Brush Hoggin' with a RED BELLY FORD .. hay seeds in radiator ... HOT! Cure??

[tmajor]

I think if you keep your snorkel but cover the front with screen instead of being solid, you would get the best of both ideas. It will allow a lot more air directly through the screen until it gets covered with seeds, and the snorkel will give the extra air needed when partially covered.

Now, there is an idea, which I feel has MERIT!!

 

[jclaudii]

I believe my perkins does not have a thermostat in it as it takes a bit of hard work for her to get to temp, and then it takes a while there to get her hot...May be an idea during this hot part of the year to remove the thermostat and runt without it for a bit. I think it gives a bit more flow.

Another idea is you could build a "screen cage" that is similar to your snorkel idea but made entirely out of screen and perhaps some type of welded wire or hardware cloth for structure/strength. Also, you may need to get some mudflap or similar rubber material and make a few seals to seal it between the top of the hood and the top of the radiator. Something to make sure all your air is coming from the front and not the sides top or bottom.

 

[tmajor]

May be an idea during this hot part of the year to remove the thermostat and runt without it for a bit. I think it gives a bit more flow.

Well, the old timers pulled a converted horse drawn sickle bar mower, so they only had to make the starting swath in the "tall stuff". I've mowed with the brush hog and a 180 degree T-stat for 30 years or so. When I redid the tractor last fall, I installed the 165 degree T-stat. So, all in all it was better.

But I also, noticed the fan had no paint, the shield in front of the distributor had no paint, etc.. ... they had been getting "blasted".

I'm sure, if Henry had a brush hog behind his Ford, he would have been looking for a solution! I suppose, I could forget it, go back to a sickle bar mower or get a haybine. ... or play around for another day or two.

 

[jclaudii]

Window screen and carry a leaf blower I see mentioned alot.

 

[tmajor]

I cut off some of the top aluminum and replaced it with "corrugated/folded/louvered" window screen.
It seemed to work better, in as much, as it didn't get as hot. I didn't see many hay seeds, just a whole lot of little green, flying creatures.

A friend of mine told me about folding the screen, which I guess, would give it more surface area and maybe dump some of the trash though vibration.

I'm probably going to have to remove some more aluminum in front of the radiator. and increase the screen area.

I'd like to find some screen with a little more body to it. So that, I could put rolled ridges in it. One of the tractor grilles had something like that ... JD? Only, they were vertical. Hmmmm ....

 

[Ford850]

Grasshopper uses a vertical corrugated screen or grate in front of their mower radiators. It does collect debris in the grooves first, allowing air to pass on the ridges for longer work time between cleanings. Mine does not self clean though, but a leaf blower makes quick work of the cleaning duties.

 

[tmajor]

Well, after my last post and thinking about a corrugated screen having more area and something a bit heavier than window screen, I started searching for same. I came upon a used Ford 871 screen, ... so I took the "plunge"! I don't know, that they ever made one for the Jubilee, but I figure a little modification, should make the 871 screen work. Time will tell.

View attachment 472335

 

[Ed of all trades]

I've heard of making a screen with a louvered series of bends in the screen, so the seed would shake off.

@Ed of all trades How did you fasten your screen arrangement? ... namely, the rod frame.

Yep welded little tabs on it so it could be put under the existing screws. If I remember right. I have not seen that tractor in over 30 years. Ed

 

[tmajor]

Just a little history, as I interpret it: It seems that the Ford 801 Series was the first tractor Ford made with the integrated radiator grille screen. It did use the same radiator, as the NAA series, but a different, 2 piece grille, the upper part of which, is what the screen mounted to, or used the same mounting bolts, as the grille.

So, it took Henry 55 years to dream up the idea of the "integrated" radiator screen for tractors. There are some external, "add-on" screens available.

I'll be back, with the details of the installation (or non) of the 871 grille screen into a NAA.

 

[tmajor]

I took the aluminum off my wooden framework and replaced it with the window screen. It was a bit cooler today and I wanted to mow a bit, while waiting for my grille screen to get here. But, I also, want to save some to mow, so I can compare results.

The screen worked pretty good, to the point, that i can't imagine the "grille screen" working any better, unless the increased surface area, would improve performance. The radiator temp stayed in the green, even after mowing "a couple, two, tree acres". There was as many bugs on the screen, as seeds! I brought it in once and blew the screen off with compressed air.

The grille screen should look better! I could cut the wooden frame down, to fit behind the grille, as well.