Radiator screen

[oliver28472]

Every now and then somebody asks about a screen for the radiator. I just had mine rebuilt on the 1450 FD. It was stopped up inside and out and the two side frames where it mounts to the tractor were loose at the bottom. Glad I did this when I didn't have to. This is my dedicated mowing tractor. Sometimes I mow the inside of the fence which causes a lot of weed seeds to get in the radiator. Bought a cut to fit furnace filter and cut it to fit. When the engine is running, the filter sucks right up against the rad.

 

[duwem]

I'm concerned about the restriction and potential for that stuff to melt if its touching the hot radiator....Not the route I would have gone, but keep us posted.

 

[oliver28472]

Boy, that would be a mess wouldn't it? The blue stuff only costed about 6 bucks. A 14x14 paper furnace filter will slide in there too. I put a gauge on last year and will be able to watch the temp and will be checking for sure.

 

[murphy1244]

I'm concerned about the restriction and potential for that stuff to melt if its touching the hot radiator....Not the route I would have gone, but keep us posted.

I agree, Too restrictive. Some of that filter material has oil on it also.:ashamed:

 

[oliver28472]

It's not oily to the touch. Now you guys have me thinking I need to drop in the other filter. And thinking about restriction, I would think the cfm being sucked in by the fan would be less than what a house system would pull.

 

[murphy1244]

If its blue it is oiled. Use some screen.

 

[alvanko]

I have an MT327D and I made a radiator screen out of small wood frame (like 1/2"X1/2") and wrapped a screen door screen around it and used a staple gun to secure it. I made it a snug fit so no brackets were needed. I've had it in for well over 8 years with no probles at all. Of course I blow out the radiator after each mow (lawn mowing).

 

[oliver28472]

Alvanko, I finally did that too. Got some 1/4" plywood cut down at the store and made one for each tractor. Left about 1" all the way around to staple the screen to. Very easy job.

 

[Johnp33]

You really have to watch any of the plastic screens, a lot of then do not alow a lot of air flow. Even on a class eight truck a test you want to do on all screens is to run the tractor with the fan engaged if it has a thermatic fan,run it at about 1400 RPM take a water hose and spray it threw the radiator and watch the spray pattern do it right threw the middle. Then install you screen and do it again.
KW use to sell a bug screen for their trucks with teeth on them and it did not allow hardly any air flow threw it, the plastic mesh had very few holes in it.
The test is an easy one.

 

[jonyyuma]

I certainly don't see how this filter can let enough air thru the radiator...The screen barely lets enough thru with-out any trash in it...