Every other mowing I clean the screens and blow out the rad on both tractors.Two years ago put a new cap on the 345 (long over due) and when I got my X595 I put new thermostat, temp sensor,cap and flush.I have read many threads where guys will change the thermostat because its running hot but never do the cap.
Check your radiator caps.. I got 1st degree burns
When I got my 445 the gauges never really worked. I pulled the glass off and got them to work, Gas Gauge worked and I THOUGHT the temp was working OK as it the needle would rise to middle and occasionally a little past.
Yesterday while mowing the yard I was doing my thing, occasionally looking at the gauges as I do thinking nothing was wrong when all of a sudden there was a large POP, a cloud of white smoke, and flying antifreeze.. I shut it down immediately and got off to check my burns and say a few choice words..
I ended up with first degree burns on both my legs and crack across the top of the radiator spanning 3/4s of the plastic top.
Everything I know about a radiator cap is that it should have released the pressure if it got to be too much and allowed the fluid to move into the overflow reservoir..
It DIDN'T...
Today while tearing things down I realized that I had been gathering grass and covering the radiator and didn't know it. I didn't expect to get grass that far inside. try and blow out the mower when I finish mowing but I didn't see it collecting under the dash, Even with the side panels I thought it would be OK but I was wrong.
So I found another radiator on Ebay, I'll have to find a way get an accurate water temp now that I know the gauge is nowhere near accurate.
Hard lesson learned. I'll get a brand new cap with the radiator and make sure I do a better job of blowing things out and checking for grass collection.
Yesterday while mowing the yard I was doing my thing, occasionally looking at the gauges as I do thinking nothing was wrong when all of a sudden there was a large POP, a cloud of white smoke, and flying antifreeze.. I shut it down immediately and got off to check my burns and say a few choice words..
I ended up with first degree burns on both my legs and crack across the top of the radiator spanning 3/4s of the plastic top.
Everything I know about a radiator cap is that it should have released the pressure if it got to be too much and allowed the fluid to move into the overflow reservoir..
It DIDN'T...
Today while tearing things down I realized that I had been gathering grass and covering the radiator and didn't know it. I didn't expect to get grass that far inside. try and blow out the mower when I finish mowing but I didn't see it collecting under the dash, Even with the side panels I thought it would be OK but I was wrong.
So I found another radiator on Ebay, I'll have to find a way get an accurate water temp now that I know the gauge is nowhere near accurate.
Hard lesson learned. I'll get a brand new cap with the radiator and make sure I do a better job of blowing things out and checking for grass collection.
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
There's plenty of stages of screens to protect you just have to keep an I on them.Its even more important on air cooled.I've removed plenty of engine shrouds that were packed with grass.For you guys w/ liquid cooled riders. I realize it wouldn't be "pretty" but what's wrong w/ attaching aluminum window screen cloth across the grill? That way you'd be able to see buildup on it.
Mike
Well, that's called "operator error".There's plenty of stages of screens to protect you just have to keep an I on them.Its even more important on air cooled.I've removed plenty of engine shrouds that were packed with grass.
Mike
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
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