The design of the condenser and radiator leaves something be desired. It's designed much more like a car than a tractor from the old days, Smaller, more fins per inch and not very well shielded from debris at all. I mowed 400 acres late last summer of old dried out crp grass and tall weeds with a big 14 foot shredder. I was doing great power wise but after about the first hour I had to drive it back to the house to investigate an overheating problem. The condenser was completely choked up with lint and pollen. It slides off to the left easily so it can be blown out so I did that and went back to work. About 30 minutes later same thing. I came back and blew it out again. I went through this routine 3 or 4 more times and came back and discovered the radiator was just plugged solid with pollen and dust. Looking at that thing it seems to me it would be more at home on a car than a tractor. It's pretty thick to begin with with a very high fin count compared to my old super c or super M which NEVER even think about overheating. Just the perfect place to trap trash. I had to remove the battery, ac condenser and top bracket to flush it out with a water hose adequately. What a pain! Throughout that 400 acre job this was an every 3 hour event. I also blew out the outer air filter, cabin filter at that time and took a portable air tank with me to blow the condenser every 30 minutes. Now my air intake has a 2.5 inch snorkle on it going up to cab top height and that helps a lot with the air filter! I'm looking for a precleaner to fit it today. The radiator never was a problem till I went mowing in a high dust environment but I thought I would mention this in case any of you live in an area like me. Overheating is usually something stupid and I'd hate to see someone else call the dealer over this.
Something else I have learned, This machine just absolutely loves biodiesel!!!!! We contracted for B100 made locally about 6 months ago now as diesel prices started too soar again. It's pure virgin soybean oil made stuff. At first I was nervous about running it after all my earlier fuel problems so we went 50-50 for the first tank. I've been running straight since. In both my tractor and our 94 F350 powerstroke and 93 f250 IDI truck. The only problem I have had was a dripping o ring that only dripped when it was below freezing on the injection pump. (the pump that our dealer had rebuilt a few years ago when they were throwing parts at it) I replaced it myself and found out it was nicked pretty bad when they put it back on so..... It wasn't the fault of the biodiesel. So far I have not lost any mileage on anything, nor power. We've racked up almost 30,000 miles on my f350 with it too. The trucks and tractor do tend to smoke just slightly more but not enough that anyone else would notice it.
ANyway, I'm paying 3 bucks per gallon for high quality bio diesel and pump prices are at 4.09 as I type this. So if anyone else is looking to save money........And help your engine with fuel that actually lubricates still.
Something else I have learned, This machine just absolutely loves biodiesel!!!!! We contracted for B100 made locally about 6 months ago now as diesel prices started too soar again. It's pure virgin soybean oil made stuff. At first I was nervous about running it after all my earlier fuel problems so we went 50-50 for the first tank. I've been running straight since. In both my tractor and our 94 F350 powerstroke and 93 f250 IDI truck. The only problem I have had was a dripping o ring that only dripped when it was below freezing on the injection pump. (the pump that our dealer had rebuilt a few years ago when they were throwing parts at it) I replaced it myself and found out it was nicked pretty bad when they put it back on so..... It wasn't the fault of the biodiesel. So far I have not lost any mileage on anything, nor power. We've racked up almost 30,000 miles on my f350 with it too. The trucks and tractor do tend to smoke just slightly more but not enough that anyone else would notice it.
ANyway, I'm paying 3 bucks per gallon for high quality bio diesel and pump prices are at 4.09 as I type this. So if anyone else is looking to save money........And help your engine with fuel that actually lubricates still.
