7745 Engine issues

[wbenchfarms]

I have a 7745 that we are having a heck of a time with the engine. It seems like it has always ran warm. Water pump went out a the year before last, so replaced the pump, pulled the radiator and had cleaned, new hoses, etc. Last summer it overheated and locked the engine. The bottom rad hose wore a hole in it and lost all the coolant. Tore the motor down and replaced rings and bearings. It ran perfectly. It seems like all summer the temperature has been wanting to creep up. No smoke and not much blowby, but seems like it's getting hot and pushing water out of the radiator overflow. Last night had run it for a couple hours, idled down to switch to the hay rake. Temp was down at 190. Took off with the rake, and engine just pulled down and quit. Acted locked up again. I'm not sure if the thermostat is sticking open, or if we have a cracked head somewhere. Anyone have these issues?

 

[diyfarmer]

The old time repair trick on a crystal would have been to remove the thermostat altogether, and just let the water circulate it would get slightly more than lukewarm.