Radiator care

[Tinhack]

The radiator genie product that I posted allows you to spray out the radiator from the backside in tight areas like most tractor engine compartments.

I have a long air nozzle similar to your example. That's really not enough. Dew can form on the radiator overnight and if you hit the field(s), the dew collects dust and dries hard while running. I always blew mine out after cutting but that doesn't remove the caked-on dirt. And that typically doesn't get into the corners where the fan shroud covers.

 

[Smokeydog]

Tractor and automobiles are 2 different things. Me, I stick with the 2 year flush and refill. Coolant is cheap anyway.

Your practice and tractors with many hours speaks well for Kubota’s recommendation. I do better with all the fuel, air, oil maintenance recommendations. Coolant changes in all my vehicles have been extended past the manufacturer’s recommendation with no ill effect. 5X past is probably too much. My BIL has a 40+ year old little Kubota with original coolant!

Jay Leno was asked what maintenance was most important for his vast collection? Switching from water ethylene glycol coolant to waterless type coolant like Evans. Pricey but cost effective in the long run. Many parts for his cars are no longer made justify the conversion. Another benefit is the cooling system doesn’t have to be pressurized like with water based coolant so potential for leaks is less. No water no corrosion.

 

[jyoutz]

I have a long air nozzle similar to your example. That's really not enough. Dew can form on the radiator overnight and if you hit the field(s), the dew collects dust and dries hard while running. I always blew mine out after cutting but that doesn't remove the caked-on dirt. And that typically doesn't get into the corners where the fan shroud covers.

The set I showed has both an air nozzle and water hose attachment.

 

[2manyrocks]

Does it make a difference in radiator debris whether you cut with the bucket up or down? I tend to think that the bucket knocks stuff off the vegetation that is then free to float to the radiator, but wonder what others think about it.

 

[5030]

I take my bucket off entirely. Been my experience that the bucket pushes over the vegitation and when it spring back, the loose stuff gets sucked into the radiator, which is why I carry a cordless blower in the cab with me and blow the rad and air to air cooler out often.

 

[rScotty]

I take my bucket off entirely. Been my experience that the bucket pushes over the vegitation and when it spring back, the loose stuff gets sucked into the radiator, which is why I carry a cordless blower in the cab with me and blow the rad and air to air cooler out often.

So do I. As a bonus, reducing the loose stuff and better visibility will give 2manyrocks and any others a good excuse to put a QA on the FEL bucket. If they don't already have it.

 

[5030]

So do I. As a bonus, reducing the loose stuff and better visibility will give 2manyrocks and any others a good excuse to put a QA on the FEL bucket. If they don't already have it.

SOP for me. Always has been.

 

[5030]

Dew can form on the radiator overnight and if you hit the field(s), the dew collects dust and dries hard while running.

I'd have to disagree with that actually. In the summer months (at least with me), my thermostat is open and the radiator is hot, long before I ever get in the field plus I always warm up the tractors before moving them anyway. I check the fluid levels, kick the tires and then fire them up and allow the fluids to circulate prior to moving them.... and kick on the AC as well. I like a cool cab versus a hot one.

 

[jyoutz]

I take my bucket off entirely. Been my experience that the bucket pushes over the vegitation and when it spring back, the loose stuff gets sucked into the radiator, which is why I carry a cordless blower in the cab with me and blow the rad and air to air cooler out often.

I think that’s a good idea, but I tend to leave my bucket on because I’m always finding limbs and things that I want to pickup and take to the burn pile.

 

[5030]

Non issue with me as I either own or lease the fields and I always walk the perimeter prior to cutting, especially where their are property owners next to them. Seems as though adjacent property owners have no respect for land they don't own. I always get their trash on the borders which I throw back on their property.

Think I mentioned it before but one of the leased fields, the adjacent property owner actually dug a hole for a BBQ pit in the field and the property owner (not me) took the clown to court and he had to remediate the issue at his own expense plus reseed it. People today are either stupid or ignorant or both.