Diesel tractor overheating?

[MHindman]

My father just gave me his old diesel tractor. Its a Mitsubishi?? mt372 i think. Its been a while since i have looked at it, but it runs fine but it over heats. After mowing for about a half hour it starts to get hot. I was just wondering if any of you knew what could cause this. I know this tractor is not real high quality, but its free and has a 3 point hitch, so since i am buying my first house, free is good. Let me know if you have any ideas... thanks guys

 

[illflem]

The main cause of tractor overheating I've encountered is due to plugged up radiator fins. Most tractor radiators are buried so far in there that it's hard to see how plugged they are or clean them without removing. I used to have to remove and clean out the radiators on my spray tractors once a year due to spray oil creating a dust magnet and gunking up the airflow. Other than that you might just have a bad thermostat.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I think illflem is right about radiator/ fins being plugged up.

I also think that radiator could be plugged a little inside.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Ibid on the fins. I would try to trace the air path into the radiator - most tractors from compact up have perf panels that plug easily. Deere's, Yannies, kubotas have a slide in screen across the core that people forget to clean. Only then I'd move on to the fan, water pump and water circuit. Good luck, and remember no free diesel is ever worthless, that's how we just inherited a 20KW westerbeek generator!

 

[MHindman]

its been a while since i have messed with it, but we would hose out the fins and i know i change the thermostat atleast one time. I really dont think its a big motor problem since it still runs great and doesnt burn anything. Now that i know a little more about diesels i am ready for winter so i can start playing in my new garage with me toys... but thanks for the help, and if you think of anything else let me know.

 

[illflem]

If you clean the radiator blast it from the engine side out, going from the front can wedge crud in even worse. Be careful if you use high pressure while cleaning that you don't bend the fins closed, this can happen if you aren't spraying the fins straight on.

 

[Wade Hogg]

Another note on cleaning the radiator. We have a cuple fo 75 HP air compressors at the shop and have to clean the raditors about once a year. With the oil spray and the cottonwood crap we get in Oregon, it can become a nightmare. Hit the fins with simplegreen and let them sit for a night. Don't let it sit too long or it'll harden right back up. Pressure washer then shouldn't be needed, but one of those "wateing sticks' as I call it with the shower head thingy on the end will do just fine.





(hows that for technical!! Just ask for the watering stick wioth the shower head thingy at the local hardware store)

 

[QRTRHRS]

My radiator plugs real quickly on my Massey 1260. To make matters worse, just removing the sides does not allow good access for hosing it down. I pull the grill off the front and remove the battery. That helps a lot but it is still a bugger to clean.



I pulled the slide in screen out and kept it out. I don't think it helped any and I had to bend it to service it or remove the loader which was in the way.



I think the cooling capacity on these Japanese built tractors is lacking. I have run my big ol' Case all summer long and cleaned it just once for GP's. Did not really need it.

 

[MHindman]

ok, other than just keeping it clean, and the bad engeneering is there any other things that could make a diesel overheat? Im event thinking about an electric fan and a high flow electric water pump. The thing runs real good, i wish it would stay cool