Need opinions from the engine guru's.

[Mike McKown]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Is it boiling?
put a thermometer in the rad to see if it is indeed too hot.
Have you garden hose flushed the block passages when you had the freeze plugs out? ----and the head?
Is there a noticeable drop in coolant temp comparing the bottom hose to the top hose??

I'd go here next if you haven't been here. IR guns come in handy for this.

Or, you could just loosen the radiator pressure cap and see if the engine boils over and matches the gauge at the boiling point.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by Mike McKown

I'd go here next if you haven't been here. IR guns come in handy for this.

Or, you could just loosen the radiator pressure cap and see if the engine boils over and matches the gauge at the boiling point.

FWIW:
I have an IR gun and while it works mostly ok but I don't trust it as some surfaces
give erroneous readings.

[olds45512]

Originally Posted by ol'George

FWIW:
I have an IR gun and while it works mostly ok but I don't trust it as some surfaces
give erroneous readings.

The IR guns will read differently depending on the color or shine level of what you aim it at, there not very accurate.

[Mike McKown]

On the other hand, if you take the radiator cap off, you're at sea level, the barometric pressure is XXX and it doesn't boil over and the gauge shows maybe 220*-230*, it gives an indication the gauge is wrong.

That is why I mentioned an alternate checking method.

[Shrewcub]

I've learned to use the ir guns over the years and generally do trust them on a head. Still eat a few grains of salt now and again.

What kind of gauge is on this tractor? And are you absolutely sure its overheating? Check the head temp near the sender too!

[olds45512]

Originally Posted by Shrewcub

I've learned to use the ir guns over the years and generally do trust them on a head. Still eat a few grains of salt now and again.

What kind of gauge is on this tractor? And are you absolutely sure its overheating? Check the head temp near the sender too!

it has a mechanical gauge, both the old and new gauge said it was to hot.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by olds45512

it has a mechanical gauge, both the old and new gauge said it was to hot.

While we all are throwing out ideas, check where the gauge thermo bulb lives,-- sometimes there gets to be a deposit build up in the cavity insulating the gauge bulb from the coolant, just something else to check tomorrow.
Some engine design leaves something to be desired, I'm assuming it is in the head rather in the block.

[olds45512]

Originally Posted by ol'George

I'm assuming it is in the head rather in the block.

yes, its in the rear of the head.

[Jeff in Pa]

Originally Posted by olds45512

yes, its in the rear of the head.

Is there another location where you could put it to see if it duplicates the readings?

[dvogtvpe]

radiator cap hold pressure?
correct psi cap on it?
was it a new radiator or just a cleaned up unit?
have you checked for combustion in the cooling system?
have you done a bubble test to the cooling system?
are there any other coolers in front of the radiator or in the radiator that could be causing heat to raise the coolant temp?