1572 vs 1772 Radiator

[Merk]

I have a radiator from a 2182 that I'm willing to sell.
PM me if someone is interested.

[TheSaturnV]

Could it be a simple matter that the smaller radiator of these two is just not as in as good condition?

My 882 had a case of the heat creeps until I had a local shop rebuild it, using the original tanks. Heat has never been a factor since then. Sometime later I put on a new water pump, and it ran even cooler.

[FrankF3]

I put yet another thermostat in the 1572. Counting the original, this is the third one. It is doing better, but if I leave it idling for long, it is liable to go into a thermal event again. Since this has the original radiator, maybe TheSaturnV is onto something and re-coring or rebuilding it could be the ticket to fix it. Thinking more about that, I bought this in 1987 so it has been in this state for 34 years now. Radiator shops are hard to come across now. Most placed want to se you a new radiator.

[cooperino]

Originally Posted by FrankF3

It just occurred to me and I hate to say it, would a blown head gasket behave like this?

If you had a blown head gasket, you would likely have smoke from exhaust and be adding coolant from time to time.

Couple of questions. Are you certain that you gauge and sender are providing accurate temps? When its running with cap off is it bubbling out? Have you checked the water pump? If fins on pump have deteriorated flow would be diminished. I ask because you say it only happens at lower engine speeds. Maybe the pump is able to move enough water at higher rpm

[FrankF3]

Originally Posted by cooperino

If you had a blown head gasket, you would likely have smoke from exhaust and be adding coolant from time to time.

Couple of questions. Are you certain that you gauge and sender are providing accurate temps? When its running with cap off is it bubbling out? Have you checked the water pump? If fins on pump have deteriorated flow would be diminished. I ask because you say it only happens at lower engine speeds. Maybe the pump is able to move enough water at higher rpm

I've had no smoke (other than what's expected) out of the exhaust and have not had to add a drop of antifreeze in a few years.

[cooperino]

Originally Posted by FrankF3

I've had no smoke (other than what's expected) out of the exhaust and have not had to add a drop of antifreeze in a few years.

So not a head gasket.. I would be checking the pump. Thermostats function is pretty simple. You can test the operation of one easily with a pot of water and thermometer on your stove top.

[FrankF3]

Good thought... I have a spare water pump already. Since this one is the original that came with the tractor, I'll swap it out and see what happens.