Overheating Super A

Farmall Marty · Oct 25, 2013

Hi Guys,
My 48 Super A was overheating. You could hear the water boiling in the block after shutting it off. I wanted to check out the head and pistons anyhow, so I ordered a gasket set, pulled the head and removed the radiator. While the head was off, I used a pressure washer to blow out the water passages and cleaned a bunch of sand and trash from the block. Put it back together with a radiator neck from a C that has a temp guage tap. Running nice and cool now.

gene bender · Oct 25, 2013

Great those engines get the passages plugged down at the bottom of the sleeves and thats where the trouble starts. Removing the radiator let you get them clean again but the head didnt need to be removed.

ken house · Oct 25, 2013

my c does the same. what is recommended?

gene bender · Oct 25, 2013

I would pull the radiator and then the lower housing then with compressed air blow those passages clean then make up something to back flush with water then blow again. You can see them with a little mag lite. When you put the hose in the inlet you will see the water coming down thru them if you get them clean. Before removing parts mite want to drain and refil with vinegar for a little while that can also remove lots of junk. Whatever yu do when refilling make sure you use distilled water and Anti-Freeze

ken house · Oct 25, 2013

i have ran oven cleaner in the coolant for a bit. this seems to help. thanks

David G · Oct 25, 2013

I pulled the side cover off my H and took pressure washer in there until block drains and lower hose ran clear.

I do not know if A has the same side cover.

Super A · Oct 28, 2013

The gurgle you hear after you shut it down is normal since it has thermosyphon cooling. The water continues to circulate until it cools down. Still, cleaning it out good is never a bad thing!

Al

mkirsch · Oct 28, 2013

Yes, just a "gurgle" does not mean "overheating."

If it's blowing steam like an old locomotive, that's something entirely different.

You didn't hurt a thing by doing what you did, though, and you've got peace of mind now.

Farmall Marty · Oct 29, 2013

I have a pair of Super A tractors. The 53 model never made any noise and runs cool, but the 48 model would boil in the block after shutting it off. There was a lot of crap in the bottom of the water passages and sediment in the bottom of the block. I guess someone who owned it previously would refil the radiator from a road ditch. Anyhow, after pressure washing out the block the 48 is running nice and cool with no noises. Used it to cultivate and side dress 2 acres of winter garden this week. I don't think I could have removed the sediment on the back cylinders with the head on.

Overheating Super A

Farmall Marty

New User

gene bender

Well-known Member

ken house

Member

gene bender

Well-known Member

ken house

Member

David G

Well-known Member

Super A

Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

Farmall Marty

New User

Similar threads