B2320 temp gauge

[Jtryan]

Hi, I just bought a b2320 and used it for an hour or so doing light work and the temp gauge hardly moved at all, it was still on the black line near the C. I even opened the hood to see if the hose from radiator was hot and it was just warm.
Is this normal?? It was -5c outside so not super cold.

 

[85Hokie]

Hi, I just bought a b2320 and used it for an hour or so doing light work and the temp gauge hardly moved at all, it was still on the black line near the C. I even opened the hood to see if the hose from radiator was hot and it was just warm.
Is this normal?? It was -5c outside so not super cold.

23F is a bit nippy for outside work for whimps like me!

However - the diesel does not make heat like a gas engine, and in the winter it does take a good bit of work to get them up to temperatures.

Go back and work the engine harder - I think you will see the gauge move, now if the gauge does not move - use a infrared thermometer and check out the actual temps around the radiator and head areas. You could have a bad gauge- but I dont think that is the case.

I do notice that my B7100 will run 30 degrees cooler when doing light duty than when working hard.

 

[Jtryan]

Ya I'll try to work it harder next time I get it out!
I guess these engines run fairly cool!?

 

[Diydave]

They definitely run cool in the wintertime. Get the IR thermometer, useful tool, for a tractor, or BBQ grill!

 

[Jtryan]

It would be pretty hard to get heat from it if I had a cab on it! This could be an issue down the road when I do get one

 

[Grouse Feathers]

It would be pretty hard to get heat from it if I had a cab on it! This could be an issue down the road when I do get one

There are several things you can do to increase the engine temperature for better performance and more heat to a cab:
1. Use a block heater – The tractor will start better and come up to temperature faster. After using the block heater, by the time I allow the tractor to warm up 5 to 10 minutes I have heat coming out of the heater.
2. Block off some of the radiator air flow – On my BX the radiator cooling inlet is under the steering wheel and inside the cab. I block it off to reduce air flow through the cab and to the radiator.
3. Pipe the heater to the radiator bypass – By using the bypass for the heater you have heat as soon as the engine starts warming up.
4. Load up the engine – Snow blowing and snow blowing heavy snow or more than a couple of inches of light snow, I can load the engine to the point I have to slow down to maintain engine rpms. With the engine fully loaded it will put out heat.