|
To check if the water pump is working, make sure the radiator is full and peer down into it while the tractor is running. If the water is moving then you know the pump is circulating. It should be moving fairly quickly but not gushing. Now if it is not then grab the upper hose and give it a good hard squeeze. If the hose feels empty then it very well could be the thermostat. It's hard to tell this way on these tractors because they don't build up allot of pressure despite the fact that they have a pressurized cooling system. It is actually easier just to remove the upper hose and check to see if it is stuck. Let me ask you this, how well do you take care of your cooling system? Do you flush it regularly and add coolant and by that I mean water AND a antifreeze with corrosion inhibitors???? If you are just filling it with water then you are ruining your cooling system and this goes for non-pressurized cooling systems without water pumps too (thermo-syphon). Never fail to add a good grade of antifreeze to your cooling system and be sure to change and flush it at least annually. Your block could be filled with so much goo and rust that the pump is having a hard time circulating the water. Maybe even the impeller on your pump has corroded away and there is nothing but a "nub" to circulate with! LOL! Always use a good antifreeze in your system, firstly it provides the antifreeze compound (ethelyne glycol) and secondly a water soluble oil/corrosion inhibitor that will bond to the iron in the block and prevent scale buildup. It also lubricates the seals in your water pump too. As it heats and cools the oil/inhibitors steam off, the antifreeze never does but it won't prevent corrosion. That is why you need to change your coolant regularly. I'd say run some radiator flush through your system first and see if it eats the crud up and frees your thermostat and cooling system up. Maybe run another if it seems to help and allot of rust comes out when you drain it.
| 
