Hi,
rScotty,Steve,redneck,scooby74 thanks for your input! The information I've gathered on precleaners has been pretty much from manufacturers websites, Centri,Turbo, Donaldson, Engineair, etc. So far I have not found much real world user info.on installing a precleaner on a compact tractor . I really wanted to purchase my precleaner and installation parts from local dealers but so far none of them seem very interested, and give the impression that a precleaner is not needed on a compact tractor, which may be true? My wife tells me that I over plan and over build everything, and she's usually right! My Mahindra Max 25 air filter has a 1.750" OD. intake and 1.750" OD. supply to the engine. I plan to use 2" OD. x 2" OD. aluminum air intake tubing and 2" ID.air intake rubber elbows/fittings/adapters. My tractor has a cold air intake outside the engine compartment near the front grill, so installing the precleaner under the hood would cause me to loose the value of the cold air intake. I won't be installing the precleaner very far from air filter( approximatley 12-18 inches) which is about how long my OEM cold air intake hose is. The cold air intake necks down to 1.50" id., so replacing that with 2" od. intake tubing should improve air flow. To answer the question of operating the centrifugal precleaner upside down, there are a couple of mfg. that say that you can, but I would not want to install upside down unless you have no other choice! I have seen some mfg. that advise not to use their precleaner with an oil bath air cleaner,but there must to be a centifugal precleaner that will work with oil bath? Steve as far a U bends, this looks like a place that would cause considerable resistance to the free flow of intake air unless you oversize your tubing, and also, as you mention a dirt trap? Mounting outside the engine compartment gives you the advantage of cooler intake air. I am fortunate since my Mahindra does not have a U hose. I don't have any space to mount the precleaner under hood and very little space outside the engine compartment, but I have been :confused3:scratching my head for quite a while and think I may finally have a doable mounting plan??? I have found precleaners that will work on small engines in rototiller and lawnmowers,etc.( Enginaire Model 1.5-3/20 part #61508 works with engines down to 3 CFM). My engine is 80.4 cubic inches rated 50 CFM at 2500 rpm. My tractor is HST so I mostly run at 2500 RPM which is where the engine puts out the most power. If you run your tractor at a lower RPM than the precleaner is rated then you may need to do some serious research on which precleaner will work for you.The website
Enginaire has a formula page (as do most the other mfg). Although (so far) the formula for calculating CFM has been the same for each mfg. I'm almost ready to purchase a precleaner and installation parts. I have emailed Enginaire my request to order online. I will list the parts, costs,troubles,hints,pic's etc. after I start installing. This will not be a cheap project since I'm using all specialized intake parts (to satisfy Mahindra Warranty) $250 to $300+. I also would like to install a dust load indicator or Restriction Gauge(some Dodge diesel pickups have them). This would also tell you (after the fact)if you are too far from your air cleaner to the precleaner and need to use larger piping or shorten the distance? If anyone finds a
simple formula for calculating the functional working distance from air cleaner to centifugal precleaner please let us know! And yes I have to
cut a hole in the side engine cover of my too new tractor. I'm still not sure what to use to dress the cut hole. Enginaire online catalog page 26 has
Clamps Collars. This collar may work to dress the cut hole in my cover and support my intake tubing? I emailed Enginare for sizing. If the Collar clamp will not work then I will have to brace the precleaner or piping. As far as new innovations in precleaners it seems that they all work principally the same except Turbo which has a so called
straight through flow path ? Well I think this long dreamed of project is finally getting off the ground. Started :licking:fantasizing about a precleaner last summer but got :cloud9:distracted by a new kayak and trips on Humbolt Bay. Keep those ideas,opinions, suggestions,tips,etc. coming!
:dance1:Solinski