Modified air intake, air filter stays cleaner..

[Solinski]

Hi POC and all, I live in Shasta County Ca. which is a hot and dry dust bowl from late April to Nov.The dust is so bad that I use an air compressor to clean my tractor whenever I stop for a break. I change the engine oil at less than 50 hrs. I have a 2012 Mahindra Max 25 and I love the subcompact size.The small single element air filter and its air intake location is the only thing I disliked, :thumbdown:No hated about this tractor. I installed an aftermarket dual element air filter and a spinner type precleaner. I could not figure out a way not to cut sheet metal so I did (for me) the unthinkable. I cut a hole through the hood. The new dual element air filter fits very snugly under the hood ( with all new fabricated mounting hardware). I plumbed the air intake from the air filter to the precleaner with silicone rubber air intake fittings and aluminum air intake tubing. Routed through the cut out in hood. This was a :confused2:very frustrating project but the end results are definitely worth it for me. I can now use the tractor in dusty conditions without constant air filter cleaning and less worry about dust contamination with the dual element filter. There is also an added bonus: the radiator gets more cooling air flow since my air filter is not getting intake air from the front grill area. This project is ongoing and I have finishing touches to add. I will add photo's if I can figure out how to do it. If anyone is interested I will post a complete list of parts and suppliers( quite a challenge in itself). This project will be much easier if you have a compact size tractor instead of a subcompact tractor. Good luck! Solinski

 

[descanso1]

Hi POC and all, I live in Shasta County Ca. which is a hot and dry dust bowl from late April to Nov.The dust is so bad that I use an air compressor to clean my tractor whenever I stop for a break. I change the engine oil at less than 50 hrs. I have a 2012 Mahindra Max 25 and I love the subcompact size.The small single element air filter and its air intake location is the only thing I disliked, :thumbdown:No hated about this tractor. I installed an aftermarket dual element air filter and a spinner type precleaner. I could not figure out a way not to cut sheet metal so I did (for me) the unthinkable. I cut a hole through the hood. The new dual element air filter fits very snugly under the hood ( with all new fabricated mounting hardware). I plumbed the air intake from the air filter to the precleaner with silicone rubber air intake fittings and aluminum air intake tubing. Routed through the cut out in hood. This was a :confused2:very frustrating project but the end results are definitely worth it for me. I can now use the tractor in dusty conditions without constant air filter cleaning and less worry about dust contamination with the dual element filter. There is also an added bonus: the radiator gets more cooling air flow since my air filter is not getting intake air from the front grill area. This project is ongoing and I have finishing touches to add. I will add photo's if I can figure out how to do it. If anyone is interested I will post a complete list of parts and suppliers( quite a challenge in itself). This project will be much easier if you have a compact size tractor instead of a subcompact tractor. Good luck! Solinski

Just a note: Some people do not realize how much dust that can get caught in the radiator, between the fins, it is very important to blow it out or rinse it out, when engine is cool. When I bought my Kubota with only 200 hours the radiator was packe with dust that had turned to mud and caked in the fins. It took several hours to get it cleaned out with a hose and nozzle.

 

[Solinski]

Good point! Also after using a water hose to clean the radiator make sure your radiator is dry before you head back into dusty conditions or the dust combines with the water and really can plug your radiator!

 

[POC]

If you can relocate the intake it makes a big difference as to how often you have to clean the filter, check into relocating your filter box, I am not familiar with the Mahindras.. Send a pix of the box and engine compartment maybe I can come up with a couple suggestions. As they say YOU HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.....

Here's the view under my hood.


The intake hole is on the bottom of the right side, just below the yellow sticker.
I was thinking I'd just elbow from the bottom intake hole to the right side of the tractor, cut a little hole in the hood. The problem I see is finding a precleaner that is narrow enough to fit between the hood and FEL arm.

 

[Eric C]

Well done.

 

[Solinski]

Hi POC and Descanso,
I bought the smallest aftermarket dual element filter I could find to fit my Max 25 subcompact but I still had to sacrifice my oem hood prop mechanizm for enough space to mount the air filter in the original position next to the engine. Until I figure how to modify the hood prop I'm using a 30" long rubber capped pcv pipe that I keep in my tool box. My precleaner (13" above the hood)just barely clears the FEL arm. I have quite a few finishing touches to do on the new airfilter and precleaner mounts for a permanent installation(now a bit jerryrigged) but I am fully operational. Discing 8 acres of vegetation for fire prevention is my top priority at this time. Later on I will make the finishing touches. I hope to post photo's soon. Solinski

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Send it to factory to see and mod their models ! Great job !:dance1:

 

[descanso1]

With the exhaust mod w/harley muffler and air filter mod w/precleaner I did an all day job for a neighbor (laying cold asphalt driveway) I ran it steady for 10 hours and used exactly 5 gallons of diesel. 2 hours per gallon seems pretty good to me.... The tractor runs fine with the mods and does seem to have gained quite a bit in the horsepower department.
write up on muffler link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/305600-b7800-exhaust-stack-muffler-removed-2.html

 

[descanso1]

With the exhaust mod w/harley muffler and air filter mod w/precleaner I did an all day job for a neighbor (laying cold asphalt driveway) I ran it steady for 10 hours and used exactly 5 gallons of diesel. 2 hours per gallon seems pretty good to me.... The tractor runs fine with the mods and does seem to have gained quite a bit in the horsepower department.
write up on muffler link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/305600-b7800-exhaust-stack-muffler-removed-2.html

 

[descanso1]

Send it to factory to see and mod their models ! Great job !:dance1:

With all thew new smog on the new tractors the EPA would never allow these mods, even though it gets better fuel economy. To me it makes sense if you use less fuel you produce less smog???? Don't figure...