Which tstat temperature to run in 3020 diesel?

[TimSnyder]

I see that Deere offers a 160 degree and 180 degree thermostat for the early 3020's (https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/sidebyside/equipment/76112/referrer/navigation/pgId/106635) I need to replace mine. Thought I'd just replace it with the same as what was in there but the part number isn't a deere number and googling doesn't help (or I'm not using the right keywords). I see '19030 08' marked on the side of the one I took out.

Is it better to run the 3020 Diesel with 160 or 180?

My tractor is 30201T53329 engine 13E53512
 

[706 Farmall]

If your old one will open, try putting it in a pan of water on the stove with a thermometer in the water and see what temp it Opens at? Might be a place to start.
 

[old]

If it where me I'd use the 180 since it would help keep condensation out of the oil since the engine would warm up enough to turn it to steam and go out the breather
 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

What do you use the tractor for? I always thought a 3020 was a little short on cooling capacity. On a hard worker the 160 might be the better choice. On a chore tractor or light worker use a 180. Tom
 

[TimSnyder]

Probably what you would call a chore tractor. Dragging my arena, moving round bales, mowing 15ish acres. Maybe grinding some stumps.
 

[buickanddeere]

PPe. 195F burns the fuel cleaner . Use HD diesel antifreeze and distilled , not tap water .
 

[buickanddeere]

Stay is supposed to set the minimum temp , not the max temp .
Many cooling problems lead back to a worn coolant pump pulley , worn alternator pulley and worn crank pulley .
Extra tightening the belt to prevent slippage will ruin the alternator and coolant pump bearings .
Coolant pump and alternator pulleys along with the proper belt will solve many cooling problems for low cost .
 

[SVcummins]

I have never overheated a 3020 unless the radiator was plugged completely with dirt
 

[farmer52]

Isn't the temperature stamped on the stat?
 

[Jim.ME]

[buickanddeere]

If the stat has some time and use . The opening and closing temp maybe different than what is stamped on the pellet .
 

[TimSnyder]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I tested the thermostat and the one I have is definitely a 180, or at least it is now. Couldn't see it open at all at 180 but raising the temp to 195, it was definitely open.

The only cooling problem I'm having right now is that when I rolled the tractor over on it's side, I popped a hole in the radiator cover. Rolling it over is a long story. I should probably post a "how not to load your tractor while trailering" in that section of the forum. I also haven't run the tractor enough to know whether there is more of a problem than that. :)

Since I have the radiator out to take it to a shop and have them look at fixing vs replacing it, and given the amount of sludge in the bottom hose and on top of the tstat, I figured that while I have it apart, I'd spend the $15 and put a new tstat in when I put it back together. I'm also going to replace the fan belt because it's there and looks somewhere between 10 and 20 years old.
 

[TimSnyder]

buickanddeere can you elaborate on what you mean by 'worn pully' on the accessory and drive components on the fan belt? What should I look for? Play in the pully?
Slippage when I have the belt tightened to the recommended 1" deflection with 25lb pull? On a gas engine, I'd check slippage with a timing light. I suppose I could do
the same thing with a variable strobe light that I set to make the flywheel to hyrdo pump linkage look steady and see if the water pump or generator pullys look like
they are falling behind.
 

[David G]

Hotter the better, 180 is minimal.
 

[MikeJM]

Tim, what buickanddeere mean with the pulleys is when they are worn and many are worn badly the correct size belt will sit too far in the groove, it will not pull on the sides like its supposed to, it will drive off the bottom and it will either slip or youll need to over tighten it so much the water pump and alternator or generator bearings will suffer.

Sometimes you can jump up to the next larger section size to bandaid the issue. Other times the only way is to replace pulleys.