overheating/Farmall A

gene smith · Jul 31, 2012

We've had radiator checked; it's okay, yet this tractor quickly overheats, with fresh coolant. Belts & fan are okay. It's an old unit: SN 351687-R4; has no thermostat and no water pump, but circulation is good. Any tips out there as to what could be wrong?

Red Dave · Jul 31, 2012

First, make sure that the radiator is full, the thermosyphon cooling system requires that the radiator is full for it to work. Also, if you have circulation, it should be cooling. A small amount of water pushing out the overflow is normal for these tractors.

If you still have overheating problems, there are 4 small passages, about the size of a nickel, that the coolant has to pass through as it rises up through the block. They are beside the cylinder sleeves. If they get blocked, they will impede circulation, and they get blocked easily by rust & scale.

The best way I know of to fix it is to take the radiator off, remove the lower water inlet and flush out the water jacket behind that inlet, making sure that you reach in and push water up through those passages, which are at the top of that water jacket.

Flush up through the water jacket, and down through the upper water outlet. If you can get something in there to poke up through the holes to clear them, that would be good too.

If that doesn't work, you may need to pull the head to flush it.

Arnold Layne · Jul 31, 2012

Is it overheating for real or just barfing water out when it gets warm?

Dean Olson · Jul 31, 2012

More info please. What's it doing? Do you have a gauge on it? I fill mine up to about 2" below the top. If I overfilled it will burp out the excess as it warms up. That is normal.

The 1st thermosiphon system I had I thought it was getting hot. It wasn't!

If circulation is good you don't have a problem.

Stick a hand held thermometer in the top of the radiator and see what it says.

gene smith · Jul 31, 2012

It is really boiling. Block and radiator are way too hot to touch.

Janicholson · Jul 31, 2012

Use of a gasket dsigned for a water pump eqquipped engine will also make heat, The holes are too small to work with thermosiphon. Jim

gene smith · Jul 31, 2012

Thanks, Jim. Since posting my question, we checked with a thermometer, and we don"t really have a problem

. The circulating coolant temp held at about 175-180. Still, we hear the coolant bubbling and "boiling" as it were. It fooled me but not the thermometer.

gene smith · Jul 31, 2012

Dean, thanks for a spot-on solution. The thermometer indicated 175-180 and no more! Still can hear rumbling and "boiling" sounds but she isn"t really overheated

How sweet it is.

gene smith · Jul 31, 2012

Problem solved with a thermometer. We didn"t really have a problem, it appears. Thanks for good advice.

Arnold Layne · Jul 31, 2012

That sounds more like it!

gene bender · Jul 31, 2012

The # you posted is part# of the block. Serial# is behind the throttle rod under #1 sront spark plug. The gurgiling sound is what other post says the block is probably plugged somewhat in those hole areas. You can remove the radiator and lower outlet and using compressd air and some stiff wire get most of the gunk out your operatinf temp is in the range so you are in pretty good shape. Removing the hea will not get to that area the sleeve needs to be removed to do a complete cleaning.

old · Jul 31, 2012

Common question here is just like yours. You shut the engine down and you hear what you think is boiling coolant and yep they sound odd after they have been working but that is just the way they are. Plus over filling one will also cause people the oh no thing also since if over full they will in fact blow some coolant out

Janicholson · Jul 31, 2012

The engine is going to make perking noises when shut down from working. They start doing it after a month. Crud buildup in the water jacket will make it a little worse, but it is just flat normal. Jim

overheating/Farmall A

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