JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Discuss loaders/backhoes here

Topic author
delboydg
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 10:17 am
Flag: Great Britain

JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Post #1 by delboydg » Fri Jun 08, 2018 11:19 am

Hello to you all. I am the proud owner of a 1978 3C Mk 2 which runs really well, including brakes. but insists on blowing its water out of the radiator overflow after about 15 minutes of use. There is no expansion bottle on the machine which has a Leyland 4/98 engine, also new thermostat and rad cap. The water temperature gauge which appears to work rises to just under mid point in its scale. Any ideas/experience of possible probable cause.
Thank you


Jeremy Rowland
Moderator
Posts: 8667
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:36 pm
Real name: Jeremy Rowland
Has thanked: 1867 times
Been thanked: 1688 times

Re: JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Post #2 by Jeremy Rowland » Fri Jun 08, 2018 1:44 pm

Hi and welcome to CMN :wave: have you checked that the radiator core is clean and not restricted? Try that first if that is not the problem my best guess would be a blown head gasket.

Jeremy


essexpete
Posts: 4059
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:43 am
Real name: essexpete
Has thanked: 849 times
Been thanked: 680 times

Re: JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Post #3 by essexpete » Fri Jun 08, 2018 2:21 pm

I wonder if this is any good or similar? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-3-BLOCK-C ... SwLEtYi8Gi


kaos
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:37 pm
Real name: Kári Össurarson
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 15 times
Flag: Iceland
Contact:

Re: JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Post #4 by kaos » Fri Jun 08, 2018 3:34 pm

I´m wondering if you may be overfilling the radiator? These older engines without expansion bottles generally require a bit of air at the top of the radiator, to allow the water to expand. Of course, the water should at least cover the top of the radiator pipes when cold.

--
Regards, Kari.


Topic author
delboydg
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 10:17 am
Flag: Great Britain

Re: JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Post #5 by delboydg » Sat Jun 09, 2018 3:05 pm

Thank you all for your input, I like the idea of not overfilling the rad - cheapest option to try and I don't have a lot of time to lift the head. I have been making sure the rad is topped up to the top before using the machine so that could be it. I will also try and flush the rad and clean the fins but the drain plug is not budging.

Last head gasket I changed was on a Mini in 1968 - seems like yesterday!


Topic author
delboydg
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 10:17 am
Flag: Great Britain

Re: JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Post #6 by delboydg » Sat Jun 09, 2018 3:12 pm

Ordered the test kit too essexpete will let you know how I get on.


Topic author
delboydg
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 10:17 am
Flag: Great Britain

Re: JCB 3c2 Water Retention

Post #7 by delboydg » Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:07 pm

Used the test kit mentioned by essexpete which showed gasket blown. Used K-seal in the cleaned up radiator and it seems to have cured the problem. Didn't really think liquid sealer would work but it seems to have done the trick and saved hours of work - I hope. Worked using the back hoe for about an hour and all good


Return to “Loaders/Backhoes”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests