@@ 1996 90 V4 HELP on Thermostat

Scode68 · Jul 6, 2011

Think I need to change out the thermostats on the J90TLEDA because the alarm is sounding, the heads are hot but the hoses are cool. How do I drop the lower cover so I can get at the thermostat housing bolts? Took the two lower parts off and 4 bolt that I thought held the lower cover on but it barely moves. Am I missing something?

By the way I was running it in a large green bucket the landscapers use.

Scode68 · Jul 7, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Still can't move the cover.

boobie · Jul 7, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

The only way to get that cover off is to pull the p/h. BUT if you have 1/4 " drive tools you can get at the bolts that hold the thermo hsg on.

Scode68 · Jul 10, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Was able to get the center bolt out of the thermostat housing but not the two other ones. Seems too tight to get a 1/4" ratchet and socket on them and I don't want to crack the cover.

TD_Maker · Jul 11, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Scode68,
I understand your problem with the bolts. I had to actually find another brand of 1/4" ratchet and socket to get the job done. Sears Craftsman 1/4" ratchet seems to be a smaller profile quality tool. Also, I saw that Snap-On has one that would work well too. Sometimes the cheaper quality tools are made a little thicker and larger to help with the strength issue. I have a CHEAP 1/4 " drive ratchett from Harbor Freight that is MUCH larger than the Sears tool.

Scode68 · Jul 12, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

It's a Craftsman but a 1/4" drive 11mm socket alone will not even fit in there.

boobie · Jul 12, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

You may want to try a 1/4" drive "flex socket". Sears has them. Looking at your mtr you may also have to use heat on those bolts. Or, you can do what one poster on here did. He cut the back part of the cowling out so he had room to work and then pop riveted it back in with some braces. Looked pretty good.

Daviet · Jul 12, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

As a last resort you can drill a hole in the cowling and then put one of those pop-in plugs back in it when you are done.

guy74 · Jul 12, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

I use a double offset box end wrench to get to those bolts when I work on one. I think mine is a proto 3/8-7/16 wrench.

Scode68 · Jul 13, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

I guess I'll see if I can locate one of those wrenches and if not I'll just drill some holes and plug them. Can't believe this is so difficult and there isn't an easier way to get these bolts out. Thermostats are a regular maintenance thing!

Scode68 · Jul 18, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

The double offset box wrench did the trick! I can't believe I didn't have any of these in the chests.

Thanks for the help!

guy74 · Jul 18, 2011

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Re: 90CV4 Motor Thermostate Removale, How Do I Drop The Lower Cover?

Glad we were able to help! I have found that I use all kinds of strange wrenches, have made many one of a kind wrenches with strange bends in them just for one job.

@@ 1996 90 V4 HELP on Thermostat

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