heating m tractor

Anonymous-0 · Sep 26, 2010

I have a restored model "m", 1947 model. unless it is a very cool day this little begger will heat up drastically. I can hold my fingers under the water from the block , buyt the radiator fluid is boiling. Any thoughts on this problem will be appreciated..Thx..Don

BushogPapa · Sep 26, 2010

Are you sure you don't have a leaking head gasket..?

Ron.

Old Roy · Sep 26, 2010

Two ways to test it #1 If boiling stops as soon as you shut off engine,
#2 Id run a compression check

Jerry/MT · Sep 27, 2010

How do you know the radiator fluid is "boiling"? You do know that the radiator should be filled only to 1/4"-1/2" OF THE TOP OF THE CORE;the rest of the space is for coolant expansion.

If it really is boiling, make sure you have the correct thermostat and that it"s working. Make sure that the fan belt is tight and that the lower rad hose doesn"t collapse with high engine speed. Make sure the air side of the radiator is free of dirt and chaff and make sure the correct pressure cap is on the radiator and that it is working. make sure that the carb power jet is not set too lean and that the timing is correct.

Finally, it may not be boiling,;you may have a blown head gasket thats making bubbles in the coolant from cylinder gases.

El Toro · Sep 27, 2010

Look inside the radiator with the engine at an idle and see if any bubbles are present. If there's bubbles you may have a blown head gasket or more likely a cracked head. Hal

Old Roy · Sep 27, 2010

boiling above 212 degres would scald the pin feathers off your hand and you say you can hold hand under block water telling me bubbling in rad is leaking compression.

ASEguy · Sep 28, 2010

Don, It could be anything listed here. If you could tell more about the overheating you would be helping more. Did you do any engine work as part of the restoration? How long running time before it overheats? Does it have to be under load to overheat? Is it boiling over? These are some of the questions which would help narrow it down. Gerard

John B. · Sep 28, 2010

One thing I didn't see any one else post here; is the thermostat put in upside down??? But I'm like most say sounds like compression leaking into your cooling system. Check your engine oil to make sure there is no water in it or that it's milky looking in color.

Bill(Wis) · Sep 28, 2010

Easier to check thermostat than head gasket so check that first. Remove thermostat and head for the kitchen stove. Unchain your wife from the stove and get a small sauce pan with water in it and a candy thermometer. Check temp at which thermostat opens. If it's not opening or opening at too high a temp, get a new one. If it's working correctly then look into the next thing. (Don't forget to chain your wife back up to the stove before leaving kitchen).

Don Thomson · Sep 28, 2010

Thanks to all who replied to my query. Very much appreciated. I will investigate all possible remedies and hopefully arrive at the solution. One thought, would adding "lye" to the rad be of any help?. This might flush residue from thev system. This little tractor sat idle for many years prior to my purchase, thx again to all respondents...Don

mkirsch · Sep 28, 2010

Don,

Whatever's wrong, there is no "quick fix" or "magic elixir" for it.

You still haven't answered any of the questions.

How do you know it's boiling?

Bubbling water is not boiling. Boiling coolant is VERY hot, and will produce steam.

Karl in MD · Sep 28, 2010

If it's an M John Deere, it's thermosiphon, and doesn't have a thermostat. They run pretty hot anyway, but the water at the block drain cock would be relatively cool.

heating m tractor

Anonymous-0

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BushogPapa

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Old Roy

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Jerry/MT

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El Toro

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Old Roy

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ASEguy

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John B.

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Bill(Wis)

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