My new Branson was missing inner Air filter, should I be worried?

[Bama67]

I bought a new Branson 5520H last year. When I did my 50 hour service I had only really been snow plowing so there was no dust or dirt at all, so the filter looked brand new still, so I didn't replace it.
Today at around 90 hours I checked my filter because I have been bush hogging this summer and its REALLY dusty. The filter was blocked off pretty well so I decided to get online and order another one. It's then that I found out I should have an inner blue colored filter. My tractor came only has the white "outer" filter.

Should I be worried about not having that inner filter there for all the dusty use for the last 30-40 hours?
Or should the outer one have gotten most of the dust particles? I don't know what the micron level is or anything.
It looked fairly clean in the air tube.
I want this tractor to last forever and I'm pretty upset that the engine could have been more protected and it didn't arrive new with this filter.

 

[nybirdman]

I would contact your dealer and make them aware;but pretty hard to prove that it wasn't shipped with both.

 

[ptsg]

I wouldn't be concerned at all. The outer filter is still perfectly capable of filter the air. Mine didn't have one either and during the 50 hour service that had to be done at the dealer, he did recommend that I would get the inner filter for it. He said Branson reps were there and weren't very happy that the tractors were being shipped with only the outer filter though. This was back in 2017.

Shortly after, I did get the inner filter. Here is the number for the outer filter: Donaldson P821575 and inner filter: Donaldson P822858. Check with yours if it's the same. I believe they use the same air boxes.

I work on very dusty environments and the inner filter is yet to get an dirt on it after 310+ hours it has been on the tractor. That only confirms the outer filter is doing its job.

 

[Bama67]

Awesome, that makes me feel better and good to know I wasn't the only one that didn't get an inner filter.

 

[oldnslo]

On my 2400H Branson parts book I have does not even show an inner filter. I did install both new inner and outer last fall. Tractor had around 700 hrs when I did this.

 

[ericm979]

I have not seen any dirt on the inner filter in 320 hours. You're probably fine.

You can take the filter can off and inspect the intake tube for dirt. If it got past the filter there will be some in the tubing.

 

[seville009]

I’ve got a MF1540. I change the outer air filter every year, but I have not had to change the inner air filter in years; it is still pristine clean.

Nothing to worry about with it not being in there.

Just put one in and forget about it……

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I am always surprised how clean my inner filter stays. I don't think I've ever been able to blow anything out of it when I clean them both with compressed air.

To be sure, I get tons of stuff out of my outer (white) filter, which is always expected when I'm brush hogging fields. It's super dusty work. But that inner filter is still clean as new after 250+ hours (it was replaced at the 50 hr). I still take the inner one out and blow it out. And I'm still glad it's there, but I've never had anything make it past the outer filter.

 

[MountainBuck]

I would think you are okay.

My Ventrac also has an inner blue filter and outer white filter. I replaced the white filter once at 100 hours and the blue filter was okay, but at 200 hours the inner filter was clogged.

So the inner filter does do what it needs to do - I wouldn't go without it anymore.

If I were in your shoes, I might do an extra oil change early.

 

[Cougsfan]

Unless you run your tractor in volcanic ash silt all the time, I wouldn't be concerned. I wouldn't even be overly concerned if you did run it in silt.

 

[5030]

The only reason to have an inner filter is in case the outer one fails and the inner one protects the intake against any dirt.

I run both on my Kubota's and the inner never gets dirty. If the outer one is dirty (mine are Donaldson filters as well), I'll blow out the outer with low pressure compressed air from the inside out. I replace mine (outer) every other year. Never replaced the inner as it never gets dirty.

One thing I do is. I'll wipe the inner surfaces of the air cleaner cannister out with a shop rag that has a bit of oil on it. That imparts a film of oil on the inside of the cannister and that will trap any dirt as well.

 

[FERLING]

I bought a new Branson 5520H last year. When I did my 50 hour service I had only really been snow plowing so there was no dust or dirt at all, so the filter looked brand new still, so I didn't replace it.
Today at around 90 hours I checked my filter because I have been bush hogging this summer and its REALLY dusty. The filter was blocked off pretty well so I decided to get online and order another one. It's then that I found out I should have an inner blue colored filter. My tractor came only has the white "outer" filter.

Should I be worried about not having that inner filter there for all the dusty use for the last 30-40 hours?
Or should the outer one have gotten most of the dust particles? I don't know what the micron level is or anything.
It looked fairly clean in the air tube.
I want this tractor to last forever and I'm pretty upset that the engine could have been more protected and it didn't arrive new with this filter.

Don't worry about it if tractor is running OK. Worry about the 'lasting forever' part because it ain't going to happen. Don't hunt a problem because if it's serious it will hunt you up!.

 

[LouNY]

The inner filter used to be called a safety filter. It's main function was to provide a backup filter if the main filter were to fail from moisture and loading. It used to be that gently blowing out the outer filter was recommended but not the inner.
I wipe the inner surfaces of the airbox with a greasy rag to get a film on to be used to verify that no dust or grit has gotten by the filters.

 

[MHarryE]

Like LouNY said, the inner element used to be called the Safety Element but terminology changed over the years for semantics. I have a Kubota RTV900 that does not have the inner element as standard but has the same housing and outer element as my GR2120 lawn tractor which I believe Kubota assumes lives in dirtier conditions. When I discovered this, I put a GR2120 inner element in my RTV900. So your tractor not having an inner element may not be an error by the manufacturer. It may be a cost savings where they are trying to scrape every penny out of the manufacturing cost - like Kubota did for my 2 smallest machines.

 

[DK35vince]

My Ventrac also has an inner blue filter and outer white filter. I replaced the white filter once at 100 hours and the blue filter was okay, but at 200 hours the inner filter was clogged.

If you inner filter is getting dirt there is a problem with your outer filter.
That should not happen

 

[MountainBuck]

If you inner filter is getting dirt there is a problem with your outer filter.
That should not happen

Agreed. However, I've been running in very dusty environment using the rake on the very long gravel driveway. I try to wait until after a rain, but sometimes I can't. I recently had "crusher run" delivered and they did such a poor job of "tailgate spread" that I had to rake it down just to get out of the drive.

Yes, I wore a face mask.

 

[5030]

I wipe the inner surfaces of the airbox with a greasy rag to get a film on to be used to verify that no dust or grit has gotten by the filters.

Been doing that for as long as my feeble memory can remember. Do that on my cars as well. On cars you just have to be careful that none of the grease or oil impacts the MAF sensor as it can be compromised by oil or grease.

 

[5030]

If you inner filter is getting dirt there is a problem with your outer filter.
That should not happen

I NEVER service my air filters based on hours. I base the service interval on what I'm doing and how much dust or chaff I stir up. Easy to inspect the air filter elements on my Kubota's anyway, 3 spring clips, take the lid off and have a look-see. i do have 'filter minders' on them but I've never had them pull into the red zone, don't let the elements get that dirty. Clean intakes equal a more efficient engine and that equals lees fuel used and with diesel worth it's weight in gold today, I want the most bang for my buck.

If you inner filter is dirty, your outer has failed or you didn't seat it correctly in the filter housing. Time to replace both and access where you failed to install the outer properly or if the outer has a hole in the element.