different than the options I see online. Which one is right? The steiner and yesterday's tractor both sell the same style. Korves has a different style aslo. The steiner parts book says to point the thermostat down, but the website says either way will work.

The picture is the one I just pulled out of my super 55.

Also, while researching I found multiple old posts saying that these engine will overheat if the thermostat is not installed. Why is that? I've ran engines before without a thermostat and they just take longer to warm up or they never hit normal operating temp.

I don't have any history on this tractor. Picked it up last year and did some basic tune up stuff to it to get it running. Drove it to a parking spot and the steering gearbox let go. Sat about a year. Rebuilt the gearbox and went to work it and it's overheating, steaming out of the radiator. The water pump bearing was shot so I replaced it a couple days ago. I can pour water down the radiator and it flows out fine. Also poured water down the thermostat area and it flows out the lower radiator hose fine. I cant get anything out of the block drain by the distributor though.I suspected the thermostat was stuck. I could boil it to test, but it looks in rough shape so I'll just replace it while it's apart anyways.

View attachment 101853

What you have pictured is the later thermostat, for a four bolt housing. Korves has the correct thermostat you need. Give them a call.

 

[Kevinwterry]

Perfect, thanks guys!!! I ordered it from korves along with a new gasket.

I put it sorta back together so I could fire it up without the thermostat so I could see the coolant flow. I drained the radiator down to just below the upper hose so I could watch it. It flowed okay at idle, probably some restrictions in the block. I'll try the vinegar flush I read about here on the forums and see what junk will come out. Or is there a better flushing agent? Hopefully it's not head gasket related.

While I've got you guys thinking thermostats, when I get it will it be obvious which way it goes? Up or down? The one that was in there was pointing up, but if it was the wrong one it could have been upside down was well.

 

[scootergmc]

Thermostat should be rubber up if I remember correctly.

I wouldn't waste my time with the vinegar or a flushing "agent." I would however disconnect the radiator and backflow the engine with a garden hose. Is there a plug on the rear of the engine you can remove and flow from there? I did an engine recently and removed a sensor from the rear and there was so much crud in the rear of the engine that a back flow never touched. Your thermostat looks as if there was sludge or oil throughout the cooling system. I don't like the looks of it, but it could just be a dirty ol' cooling system. Water pump was replaced I see you said. Is your radiator obstructed?

 

[rrlund]

I hope that block isn't as full of crud as an Allis Chalmers that my son and I did a few months back. There was no way in the world anybody ever would have gotten the crap out of that one without pulling the sleeves. We had to drive the wet sleeves all the way. The rust and sludge looked like coffee grounds. You might have washed a few craters in it here and there, but that's about it.