Mowing Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator

   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #1  

JakeBrake

Silver Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2006
Messages
231
Location
Central Mississippi
Tractor
Kubota L3830
I'm working on my final bush hogging of the year after frost has killed the weeds. This year the rag weed (?) chaff is awful. The weeds are 4' to 6' tall with the chaff heads at the top by the air intake.

My Kubota L3830 has a digital temperature gauge. Normal operating temperature is four bars. When the radiator is clean the tractor will operate all day at PTO speed in 95 degree F heat without a problem.

After hours of operation the radiator screen will clog and I will have five bars. So, I clean off the radiator screen and brush off the radiator. The temperature gauge will go down to four bars for a while, but then it goes up to five bars again.

The effect is cumulative. Despite the radiator screen the radiator will become clogged. So my "normal" temperature will be five bars with six bars coming up eventually. I don't let it go any further than that. When I'm through with this year's bush hogging, I will tow the tractor 40 miles to my house and thoroughly wash it down with normal water pressure when the tractor is stone cold.

My question is. How would a gas powered leaf blower work to blow the chaff out of the rear of the radiator in the field? Has anyone tried that? I would get a gas leaf blower small enough to carry on my tractor. The blower would also be handy to blow the chaff off the bush hog and tractor. Chaff will be 6" deep on the bush hog.

Does anyone have a better suggestion?

Thanks.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #2  
If this is your property cut it earlier next year when the weeds are lower. Otherwise you may need to make your own pre-screen to clip in front of the radiator though you might have to brush it off a few times a hour. A clogged radiator can cause many problems and could be costly so the trouble of brushing off a pre-screen might not be so bad after all.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #3  
I use an inexpensive "pancake" air compressor to blow air through the radiator, from inside to outside, after 'hogging. I also use compressed air, not water, to "wash" the tractor.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #5  
The air compressor won't help much if you were in a field though. I think a gasoline leaf blower would work well. A tank of fuel would probably last all day.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #6  
For on the job site blower good idea,you may want to blower out air filter also cover air filter intake.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #7  
The air compressor won't help much if you were in a field though. I think a gasoline leaf blower would work well. A tank of fuel would probably last all day.

I keep a small brush in the tractor's storage compartment.
To make the brush most efficient, buy a 2 or 3 inch paint brush and cut the bristles down to about an inch. Then the bristles are stiff enough to do a good job removing the chaff from the grill and radiator.
As others wrote...compressed air works great, but as you wrote...no source of compressed air in the field.

I'm sure most of you know to not shut the engine down when it gets hot...this may be in your operator's manual (it is in Deere manuals). And if the engine stalls, restart it immediately. A hot engine shut down is basically a heat sink for that hot coolant...not good.
Another thing, if you have a cab tractor with air conditioning, turn the AC off...better you sweat then a busted tractor.
AND, another thing...with an open station tractor (or a cab tractor with the doors off or windows open), you're breathining in the same stuff that's clogging the grills. Might want to consider a mask of some sort.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention that I don't have a convenient source of A/C power. The A/C compressors I've seen use A/C power. So I'm back to towing the tractor 40 miles to my house. I have a generator that I haul on my truck, but that's not too convenient either.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #9  
Roy your posts always are full of info. Im going to have to try that sawed off paint brush trick.
 
   / Removing Chaff From Tractor Radiator #10  
Measure the size of the screen. Go to your local air conditioning supply house, cause they're a lot cheaper than the Lowes and HD, buy the standard filter the size you need, 1" thick. Install in front if screen and when it's dirty throw it away, clean the screen and radiator and put another filter in. Works well for me.
 

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