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Okay....overheats to the point of boiling over and losing fluid? Or just to the point of putting the temp gauge in the HOT area? If it's losing fluid and the temp gauge isn't nearly pegged to the right, it may be time to replace the pressure cap on the radiator. DON'T remove it when the tractor is hot!! If the cap is okay, the next thing to check is to see if the fan belt is tight! If that belt can slip on the pulleys, the fan will not run at full speed, and this can cause the tractor to overheat. The belt is tightened by moving the adjustable pulley on the waterpump shaft. It's quite likely that it hasn't been moved in a while, so DON'T get in a hurry, or you'll be out some time and several $$. There is a setscrew on the hub and it has a locknut on it. Lots of penetrating oil, patience, and your favorite swear words will loosen it eventually. Rock the hub back and forth on the threads to get it broken loose, tighten it, and re-install the setscrew into the notch on the assembly. If the belt is tight, and you haven't checked to see if the water is flowing in the radiator, LET THE TRACTOR COOL OFF, then remove the radiator cap, and start the tractor. Let it run a while to warm it up and see if the water is flowing in the top of the radiator. You can hasten this process either by putting it under load, or removing the grill assembly and covering the front of the radiator with some newspaper to stop the air flow. Once the tractor is getting very warm (but not overheating) you should be able to see water moving in the radiator. No movement is a clue to get the thermostat replaced. While the grill is off, (and the tractor is not running) take your garden hose and wash all the accumulated dirt out of the radiator fins. Wash it first from the back side, forcing the dirt forward. Don't be surprised if the lower third of the radiator fins are clogged. If you get this far and you still have a tractor that overheats, you may need to have the radiator cleaned out. They are not fun to remove; patience and the rest of your vocabulary will get you through this. Beyond all that, it's possible the ignition timing could be off and be a contributing factor, but that's not usually an item to bet on. Good luck, and post back with more questions or info if you need help. This board usually has someone who's already been through whatever you're into!
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