Overheating problem

[TSMART]

Same thing happened to me on my 224. But the crap was really packed in the rad like paper mache. I read here not to power wash it, but blowing with air was ineffective, you cant get a blower nozzle where you need it to do the trick. The rad "guard" the 224 came with doesn't do much to catch any chaff at all.

So, I just soaked the whole thing with a hose and let it sit. The crap softened up enough so I could just hit the front of the rad with the garden hose, then checked with a flashlight. That got all the stuff out and from then on no overheating.

I also use the blue filter stuff, it really works well. Havent had a mess in the rad since.

 

[Rich Waugh]

I guess maybe I'll look into the blue filter stuff. May be a bit harder to find in a place where absolutely no one, but no one, has a furnace. They might use it in air conditioning systems and there may be a few people with AC systems around the island - I'll the local HVAC places and see if they carry it. I know Kmart doesn't.

If it saves on time cleaning the radiator fins then it's definitely worth it.

Rich

 

[greg_g]

Buy some online. The one I buy from WalMart is a NaturalAire Merv-4 like this one: 20x30x1 Naturalaire Smilie Latex Natural Fiber Washable Filter

//greg//

 

[Rich Waugh]

Thanks for the link, Greg. If I can't find something locally I'll look into that.

 

[RonMar]

I use 2 layers of metal/aluminum window screen wrapped around the original slip in guard plate that fits into the grooves in the front of the radiator. Windo screen ought to be readilly available where you are at... The 2 layers are enough to catch most all the airborne debris that would clog the radiator passages. It is still thin enough to allow the plate to slip down in the grooves. It also dosn't require anything special to clean. Just take it out and drop it on the ground and most all the debris falls clear. A little swing backwards thru the air(reversed airflow thru the screen) blows most all the remaining debris out of the screen, then it is back into the slot and back to work. When brushmowing, I have to clean mine about every 2 hours or so, unless it is wet with less flying debris. I am pretty habitual about scanning the gauges, and as soon as it starts to creep over 80C, I bring it back to idle and go pull the screen filter. Cottonwood seed is the worst, it covers that screen like a polar fleece coat The screen also dosn't wear out. I have been using the same piece for several years now, since July of 05.

I made a blowgun nozzle out of a piece of aluminum arrow shafting. The nock end of this shafting is swaged to a rounded point to allow the plastic nock to be glued on. I remove the plastic nock with a bic lighter and pliars, then drill a 1/8" diameter hole in the side of the shaft right where the taper begins. This pipe I attach to a regular airhose blowgun valve. The arrow shaft I chose could be press fit over an existing 3" straight blowpipe. On my radiator, the fan shroud is fitted so there are 2 small openings just large enough for the long pipe to fit, at the top rear corners of the radiator. If yours does not have these, you could add openings quite easilly. With the drilled hole, the air exits at a 90 degree angle to the pipe. Between the 2 holes at the top rear of the radiator, I can reach 99% of the rear face of the radiator to blow dust and debris out thru the front. The rounded point on the arrow shaft keeps it from hanging up on anything or bending fins. Mine works great, and I do this type cleaning every now and then to remove the fine dust that will pass thru the screen.

 

[Rich Waugh]

That's a good idea, Ron. I already modified the track that holds the chaff screen on my tractor since it was impossible to pull the screen past the air duct from the air cleaner. It now is retained with a small neodymium magnet and can be pulled instantly. I'm gong to try the window screen wrap as a first effort, since i already have a roll of nylon screen on hand. I think that may be all I need with the type of chaff I get mowing our local guinea grass. If not, I can always find some filter material. Thanks!

Rich

 

[succor]

Wow, I just posted an overheat problem with my foton 254 not too long ago and there is alot of cheap good ideas here. I like the furnace filter and even window screen idea to save the rad getting dirty. I think I even have window screen in the garage to try once I clean out the rad. I do alot of mowing so this is more than likely the problem, thanks everyone!!