7020 Engine Noise

Well, I have another 7020 problem. Pulling the field cultivator today, I noticed a bit of hot oil smell, then saw that the temperature gauge was running almost 210. Usually it's quite a bit lower than that under load. I stopped and idled to let it cool off a bit. After it cooled to where it normally would run, I started driving again and geared down to the next lower speed and it still wanted to heat up again. Then it developed a knocking sound. So, did I spin a rod bearing or something nasty like that?

It has been loosing coolant very slowly since I bought it. I kept finding little leaks from loose clamps and fittings, so I figured that was where it was going, but it's still happening, even though I think I finally fixed the last of those. There wasn't any coolant in the oil when I changed it last month though.

So, what's the next step to diagnose this without sending a rod through the block? Drop the pan and start pulling rod caps?

Well, the motor is going to have to come out to change the torque limiter anyhow, so I guess I will just start taking things apart then.

Another detail. It was intermittently making a really nasty screeching sound, kind of like a dry alternator bearing, but I checked and it and the water pump spun fine.

Yeah, I do have backup equipment, and I am done with most of the spring tillage. So, I just have to use the smaller tractors and tillage equipment for the rest of the spring.