[AT] Cleaning out Tractor cooling system

Louis louis at kellnet.com
Thu Jan 20 17:56:22 PST 2005


If I remember correctly.  My manuals are at my shop, so I can't verify.
I think the old manuals for the styled letter series John Deere's says
to put washing soda in the radiator and run it for a while to warm up
the engine and then drain it.

Correct me if I am wrong about that information.

Lou

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of fred bottles
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 11:39 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Cleaning out Tractor cooling system


Would that be the liquid or granual dishwasher
detergent??

Thanks to all for the ideas. I've enjoyed reading all
the responses. 

I'm thinking i'll try to fill the whole system (6
gals)
with vinegar and run it a couple of days.  Then flush
and then maybe try the dishwasher soap trick. 


--- Bruce Fallon <bfallon at whidbey.com> wrote:

> I had oil in the water on the old Hercules I took
> out of the Huber and I ran
> paint thinner thru it on the parts washer then used
> hot water in the sink to 
> follow with some degreasing detergent.  This was
> before I was taking it to 
> the radiator shop for a complete boil out.  The guy
> at the radiator shop 
> would not clean it out he suggested it might not
> survive due to the age 50+ 
> years and the caustic cleaning solution.  He told me
> to run automatic 
> dishwasher detergent through the engine for about an
> hour then drain and 
> flush.  He said that is what they do with Cummins
> diesels.
> 
> I did run some degreasing detergent for a while then
> flushed a few times
> until it was clear.  It is holding antifreeze as we
> speak.
> 
> value may be what you paid
> 
> 
> Bruce Fallon
> Freeland WA. 98249
> bfallon at whidbey.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "JParks" <jkparks at flash.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 12:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Cleaning out Tractor cooling
> system
> 
> 
> Well.............I certainly don't qualify as an expert.....but a 
> similar circumstance happened last week when a neighbor up
> the draw bought a Cat 12
> grader.  They were roading it home when they noticed
> the temp gauge going up
> so they shut it down.  They checked the radiator (a
> little bit late as it
> was very low) and found a lot of oil in the core
> itself.   No water in the
> oil, just oil in the water.  Based on my limited
> knowledge, I figured a
> couple of things could have happened; either a bad
> head gasket or someone
> filled the radiator with a dirty bucket.  We
> contacted a field service man,
> one who used to be Svc Mgr at local Cat house, and
> he recommended Calgon in
> the radiator just to clean out the oil through the
> system.  Then...... run
> it again to see if the oil reappeared.
> 
> This would not be a solution to the rust problem,
> and would not necessarily
> clean out the rust deposits  but I would certainly
> stick with a product
> specifically designed to operate as a rust and scale
> remover.  Their product
> would not be on the market if it adversely affected
> seals or gaskets.  (pay
> attention to their instructions for sure!) Anything
> else, for me, would just
> be a guess, and  an un-educated one too.
> 
> John Parks
> Boise, ID
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Spencer Yost" <yostsw at atis.net>
> To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 11:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Cleaning out Tractor cooling
> system
> 
> 
> > *********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
> > On 1/17/2005 at 8:19 AM fred bottles wrote:
> > >Has anyone ever cleaned out a cooling system by
> using
> > >vinegar?? I talked with a guy who said a friend
> of his
> > >filled up the cooling system of his tractor with
> > >vinegar and ran it like that a few days, drained
> it
> > >and it really got the crud out. Any reason not to
> try
> > >this??
> > >
> >
> > Any kind of weak acid like vinegar would indeed
> loosen and remove some
> > scale and mineral deposits.   Whether that
> qualifies it as a complete
> > cooling system flushing compound I wouldn't know.
>  Most cooling system
> > flushing compounds at the auto parts store I
> presume would do a better job
> > and aren't much more expensive than two gallons of
> white vinegar -
> probably
> > less expensive.
> >
> > As for reasons not to try it - The gaskets for the
> upper and lower tanks,
> > if your tractor has them, might possibly be
> hardened by straight acid but
> I
> > really doubt it.  Older water pumps with packing
> instead of sealed
> bearings
> > might be adversely affected.  However I think
> these, and other warnings,
> > would hold true for any type of flushing compound.
> >
> > Someone on the list with professional knowledge
> probably needs to jump in,
> >
> > Spencer Yost
> > Owner, ATIS
> > Plow the Net!
> > http://www.atis.net
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AT mailing list http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> >
> 
> 
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