Grader overheat problems

Check the oil cooler

I'm not sure what engine is in your 14, but I had a costomer's 12F here last month that had very similar symptom's. It ended up having a cracked head. The temp gauge suddenly jumping to the red tells me there is steam around the bulb. With a cold engine take the radiator cap off, then start and run until it warms up. You may have to partly block off the radiator screen to get it up to temp. Watch for bubbles coming to the surface. The bubbles indicate air being put into the water jacket from somewhere, likely the head or head gasket.

Good luck

Bruce P

It's worthwhile to do some diagnostics on the engine before you decide to take off the head etc.

Pressurizing the cylinders is perhaps the best way to detect leaks because you can get higher pressure on the leak. Use shop air at 150-175 psi plumbed into an adapter to the injector port and turn the engine to TDC for each cylinder in turn and lock it by putting machine in gear if manual transmission equipped and lock the brakes or lower blade etc so it cannot take off. Engine can turn suddenly when air pressure is applied. Throttle must be at fuel off position or all injectors removed so engine positively cannot start. Watch for air bubbles in the radiator or out your bleed valve may show up quicker.

With a grader, you cannot simply drop the pan, so after you localize it to one cylinder, if precombustion chamber equipped, I would start by removing that one and inspect and perhaps reseal it and try again. If that doesn't do it, then you're down to removing the head, but you know where to look for blown gasket, low liner or cracks. You may notice that one cylinder has almost no carbon and may show rust pits if machine sits unused for long periods.

Good luck............that one doesn't sound easy to find.

Could not find a s/n model #14 C69 listing. Any more info??

serial # 64C89
I was afraid it my be head related issues. I will try out the diagnoses tips in the next 2 weeks and see where it leads to. Thanks for all the tips guys.

Your #14c grader is a 1959 year. catskinner

I have done a lot of work on this machine since last time I was here on the website, and I am back to square one. I removed the head and found 4 cracks that were repaired by a reputable machine shop using a plug and stitch weld process. After replacing all the goodies associated with replacing the head, and getting everything back together, it fired right up and runs well. It will idle at part or anything up to full throttle all day long and the temp stays in the middle of the green range.Once I put it in gear and start moving around (blade up). it rapidly runs to the red zone and stays there,spitting steam from the bleed valve on the head and the overflow.This thing has all new parts,gaskets, and a through cleaning of the cooling system,and everything else related to the head.I am going to try the air pressure test listed above , but after that , I am completely stumped!Any help would be appreciated.

What parts were replaced? Head/block cracks, gaskets were only part of the list. Pin holed combustion chambers and or liners still need to be checked. Any sign of water in the oil?