Well that was time wasted

da.bees · Dec 5, 2021

Origional radiator on 1958 641 started seeping coolant so I decided to replace it since I couldn't find a shop to recore it. Ordered new radiator,cap,t-stat and hoses from YT then finished it off with fresh extended service anti-freeze and distilled water. After sitting out a couple round bales and moving creep feeder,I noticed coolant dripping when I parked it. Drip was comong from water pump so I ordered a new pump and installed it. Next time I used it was pulling a 3 bottom turning plow and it blew the lower radiator hose off pump. Auto parts house cap tester pegged at 35 psi and the new 4 psi cap had never released pressure. Noooo I didn't take the new cap to have it tested before I used it on nor did I test hoses and radiator for leaks before installing them. I'm hoping radiator and t-stat are higher quility.

Bob Bancroft · Dec 6, 2021

If your new radiator wasn't damaged in the incident, it must have held up well, to not blow! I remember on my first car, one time the thermostat stuck, and maybe the cap also, as the radiator tanks swelled way out!

RobCons · Dec 6, 2021

I had the opposite happen on a 641. The radiator cap was plugged with stuff, didnt vent when the system cooled down and the radiator's top caved in. Never leaked just looked funny.

Steve@Advance · Dec 6, 2021

It's probably got the wrong cap/neck on the radiator.

Seems the China radiators don't have any standard for what comes on them.

Compare the depth of the new neck with the original, and the length of the cap.

A 4 pound cap should be nearly effortless to put on. If it major compresses or bottoms the spring, something is mis matched.

Oregon Tractor Jack · Dec 6, 2021

I bought a radiator for one of my Farmalls that had the wrong neck on it. I had to have the local radiator shop put the neck from the old radiator on the new one. That's part of the trouble with non OEM parts, the suppliers try to make them one size fits all.

OTJ

BarnyardEngineering · Dec 6, 2021

I know, right? Not only trying to make one size fit every little variation but to do it using nonexistent specifications and/or a worn out scrap part from a junked tractor to get their measurements.

used red MN · Dec 6, 2021

Steve, the depth of the neck would not affect how the parts stores cap tester checked his cap unless he was asked to provide the depth dimension. It would affect the actual pressure in his system.

37 chief · Dec 6, 2021

I feel your pain. My radiator cap bit me also last year. I installed a new after market radiator. It fit,but was just a little different. I started cutting weeds. All of a sudden a big puff of white smoke came up from the engine. Coolant was spraying on the manifold. I started up again watching as best as possible for the leak. Then I saw it a stream of coolant from the new radiator tank seam. Took the radiator off, and back to the shop where I purchased it. I came back in a few days. The shop said the radiator didn't leak. Impossible I saw it, wrong. The problem turned out to be a bad cap over pressurizing the system. The top hose sprung a pin hole leak spraying coolant right at the radiator top tank. All my work removing the radiator in my JD 401 B was wasted time, plus driving 80 or so miles. Stan

Well that was time wasted

da.bees

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Bob Bancroft

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RobCons

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Steve@Advance

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Oregon Tractor Jack

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BarnyardEngineering

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used red MN

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37 chief

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