How to Remove the Radiator in a John Deere 332 Garden Tractor

Raise the hood of the 332 by tilting the hood forward over the front of the tractor. Remove the two thrust washers from the hinge pins at the front of the hood, with tin snips.. Push the hinge pins inward and out of the hinges. Remove the hood and grille completely from the 332.

Loosen the negative and positive battery cables using an open-end wrench. Remove the battery cables from the battery, negative cable first. Loosen the battery tie-down with a ratchet and socket. Remove the tie down, then remove the battery completely from the tractor.

Place a drain pan between the front wheels, below the radiator. Remove the lower radiator hose clamp from the bottom right (sitting on tractor) side of the radiator, with a ratchet and socket. Pull the lower radiator hose off of the radiator completely. Allow the radiator to drain for three to five minutes.

Remove the radiator shroud bolts from the top rear face of the shroud, with a ratchet and socket. Pull the shroud upward to dislocate the shroud from the bottom tabs on the radiator. Push the shroud back toward the engine, and over the cooling fan so it is out of your way. Remove the two mounting bolts from the radiator core support on both sides of the radiator, using a ratchet and socket.

Remove the upper radiator hose clamp with a ratchet and socket. Remove the upper hose from the radiator. Pull the radiator upward, and free of the tractor. Remove the overflow tube from the radiator.

Install the new screen onto the front of the new radiator by hand. Slide the radiator and screen onto the mower. Tighten the four radiator mounting bolts to 180-inch pounds, with a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench and socket. Install the upper and lower radiator hoses and clamps. Tighten the clamps snug with a ratchet and socket. Push the radiator overflow tube onto the new radiator. Install the radiator shroud and tighten the bolts snug with a ratchet and socket.

Install the battery back onto the mower. Tighten the battery tie down to 108 inch-pounds with the torque wrench and a socket. Install the positive, then negative battery cables. Tighten the cable bolts to 108 inch-pounds with the torque wrench as well.

Remove the radiator cap from the top of the radiator. Fill the radiator entirely with new coolant. Start the tractor and let the engine run for no less than 10 minutes. Continually fill the radiator as the fluid level goes down. This is called bleeding the cooling system, and it will force the air pockets out of your cooling system. Continue this step until the radiator stops "burping" air bubbles. Turn the engine off and top off the radiator. Replace and lock the radiator cap.

Set the grille onto the front frame, with the hood tilted upward. Hold the hood with one hand, while you insert the hinge pins into the hood hinges with your free hand. Install two new thrust washers onto the hinge pins.