1) DO NOT keep running it without a thermostat!!!! I would bet the majority of your usage is just running around with little to zero load on the motor. So without a thermostat the engine will not run at a high enough operating temperature. This is critical for a diesel to run correctly. Running it with a low temperature and light load will mean it runs too cool. This can lead to incomplete burning of the fuel in the cylinders. This unburnt fuel can easily run by the piston rings and dilute the engine oil.
2) Over loading the motor can easily make it overheat. You did not say what the air temperature was when you tried plowing. 30 or 90 degrees??? IF it was warm then it would be easier to over heat it with too heavy of a load.
3) I am not familiar enough with a Ford Dexter to tell you exactly how to replaced the temperature gauge. I will tell you that running it with out a $30-50 dollar gauge can cost you thousands in repairs if you run it too hot again. A Ford major diesel is NOT a cheap motor to repair if you damage the head by over heating it regularly. Post the question of how to replace the gauge down on the Ford forum and there are fellows down there that can tell you step by step how to replace the gauge. Any Ford of that age I have worked on requires removing the tank usually to replace the gauge.
Good luck with your tractor. Get the things fixed and you should have years of use out of it with little cost. They are durable tractor.
Upload one or more videos to your post. Photo filesizes should be less than 300K and Videos, less than 2MB. Formats allowed are gif, jpg, png, ogg, mp4, mov, and avi. Be sure to use filenames without spaces or special characters, and filetypes of 3 digits lower case.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Restoration Story: Fordson Major - by Anthony West. George bought his Fordson Major from a an implement sale about 18 years ago for £200.00 (UK). There is no known history regarding its origins or what service it had done, but the following work was undertaken alone to bring it up to show standard. From the engine number, it was found that this Major was produced late 1946. It was almost complete but had various parts that would definitely need replacing.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
