debris on radiator on NH TC45DA

penfrydd · Nov 11, 2016

I'm not new to tractors. I have to say that I've never had any piece of equipment that accumulated more debris on the outside of the radiator fins as this one. Anyone else notice this? I don't see any easy solutions except perhaps a really coarse piece of burlap on the outside that can be easily shaken clean. It beats having to drive back to the shop to blow out the fins.

penfrydd · Nov 11, 2016

I just saw a good idea to reduce this issue that was given on another thread. A leaf blower for cleaning. I guess I've never mowed an abandoned field this late in the season before. It's usually June when I get hired to do that.

Good site for ideas.

Ford850 · Nov 11, 2016

Does the TC45 have a radiator screen? My DX55 does but I don't know if the size down came with them. I can't imagine not having that screen since it gets covered thick and is easy to clean.

bigtiller · Nov 11, 2016

get the snow brush from your truck and carry it with you to wipe the grill with, or an old 4" paint brush with the bristles shortened to about half their length to make them stiffer.

penfrydd · Nov 11, 2016

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I just carried a battery operated leaf blower around with me today. When I saw the temp gauge getting fairly high, I stopped and blew things as best I could. It seems like most of the material should get caught in the screen on the hood, but that's not the case. I'll have to convince the owners of the property to mow way earlier next year.

Thanks again.

TheMan419 · Nov 12, 2016

Ford850 said:
Does the TC45 have a radiator screen? My DX55 does but I don't know if the size down came with them. I can't imagine not having that screen since it gets covered thick and is easy to clean.

My Boomer 24 does. Very easy to remove and hose off. Could easily remove in the field and brush off if needed. Rare that much gets on the fins. When I bush hog in the late summer that thing gets COATED very thick.

STx · Nov 12, 2016

bigtiller said:
get the snow brush from your truck and carry it with you to wipe the grill with, or an old 4" paint brush with the bristles shortened to about half their length to make them stiffer.

What's a snow brush? For that matter, what is snow?

Ford850 · Nov 12, 2016

TheMan419 said:
My Boomer 24 does. Very easy to remove and hose off. Could easily remove in the field and brush off if needed. Rare that much gets on the fins. When I bush hog in the late summer that thing gets COATED very thick.

That's good to hear. I wonder if the OP is missing his. On my DX, the hood has a screen of sorts as part of it's structure. That alone catches a lot and needs occasional cleaning while cutting this time of year. Then the screen that sits up against the radiator gets a thick felt-like mat of dust and debris that I clean off hourly/daily. If I clean those as needed, the radiator fins stay much more clean and only need attention weekly/monthly. A leaf blower is my favorite tool to clean the tractor top to bottom, front to back. It really clears the radiator and engine area. Then a couple times a summer I blow out the radiator fins from behind, using compressed air and I'm always amazed at how much dust is blown out even when it looks clean. If it gets really bad, or I get caught in the rain with a dusty radiator, I soak it with water and blow it clean. But the water wash takes much longer to be sure I don't leave any residue that will dry in place.

TheMan419 · Nov 12, 2016

Ford850 said:
That's good to hear. I wonder if the OP is missing his. On my DX, the hood has a screen of sorts as part of it's structure. That alone catches a lot and needs occasional cleaning while cutting this time of year. Then the screen that sits up against the radiator gets a thick felt-like mat of dust and debris that I clean off hourly/daily. If I clean those as needed, the radiator fins stay much more clean and only need attention weekly/monthly. A leaf blower is my favorite tool to clean the tractor top to bottom, front to back. It really clears the radiator and engine area. Then a couple times a summer I blow out the radiator fins from behind, using compressed air and I'm always amazed at how much dust is blown out even when it looks clean. If it gets really bad, or I get caught in the rain with a dusty radiator, I soak it with water and blow it clean. But the water wash takes much longer to be sure I don't leave any residue that will dry in place.

Yep that sounds exactly like my setup. I would think if the smallest cheapest tractor in the NH line has one the OP should have one as well. Yes that felt like mat is amazing. I mowed about 10 acres this summer. I would open the hood when I was done for the day and man it was caked on. Just a quick rinse with the hose would get it off though.

SARG · Nov 12, 2016

I use the leaf blower routine on my machines when the chore is done. In the peak season I sometimes have to blow the radiator out mid-way .... when the temp starts to move up.