2 questions; operating temperature and oil leaks

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red"> One thing I've discovered is a right-angle nozzle for the air hose -- which, in the case of the PT, means I don't have to take the top plate off the engine to get in there and blow the chaff down. </font>

Unfortunately, every once in a while you have to take it off to look through carefully and get it completely clean. The right angle nozzle works well for most times, particularly if you're not doing heavy mowing.
I used an electric compressor a couple of times. It was better than nothing, but not much. What we need is a rack and a scuba bottle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MikeOConnor]

Dang! That's not a bad idea!

Hmm.....

 

[MossRoad]

Use the square tubing on your trailer hitch for an air reservoir.

I was thinking more on the lines of a belt driven compressor or one driven by a hydraulic motor. Is there enough room under the hood?

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> I am Sooo glad to hear you talk about backing into trees! I've done if a couple times in my limited time on my 1850. Wang! Followed by hangdog look around to make sure Marcie didn't see me. </font>

Ha! At least when I look around there's usually no one there... but I still look /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

<font color="red"> One thing I've discovered is a right-angle nozzle for the air hose -- which, in the case of the PT, means I don't have to take the top plate off the engine to get in there and blow the chaff down. </font>

Yesterday I discovered a little firehose style nozzle has a MUCH better, more forceful, pattern that the usual pull-trigger gardeners thingys I've been using. What a difference - that thing flushed an amazing amount of stuff out of a radiator I though was clean /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif



<font color="red"> One thing I've discovered is a right-angle nozzle for the air hose </font>

I don't have air handy by so maybe I'll make me a right angle mini firehose nozzle...

Next question - how do clean I chaff if I take a job 3 miles from home?
Sedgewood

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> Unfortunately, every once in a while you have to take it off to look through carefully and get it completely clean </font>

Yeah, and flush it both ways...

Sedgewood

 

[J_J]

A good backpack blower does an outstanding job of blowing everything on the PT. I use mine all the time, or a large air tank.

 

[RegL]

"Next question - how do clean I chaff if I take a job 3 miles from home? "


A real long hose or a bunch of pipe cleaners.

 

[MossRoad]

I was thinking of something like this:

compressor

mounted under the hood if there is room. It could be belt driven off the engine or driven by a hydraulic motor.

 

[Gravy]

I don't think it will fit - It'll take the better part of a cubic foot of space just for the pump.

OTOH, the guts from a portable 12vdc compressor unit and a small air tank might be a possibility.

Some motorcycle guys pull the compressor part out of the plastic case of a Coleman type inflator, add a few fittings, and have a tire inflator unit not much bigger than your fist.

Jack Robin mentioned that the 25 hp Robin engine has a 30 amp charging system, so it would be able to handle the load with no problem. I'd guess that the Duetz would be fine, too.

There's actually a commercial version of that, but I don't remember the name right now.

I can't think of what to use for an air tank, but there's got to be something readily available.

Now I'm wondering how to do it myself, and my 425 doesn't even have the chaff problem...

Gravy

 

[MossRoad]

I was thinking the larger units might have room for the compressor on board. I gave our PT425 a bath today and just used the leaf blower to clean out everything, then the air gun for the final blow out before washing it down. Our Kohler doesn't have any chaff problems. The PT425 does get lots of stuff jammed down the front tunnel, though. I think ours only has a 15AMP alternator, so 12V accessories are limited before battery drain becomes a problem.

As for air storage, roll bar tubes could hold a couple of gallons. Also, a small tank could be mounted on top of the engine compartment. A friend of mine had a 4x4 truck that he used the tube bumpers and the roll bar for air storage.