Overheating

the thing was running fine for the 3-4 tanks of gas that i actually owned it and then died, finally got it fixed, is letting it sit that long that bad? have seen numerous posts mentioning letting it sit over winter and no mention of that being real hard on the engine.

the thing runs kinda flakey, the idle adjustment screw won't sit still, but i can keep it going and it doesn't take long for it to start feeling real hot, it did not feel hot like this before. when I shut engine off, i can hear the radiator boiling and some fluid burbles out, but nothing is coming out while it is running. i opened up the bleeder coolant valve and let some run over my fingers and that didn't seem all that really hot, i think my morning coffee would have burned more? I also tried to feel for a thermostat in the hoses and I don't think one is there, unless it's a real flexible thermostat, but that would cause underheating, i got boiling radiator fluid in about 5 minutes.
just a few questions:

am i close to damaging engine from overheating? one post said engines run hot enough for him to light a cigar off the exhaust manifold, or is that the exhaust, not engine? because numerous other posts said this engine runs cool.

the water is swirling around the radiator so water pump working, could 5 mos. sitting around clog up radiator?

was told may have a year or year and a half left in her, needs an overhaul, about $1800, does this seem reasonable, not just the price, but the year and a half left?

they did say the best thing now is to try to run it alot and clear out some of the rust they found in the engine and it should come around some.

thanks for any info, sorry about how long and rambling this post is, hope it makes sense, it's 3 am and i'm going to bed.

p.s. This is an amazing board, the number of posts and the quality of the respondents, it's a great knowledge base at our disposal and I am very greatful, please keep it up.
rob

Hard working N-Tractor exhaust manifolds will "glow" at night and if you are so despert, yeah, you could probably light a cigar off it, although Ford did offer an optional dashmounted electric cigar lighter.

Many N-Owners use a product commonally called "stab-gas" for long time over winter gas protection. I use it in my lawnmowers. It prevents gas varnish from clogging the carb jets. I also use "dri-gas" to prevent the tank from rusting. More better is to make sure you have a full tank of gas so water doesn't condense. Another long time storage trick, is to turn off the under the tank gas valve and run the tractor dry. JUST REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION (don't ask)

As for 18 months of engine life? I'd never make that kind of prediction without at least a dry and wet compression test. Does your tractor start eazy? Does it fog up the neighborhood with oil smoke? Does it have enuff power? I'm sorry you felt you had to have a "real mechanic" fix your tractor, after all, the N-Tractor was designed for the horse farmer whose mechanical skills probably just included bailing wire and a big rock. (grin)..... ..Dell