Ventrac 4500 vs Steiner 440

[John Joseph McVeigh]

Yes, RD, I expect that I will have more clippings on the screen in August than I do now.

At least I know that my temperature gauge works. This is the first time that any of the segments has glowed.

Best,

JJM

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

To me diesel is just easier to store and dispense as compared to gasoline. [....]
Bruce

I agree. That is one of the main reasons that I chose the 4500Y over the 4500Z.

 

[prs]

Its not just a Ventrac thing, my JD650 gets its screen clogged too. Grass clips are not so much the problem as are bits of chaff from dried leaf fragments. I have had to stop and idle three times due to heat warning due to last fall's leaves on the edges of fields. But the old leaves will soon be humus for the worms. Small bugs and chaff can mix to really foul a radiator. Spraying the radiator with common 2% hydrogen peroxide, letting that soak for 15 minutes and then rinsing with gentle hose water works to get that crud out.

prs

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

[....] Small bugs and chaff can mix to really foul a radiator. Spraying the radiator with common 2% hydrogen peroxide, letting that soak for 15 minutes and then rinsing with gentle hose water works to get that crud out.

prs

Thank you for that tip, prs.

JJM

 

[Raw Dodge]

I use a pressure washer turned down low with a 40 degree tip just go directly straight on at the small exchanger blades, depending on the type of radiator some are easy to clean, others have a very tight spacing and thick core and can take a while and multiple times from both sides..I use simple green usually, but not always.

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

[....] I use simple green usually, but not always.

Simple Green is a very versatile detergent. I use it for a lot of cleaning jobs, with varying degrees of concentration. It is much less caustic than purple detergents.

 

[prs]

Simple Green may not be compatible with aluminum radiators. Not sure of that, but check it out. At least do a very thorough job of rinsing it away. Mild acidic cleaners like the vinegar formulae of Windex may work well, or just detergent water, or the 2% peroxide soak.

prs

 

[murphy1244]

Simple Green may not be compatible with aluminum radiators. Not sure of that, but check it out. At least do a very thorough job of rinsing it away. Mild acidic cleaners like the vinegar formulae of Windex may work well, or just detergent water, or the 2% peroxide soak.

prs

Simple green is safe on aluminum. I also use it for HVAC use. Cleaning condensers.

 

[johara1]

My first grip with the Steiner 440, not with the tractor but the mower deck and the stupid roller. VT. mowers have outer rounded wheel at the outside ends of the roller that keeps it from digging in at the bottom of a slope. The bracket that holds the roller on is at the outboard edges with bolts also protruding that rip up any thing you get close to. Should of had him do a demo. It wouldn't be here……… jim

 

[Raw Dodge]

That's how they are..i like the ventrac setup better too..after 23 yrs on 3 different steiner decks ,I got a ventrac deck and wished I'd swapped them all out.I feel the steiner 60" MD460 has a slightly better cut quality than anything ventrac makes, it's not a big enough difference to make up for the rest of the things that make the ventrac deck better, and it's lighter..the steiner 60 and 72s are too heavy, with too small and thin front castor wheels, this combined with the rear roller setup and it digs in when mowing soft ground, even with weight transfer, where the ventrac glides over without sinking or tearing. The steiner decks i preffer in tall thick grass they have a very tall discharge chute, and with the deflector up or off, it throws grass 2-3 passes easily and disperses great and evenly, again not enough to make me want to live with them over the ventracs superior overall decks.