A Beautiful Day to Rotary Cut

[jbrumberg]

SkunkWerX:

Those respirator masks cost all of $0.45 each at the local hardware store. Cheap insurance and they do keep the pollen and dust out of my system ! I agree with the air before water approach. I am going to use my brush and shopvac first, then the compressed air, before the water. I am also going to check the air filter(s). Thanks for the good thoughts - Jay

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Jay,
Well you did say your lower 7 acres so I doubt anyone saw you with the respirator on !

BTW it sure looks like it hasnt been mowed for quite sometime, see what being sick does to your fields !

Glad your feelin better !

 

[RoyJackson]

Glad to see you're up and about, Jay!

You might want to consider using a face mask when you brush cut. I have used those disposable paper masks (not too often and shame on me!!!!)

The other thing....I suggest you carry a small brush in your pocket. These come in handy to brush clean most the debris from your grill while you're in the field. I use one of those small brushes sold to sweep metal chips away from the work piece (in a machine shop). They do the job, especially if you cut the bristles down (makes 'em stiffer). I keep the brush in my breast pocket of my overalls.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I'm about to go cut a 2-3 acre lot for our church. I won't forget my 3M dust mask. I prefer the one's that cost about a $1.50-2.00 cuz they have an exhaust vent that makes a big difference...Kyle

 

[SkunkWerX]

Roy,

The brush is a great idea, that's another thing to toss in the on-board toolbox.

I stopped using those cheapie dust masks a long time ago while woodworking. They don't seal well against the face, well, my face.

This new style is supposed to be a cut above, without going to a true-respirator. Just in case anyone is interested. They fit better due to a neoprene/flexible face seal and they have an exhale-valve that allows your exhaled air to exit the mask, cutting down on heat and humidity problems, such as fogging glasses. i see more and more construction guys using these in the summer months.
North Particulate Respirator w/Exhalation Valve - Box of 10

PS: if you want to retain the "manly look" get a bandana with Skulls on it, and wrap it loosely over your white mask. Better to be mistaken for Jesse James than Nurse Mary.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Any other suggestions would be appreciated . Jay

Jay,

I have to deal with the clogged radiator/screen on one of the fields I hog a couple times a year. I was having to stop and clean the screen, hood vents and radiator several times which required raising the FEL, lifting hood, removing side panel, pull the screen out, etc.

I decided to strap a handheld leaf blower across the rear fenders and ROPs. Now when everything starts to get clogged I just stop raise the hood and blow the radiator and hood off in the field. It works great and is alot eaiser than removing the clog by hand. Fortunately this is the only field where I have this problem and I don't have to drive around with the leaf blower stapped to my tractor. Although the leaf blower is orange and matches the tractor .

David

 

[RobJ]

I use the water hose last. I find it sort of makes a mud and paste ouf of the junk. Usually just a brush or stick with, leaves on it, etc will get me in the field, then air when back at the garage. Water only if I'm doing a complete cleanup.

This stuff is so dry the air gets rid of all of it quickly.

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Jay,

I have to deal with the clogged radiator/screen on one of the fields I hog a couple times a year. I was having to stop and clean the screen, hood vents and radiator several times which required raising the FEL, lifting hood, removing side panel, pull the screen out, etc.

I decided to strap a handheld leaf blower across the rear fenders and ROPs. Now when everything starts to get clogged I just stop raise the hood and blow the radiator and hood off in the field. It works great and is alot eaiser than removing the clog by hand. Fortunately this is the only field where I have this problem and I don't have to drive around with the leaf blower stapped to my tractor. Although the leaf blower is orange and matches the tractor .

David

I keep a leaf blower on both trucks. When we're out mowing, every couple hours, we stop for a break and do a "walk-around" to check everything. While off the tractor, it's SOP to blow out as much dust and debris as possible. It's our practice to blow air through the cooling passages of the alternator too. You'd be amazed at how much dirt and dust comes out of that.

The only tractor I DON'T have to worry about a clogged radiator is my dear old Massey Ferguson 150. The holes in the grill are small enough that nothing will pass through it that won't pass through the radiator core. Just shut the tractor off for a few seconds and everything falls off the grill, then back at it again!

 

[sandman2234]

Jay, welcome back to tractorland!
I know the screen your talking about, and yes, it did make cleaning the radiator easy. I didn't have nearly as much stuff getting caught in it, after I built a front bumper with grille guard. The grill guard would keep alot of the stuff from ever reaching the radiator, as it would knock off the light stuff, and there was room for it to drop before it reached the grill. In your case, maybe adding a breaker bar in front of your grille bars, something to push the stuff over a little, so it will shake off some of the little stuff before it reaches the radiator.
My grille guard had 1/4" holes in the mesh, which slowed down a lot.
David from jax

 

[Ford850]

I agree with the comments about water only as a last resort. Unless I have time to really clean it 100%, i don't add water. The water mixes with all the dry dust on the weed materials and dries up like glue, making a much bigger mess to clean up later if it isn't ALL removed right then. I use the brush and blower method to keep it 98% clean, and then spend an hour or so once or twice a year doing the complete cleanup with water and compressed air.