Reversing the B3030 Cab model cooling fan for operator health

[WaxMan]

Well I had my B3030 cab model for almost two years and as far as keeping the dust out of the inside of the cab it's a crappy design.
I used it quite a bit this summer and last for dirt work, grading etc. If I'm working in dusty conditions the whole inside of the cab is covered with fine dirt and silt all the while the A/C is blowing the dust around inside the enclosed cab. I could get inside the cab for two hours working in the dirt and never get out of the cab once and my once clean pants are all dusty where if you slap your leg a cloud of dust comes off. Very unhealthily to breath this silt for hours at a time in the small enclosed cab without fresh air.
I replaced the air filter in the back 3 times since I bought the tractor, check for leaks many times all around the roof etc.

The only thing I could think of is the engine fan is blowing the dust thru the holes in the firewall, pedal opening etc. into the cab, I know for a fact if you take the dash cowl off it's all dust and dirt behind there.
I have been thinking of reversing the fan blade so instead of blowing the air across the motor into the cab it would blow the air thru the front grill.
Since the fan is off-set it looks like I would have to cut down the aluminum spacer and turn the blade around so it won't hit the radiator.

The BX models exhaust the air out the front. Why can't the B3030. I would buy another spacer to cut down just in case it would run too hot and I would have to turn it back around.
The temp gauge always runs just above the cold mark so there is room for it to run a little hotter.
Does anybody have any thoughts on this.

 

[DELInstallations]

thinking back to my hot rodder days, how about putting an elec fan on and pull the engine mounted unit, then the airflow will keep the same, per se.

I think the BX's rad is by the column with the fan.

 

[WaxMan]

thinking back to my hot rodder days, how about putting an elec fan on and pull the engine mounted unit, then the airflow will keep the same, per se.

I think the BX's rad is by the column with the fan.

For me I think it would be easer to just reverse (flip) the blade then to come up with a whole mounting thing.
Unless you don't think that would reverse the flow by reversing the blade?.

 

['Bota Fan]

WaxMan, you may be right about the direction of the A/C fan. I've been looking at all holes in the floor for pedals, etc., and I think that's where most of the junk is entering the cab. My B3030 is a touch over three-years-old with almost 400 hours. It seems those holes grow larger every time I use the tractor.

With the exhaust being piped back toward and under the cab, I know I'm getting fumes inside, too. Just today I noticed I can clearly see the ground where the brake pedals come inside.

I wish there were a way to close off those places. Not only would it be safer to breathe, it would improve the noise level.

 

[DanD78]

Flipping the fan won't make it blow the other direction. Draw a line on a paper from the upper left to the lower right then turn the paper a half a turn. The 12 volt fan may be your answer unless you can seal up your cab.

The old cats had fan blades you pushed the blades in and turned to change the pitch to blow out instead of sucking in.

Dan

 

[WaxMan]

WaxMan, you may be right about the direction of the A/C fan. I've been looking at all holes in the floor for pedals, etc., and I think that's where most of the junk is entering the cab. My B3030 is a touch over three-years-old with almost 400 hours. It seems those holes grow larger every time I use the tractor.

With the exhaust being piped back toward and under the cab, I know I'm getting fumes inside, too. Just today I noticed I can clearly see the ground where the brake pedals come inside.

I wish there were a way to close off those places. Not only would it be safer to breathe, it would improve the noise level.

I thought the exhaust was coming in my cab too, the first thing I did was make a stack to get the exhaust up and away it worked for the exhaust. But I found out that it was not only the exhaust coming into the cab it is the air running across the hot dirty smelly motor coming into the cab. After plowing snow for an hour with the heat on it's sickening ,for me anyway. The stack is nice you never smell diesel around the tractor at all.
It's either dust , dirt and the smell from the motor in the summer, and in the winter the smell across the motor. One way or another I'm either going to stop it or sell the tractor.

 

[WaxMan]

Flipping the fan won't make it blow the other direction. Draw a line on a paper from the upper left to the lower right then turn the paper a half a turn. The 12 volt fan may be your answer unless you can seal up your cab.

The old cats had fan blades you pushed the blades in and turned to change the pitch to blow out instead of sucking in.

Dan

Dan are you sure about that. The fan blade is not flat like the paper.
The fan blades are twisted and angled one way, when you turn it over I would think it would be angled the other way. I could be wrong though.
I guess the only way to know for sure is to remove the blade and spin it on a rod or something.

 

[Volfandt]

I don't own or operate a B3030 w/cab nor have I stayed in a Holiday Inn lately but I have run a tractor w/the radiator fan reversed from it's proper orientation and all it did was cause engine overheating problems.
I had purchased the tractor w/the fan reversed unbeknowest to me. Some one had tried to make it a blower instead of a sucker
After I discovered it was reversed and I correctly installed it my over heating problems went away.
Just an FYI.
Perhaps the B3030's cooling system isn't as limited as the old TE20's was. I would recommend to do the fab in such a way that it can be put back correctly if it didn't work out.
Good luck
Dave

 

[ol'George]

Trust me,
reversing the fan will not reverse air flow.
Not only will it not push, instead of pull,
but it will loose efficiency because of the curve of the blades-- BTDT.
(lift affect, like airplane wings)
you must get a reverse flow fan.
I put a reverse flow fan on a Ford industrial tractor being used inside a factory for operator comfort.

 

[BXpanded]

Ol' George is right. Think about a piece of threaded rod. Twist it right to screw in... Turn it around it still turns the same way. Flipping the fan is not the answer.

