Replacing BX fan w/electric fan

[Berniep]

I have found those little wire brushes perfect for cleaning in the little nooks and crannies around the backhoe bucket teeth

[Skyco]

2 caveats on reversing an electric fan- first make sure the motor can run in reverse- many DC fans cannot due to electronics in them. Second- most high efficiency fan blades won't move air near as well in the reverse direction. In that case, assuming the motor will run backwards, I'd mount the DC fan so the best air movement is the same as stock- back to front for hot weather use. That way when overheating is less likely in cold weather you are moving (colder) air in the lower efficiency direction....

[bx24]

Originally Posted by KeithInSpace

Of course the wax makes the silk bed sheet I cover it with slide right off when I'm ready to start working on the weekends...a California King almost covers the FEL bucket AND the BH.

Although I don't clean stuff that much, I do have a couple of rules that I try to follow:

1- Clean things that will get scratched up if you don't. Since the seat is the only thing that I rub against most of the time, I don't have to do too much with this rule

2- Keep the Zerk fittings well greased. A machine that has grime stuck to the grease coming out of the friction points is usually a happy machine (even if it looks bad)

3- Wax new parts that can rust (box blade, mower decks, plows etc) It won't last forever, but it will help keep the rust away.

4- Paint bare spots that should not be bare spots to prevent rust. Ugly paint is always better than rust. Unless a bucket or other item is getting a complete make over, I don't bother worrying about the paint on wear points

5- When things are new (like the Bush Hog style cutter I just got), don't just wax it, take apart all of the things that will have to come apart in the future and grease the threads (preferably with Never-Cease) so that when it comes times to change or otherwise disassemble things, they will come apart and you won't have to break out the torch to do it the hard way.

These are the things I do, but if the machine happens to be near the hose, I never pass up a quick shower ... But I won't go out of my way.



As far as the electric fan goes, I was thinking the same thing about possibly using four small fans instead of the larger ones for a couple of reasons.

1- AMP draw - Smaller computer fans draw significantly less than the 10 amps listed on the larger fans

2- Thickness of the fans - computer fans are for the most part not as thick

3- Cost is a push

4- I was worried that in the winter time, things might get too hot in the cab with 1 big fan and constant heat coming in, but I figured I would simply "open a window" if things got too bad. If I used 4 small fans, two could be blowing "IN" and two could be blowing "OUT". My other two concerns with sucking air from the engine compartment are: Would I suck in exhaust and would I "Cook" the battery. I figured I could put a simple plate in front of the battery and put an extension on the exhaust pipe up or down to take care of that problem

I am not sure how well the 4 smaller fans will stand up to high heat in the summer, but maybe I could investigate removing the plastic shroud under the battery to blow the radiator heat down in the summer. I don't use my machine to cut grass so clogging would be limited to cotton wood tress fuzz etc.

Lots of things to think about in the next couple of months.

[bx24]

Originally Posted by Skyco

2 caveats on reversing an electric fan- first make sure the motor can run in reverse- many DC fans cannot due to electronics in them. Second- most high efficiency fan blades won't move air near as well in the reverse direction. In that case, assuming the motor will run backwards, I'd mount the DC fan so the best air movement is the same as stock- back to front for hot weather use. That way when overheating is less likely in cold weather you are moving (colder) air in the lower efficiency direction....

Skyco-

I thought the same thing and I am with you 100% - the lower volume might also help not "cook" the sap driving it (me) also. I don't have any experience with electric automotive fans, anyone know if they will run backwards? Many of them say "Reversible" but I don't know whether they are talking electrically or how they are physically mounted.

[bx24]

BTW- This is the type of fan I was looking at and here is the description .... It does say reversible motor so if everything else checks out space wise, I am encouraged to move forward.

10 inch high performance universal electric radiator cooling fan. The fan is 10pcs flat blade type. The motor is reversible and the fan is 12Volt 2407RPM and 775CFM. Four point mounting bracket kit. Dimensions 11 1/4 "x 10 5/8" x 2 1/2" This fan is high torque motor features sealed ball bearings and fully balanced blades which insure low noise levels and a long life of smooth operation.

[BotaBigot]

Technically a neat idea, and that fan looks like it might work. My concern is exhaust and other engine compartment fumes. You would have to run the exhaust far enough back to not be drawn in with the cooling air. And, any gasket/seal leaks on a hot engine could create fumes. I'm guessing you want to avoid the hassle of a heater core. How about some form of electric heat?

[KeithInSpace]

Originally Posted by BotaBigot

...exhaust and other engine compartment fumes.

There is a picture out there of a guy that added a smoke stack to a BX. It was the video of that guy that 'doubled up' on his tires (BX Dually) front and rear. I think it went OK until he snapped a rear axle.

Anyway, perhaps an addition like this would take care of one major concern.

[milkman]

Still using the duals, didn't snap the rear axle, did go back to the original muffler because the other muffler was louder. The guy that broke an axle had a BX with a backhoe, don't know any other particulars.

[milkman]

I can't tell from your picture, but is there room to put the electric fan between the battery and the radiator and pull air throught the radiator from that side? That's if there's not enough room with the engine fan removed, your tractor is newer and different than mine so I can't be of much help comparing the two.

[KeithInSpace]

Originally Posted by milkman

...had a BX with a backhoe

Well, that makes sense. Nothing light about those.

Thank you for responding and clarifying. You can see that stack nice in the picture.