Seeds in the radiator fins

[JeremyL]

I've been bush hogging fields with lots of fescue gone to seed and my MX-5000 has "ingested" countless seeds in the front of the radiator. Consequently I am working at the very high end of the temperature working range and don't like that.

Why did so many seeds pass through the screen in front of the radiator? But my real question is: How do I clean seeds out of the front of the ratiator.

My Kubota and I thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Taiser]

I get lots of pine needles in my rad, I just take out the front screen and use compressed air to blow the rad clean, you'd be amazed at how much dust comes out too!

I guess you could use a hose and moderate water spray, just watch the fins, it don't take much to bend them!

 

[repete]

My 2550 is a pusher fan. It blows forward and the screen is located behind the radiator between the radiator and the engine.

Are some Kubota's pushers and some pullers?

 

[Bird]

I have used water, but preferred compressed air. I frequently blew my radiator out from the back side, but as was mentioned about the water, the air can also bend radiator fins, so you want to be careful to blow straight; i.e., horizontal through the radiator, whether you use compressed air or water.

And repete, I've only owned a B7100 and B2710, but both had fans pulling the cold air from the front through the radiator and back to the engine compartment.

 

[jbrumberg]

I have this problem everytime I rotary cut my lower field. I am afraid to damage my radiators' fins so I use a shopvac/rigid type vacuum and carefully vacuum away the debris. Then I use a regular garden hose and try to hose the remaining debris back through the radiator. Jay

 

[Eagleview]

I used to have this problem but have solved it by using a piece of fly wire over the front of the radiator . Seeds and grass clipings that can pass through the grill screen are now caught in the fly wire . It is now a simple matter to use a soft bristle brush when the engine is stopped to brush it clean .

 

[JeremyL]

Thanks, Iron Horse, but what is "fly wire?" Is it a fine mesh screen?

Cool pictures. I like the one "easy as pulling weeds."

 

[Eagleview]

Yes , it's just fly screen that you use on your windows . I have it covering the whole area under the bonnet starting at the front and going back over the whole radiator . By doing it that way instead of just a piece across the front of the radiator it allows more surface area to give more running time before the temp comes up .

Forgot to mention i have an 18volt rechargable leaf blower i carry on board i also use for the job . It's great at cleaning down the flail as well so i do'nt carry seeds with me to the next job .

 

[SLOBuds]

I had a similar investigation this weekend, posted in another thread. My L35 has a very effective fine screen in front of the water radiator. Unfortunately, there is also a hydraulic fluid radiator which is not protected. So I had that about 1/3rd clogged which might have contributed to an overheat.

I'm going to fiddle with the screening stuff you can buy at a home center and cut to shape. Not sure what it's called but it's black filtration material used for exhaust fans, window air conditioners, and such. Doesn't look like it restricts air flow much of any.

I plan to simply drape this over the front grill and periodically clean or throw away.

Your debris just moves in the various air flows under the hood. No way else to explain it. Even with my pretty good system on the L35, I'm developing a lot of stuff in the air when I brush hog and some of that lands in the radiator.

Same reason why I wear a painter's mask when I mow. After spending a few nights in misery due to not using one, I learned my lesson.

So anyway, good luck. Interesting that we had similar troubles this weekend.

 

[theboman]

This is my major knock on Kubota... My B7500 sucks so much debris, grass, leafs, dust.... Just when in that type o'stuff keep a 1" paint brush for fast removal.... When mowing I tend to pit stop at the air compressor and blow the stuff from the front of the tractor, screen on front of radiator, off the radiator and out from the engine compartment.....

It's the only think I know that works.