 

[WaxMan]

Ol' George is right. Think about a piece of threaded rod. Twist it right to screw in... Turn it around it still turns the same way. Flipping the fan is not the answer.

I understand now what you guys are saying about the blade, you guys just saved me from buying the adaptor cuting it etc.
I guess I will look into removing the blade and install an electric fan blowing out.

About the threaded rod though, if you turn the nut to the right the nut turns on , if you flip it over and countinue turning it in the same direction it turns off.

If the fan was like a threaded rod it would work. But its not I see that now. Thats what thru me with the blade, the fins will be the wrong angle.

I'll post back if I get the electric fan working, any good ideas where to get the power for the fan from?

 

[jonsstihl]

don't own a cab but have you tried running with the system set for fresh air instead of recirculation the fresh air setting should make a slightly positive pressure in the cab and keep the dust out.

where is the intake for the ventilation system on the b3030 might be easier to relocate that.

 

[WaxMan]

don't own a cab but have you tried running with the system set for fresh air instead of recirculation the fresh air setting should make a slightly positive pressure in the cab and keep the dust out.

where is the intake for the ventilation system on the b3030 might be easier to relocate that.

Thanks for your reply jonsstihl

should make a slightly positive pressure in the cab and keep the dust out

.
That is the theory but does not work well. I think the engine fan is too much to compete with the cab a/c fan for that theory to work well. The cab has too many other holes in it and the air takes the path of the least resistance.
I have pretty much tried everything at this point but the fan.
The intake is up on the roof in the rear the best place it can be up high with a good size filter. Others will say they don't have this problem with the B3030cab but they either are not sensitive to the engine fumes or they don't do a lot of grading in dirt back and forth over and over. That is where most of the dust comes from.

 

[8x56mn]

Your problem is really negative pressure in your cab. Fooling with the fan will do nothing. You have to introduce outside air into your cab to keep dust from entering. Keep the cap slightly positive will keep dust from entering.

 

[WaxMan]

Your problem is really negative pressure in your cab. Fooling with the fan will do nothing. You have to introduce outside air into your cab to keep dust from entering. Keep the cap slightly positive will keep dust from entering.

How do you do that?
If you stop the engine air from blowing into the cab you will have positive pressure from the a/c in the cab. Right now there just isn't enough of it.(I think anyway)
Any ideas on how to increase the blower 2 fold in the cab just to keep it positive.

The engine 12 inch fan blade vs 6 inch squirrel cage in the roof.
I am open to any and all suggestions.
but I think stopping engine air from coming in is worth a try. If the engine fan is sucking the air from the holes etc. in the firewall wouldn't that help the a/c /heater blower in keeping it positive inside the cab?

 

[WaxMan]

Here is a picture of the a/c fan from last year when I had it all apart to try and solve the problem. as you can see not much compared to the power of the engine fan.
Any ideas to help solve this problem would be greatly appreciated.

 

[smfcpacfp]

don't own a cab but have you tried running with the system set for fresh air instead of recirculation the fresh air setting should make a slightly positive pressure in the cab and keep the dust out.

where is the intake for the ventilation system on the b3030 might be easier to relocate that.

I was going to make the same suggestion and it works for me. The other simple solution that you might try first is to adjust the door and window latches to get a better seal. In any event, I have worked in really dusty conditions for a while this summer and got no dust inside.

 

[WaxMan]

I was going to make the same suggestion and it works for me. The other simple solution that you might try first is to adjust the door and window latches to get a better seal. In any event, I have worked in really dusty conditions for a while this summer and got no dust inside.

Thanks
I checked those windows before, no leaks, its not only the dust its the engine fumes also, it also doesn't happen right away it takes time I would be very surprised if your tractor is any different then mine it's just how we use them that is different. If you had to do a big job it will get pretty dusty.

I think DELInstallations, and DanD78 are right something like this may be the way to go. Can't hurt to try. I'll order another shroud and get this fan, mount it up then I'll just swap the shrouds and remove the factory blade the same time. it will fit right inside the fan shroud, It pulls or pushes.

PROCOMP 12" INCH ELECTRIC COOLING RADIATOR FAN CURVED:eBay Motors (item 290357115373 end time Nov-05-09 12:08:35 PST)

 

[leonz]

I have plan that may work well for you in the pursuit of a pressurised cab solution for your B3030.

First
It would would require you to buy a high output Kubota alternator

Second.

Purchasing of a large donaldson two cartridge diesel engine air filter assembly with mounting brackets.
Third.
Purchasing a 12 volt squirrel cage fan to blow outside air into the air filter and then into the cabin at some desired entry-perhaps the roof with some flexible rubber hose from the clean air side of the air filter unit.

It would be possible to mount everything on the roof but I do not know what your vehicle clearances are for the tractor to enter covered storage etc.
the finding s suitable place to mount the air filter could allow placing it upon the right fender and using flexible hose to follow the corner of the tractor cabin to the roof line.

Operating in winter woukld require some planing as far as installing a restrictor in the out let to not let too much cold air in to keep the cabin pressurised.

leonZ

 

[DELInstallations]

I thought the exhaust was coming in my cab too, the first thing I did was make a stack to get the exhaust up and away it worked for the exhaust. But I found out that it was not only the exhaust coming into the cab it is the air running across the hot dirty smelly motor coming into the cab. After plowing snow for an hour with the heat on it's sickening ,for me anyway. The stack is nice you never smell diesel around the tractor at all.
It's either dust , dirt and the smell from the motor in the summer, and in the winter the smell across the motor. One way or another I'm either going to stop it or sell the tractor.

I'll be more than willing to swap my 2620 TLB for ya, problem solved!