Chris,

We put in the regular-size sleeves and pistons when overhauling. 

I warmed up the tractor today, medium-fast idle, and just let the engine run.  Air temp is in upper 70s today.  After 20 minutes the gauge was about 1/4&quot; into the green work area. After 45 minutes, same thing. So that seemed ok.  

I used it a couple of times on the weekend, crimping hay, then on the baler.  Air temp was in the 80s.    In both cases the heat gauge slowly crept up.  After 40 or 50 minutes it was within about 1/8&quot; of the red area. Any more and I would have stopped.   

Seems strange it keeps going up for so long.  Also when I stopped working and let it idle, it took 10-15 minutes for the heat gauge to drop back 1/8&quot; or so.

I did try the meat thermometer but I did not have that with me when working.   When I got the tractor back to the house, the heat gauge was in the middle of the work range.   That is quite a bit higher than with my old gauge, pre-overhaul.

With the gauge there, the meat thermometer read 190.    So my guess it that the temp was 200 or more when in the field with the heat gauge showing even higher.

When I used the meat thermometer, I did notice that the coolant seemed to be coming into the top of the radiator (above the water pump) quite actively.

By the way, the tractor does seem to have good power.  Significantly more power than before the overhaul.   I can tell that by a hill in our hay field, baling and pulling a fairly full load of bales.   Before overhaul I could not stay in third gear there.   Now it takes the hill easily in third.

Would appreciate any more thoughts.

Tom