Got another funky problem with my l'il put-putter 100.....:(

Posted by Patrick Martin on August 30, 2007 at 20:52:49 from (74.234.93.77):

Another problem arose today when I attempted to do some cutting with a new mower I just picked up...

Now here's the details....maybe you experts can help me a bit and I be indebted to you again!?!?!?!..........

Back a few weeks ago when I was doing the mods on the 100 for the new gauge cluster I made I lost about a gallon of coolant while removing the thermocouple for the water temperature gauge. Afterwards that night when I cranked it up to check for leaks I noticed it was running quite a bit hotter than usual (If you guys remember, I posted a separate thread about this discovery). It was running in the 160's or so and my oil pressure went from 15-20psi to like 5-10psi when at full operating temp. (you can see what I had on the gauges at full temp in the "Parts & Pieces" album at the left)

Today I added more coolant. I had just cranked her up, turned around to grab the fresh gallon of antifreeze, got the funnel, etc and in the span of this two minute period I glanced at the gauge and noticed it was already peaked at 160"ish". This little 100 has NEVER spiked that quick before, NEVER. It usually takes a few passes around the yard just to get it to operating temp and that was 110 degrees or just under it, it seemed.

I'm thinking it'll clear up now that the radiator is full (thought I might have a bubble or something) but it doesn't. I think OK, well maybe I'll try running it for a bit. I back up to my new bushog (its a 5' ford brand bushog, has the bent tube yoke) and hook up to it and lo and behold it picks it up halfway then sinks back down. Well, after performance it looks like I'll be tearing into the touch control box again.....

I try again and manage to get it to pick it up a little and strangley it holds it there. I now commence to mowing a bit. I make a few passes, then a few more, stupid me is too busy looking behind, smiling like a dummy at all of the neat little paths I've made that I forget to look at my gauges.

I get ready to make a turn then spin around and glance at my gauges only to find my touch control temperature gauge is at 230 degrees and slowly climbing!!!!!!!!

My oil pressure is ZERO and my engine temp is up to 190 degrees and I nearly had 0psi oil pressure!!!

What the h*ll????!!!!!!??????!!!!!!

I drop the mower and head to the shop and creep it inside and begin slowly throttleing down.

Now all this time while I was mowing and all of this ruckuss was happening she never missed a lick and made NO funny noises, thumps, or anything. Only thing I can say that spunded funny is that once I engaged the PTO with a load on it it did try to die and then over rev. Once we got going she smoothed out. I figure this is more a governor problem than anything else.

As for the engine temp I am thinking three things. The water pump isn't turning enough, the timing is off, or the internal bypassing of the touch control unit strained the engine and caused overheating.

The water pump is BRAND NEW from this site. I wouldn't have wasted time with trying to salvage my old one given the price. The belt is what I suspect here. Each time I start up I have to wait a few minutes for it to stop squealing. It always does and I have no problems afterwads. I know I needed to fix this but I was figuring low RPM engine = it shouldn't matter too much. Also figured the thermosyphon system on the older tractors of the same engine family use the same radiator setup so it shouldn't matter.

Am I totally wrong here?

The bracket I have my alternator mounted to is homemade and p*ss poor. If someone here has a better alternator bracket lying around that their not using could I please purchase it? Right now it's nearly impossible for me to get my belts nice and tight plus the belt is a little off center too. Someone told me that Hugh Mackay made hitches and stuff to sell, I don't know if this is true or not, but if so Hugh I'd be glad to be a customer for one.

For timing I just tuned it audibly to a sweet spot at the idle kinda midways. It does sound good, I may be totaly incorrect though. Can this be the fault?

I dunno about the Touch Control system doing it either. When I got down the lines to the pump were HOT. The only reall moving part is the pump.....can that be it?????

As for the low oil pressure, well I'll be dropping the pan anyway just for a checkup so I will remove some of those gaskets GeorgeKy was telling me about. I didn't know they were actually shims for the impellers. I think I put three of them on the bottom plate of pump since there were three there to start with.

Help please if you can guys! I am going to have to leave in a few minutes to go visit my grandfather in north Louisiana (who happens to also have a sick tractor I am having to fix) and may not be ablle to reply right away but I will be checking this when I get back and throughout the time at his house.

Y'all have a great time this weekend and please help or give me some ideas if ya can!!!!! God Bless!

P.S. I gotta say this little thing sure has given me a run but honestly I have to tell ya, I wouldn't trade it for a thousand new ones. I actually look forward to cracking things apart on it, just like every other machine I have.

Replies:

• Re: Got another funky problem with my l'il put-putter 100... Patrick Martin 19:45:49 09/05/07 (0)
• Re: Got another funky problem with my l'il put-putter 100... Hobo,NC 18:54:29 09/01/07 (0)
• Re: Got another funky problem with my l'il put-putter 100... karl f 16:54:31 08/31/07 (0)
• Re: Got another funky problem with my l'il put-putter 100... Hugh MacKay 03:37:17 08/31/07 (0)
• Re: Got another funky problem with my l'il put-putter 100... georgeky 21:48:28 08/30/07 (0)

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