Reverse airflow fan

[kuboman]

I have a B1550 and was thinking of changing the reverse airflow fan to a regular fan. Has anyone done this and what might be involved?

 

[radioman]

This was posted before- The fan will blow same way even if flipped. only way to reverse flow is to have engine turn other way .

 

[kuboman]

Should be able to buy a fan for another engine that has the proper pitch. I am just asking if anyone has done this and what fan they used.

 

[niemeyjt]

I am not sure it is just the fan to change. The fine screens would be on wrong side of radiator as well and the air coming through the front would be 'dirtier' (more bits of dust etc) as the holes are larger in front plate than side plates leading to radiator becomming blocked more quickly and overheating.

Besides, the idea is that cool air is pulled over engine first to aid cooling - I think Cat do something similar too.

J

 

[kuboman]

Yes the screens would have to be moved to the front of the rad. I think the reason for the idea was to make it cleaner and cooler for the operator. As far as cooling efficiency it is less efficient.

 

[niemeyjt]

Not sure how much airflow would affect operator either way - looking at where the air was being drawn in on my B1750, it seems to be through the sides rather than back.

Is yours a hydro? There is also a fine screen on the cooler to consider - though not directly blown through by the radiator fan.

Finally, the air for the engine is drawn into air filter through engine bay as well - I am not sure what effects of your idea would have on that?

I guess you will advise us how you get on. Good Luck,

J

 

[KennyV]

I think the reason for the idea was to make it cleaner and cooler for the operator. As far as cooling efficiency it is less efficient.

That is right ...
If you have operated open station heavy equipment in the summer, you will know there is a big difference to the operator. Pusher fan will help keep a lot of heat away from you.
It also carries much of the heat away from the bulkhead separating you from the engine compartment.
As to engine cooling, a pusher fan will be pushing hotter air over the radiator, so it is much less efficient at cooling the engine. That is not an issue if the cooling system was designed overcapacity.

It will normally keep the engine and radiator cleaner if you draw air from the front.
What are you trying to accomplish with the change you are contemplating? KennyV

 

[kuboman]

KennyV.....I am mostly just tossing the idea around. I do run a roto-tiller with it and it tends to work it hard hence the engine tends to run warm. As an experiment I removed the side panels and opened the hood and the engine ran allot cooler according to the temp gauge. So the idea was born to change the airflow from rear to front to front to rear. I just need to match the fan size with another tractor with the proper blade pitch.

 

[KennyV]

That will increase the cooling...
And on a small machine you will not notice a big change in operator platform temp.KennyV

 

[RickB]

KennyV.....I am mostly just tossing the idea around. I do run a roto-tiller with it and it tends to work it hard hence the engine tends to run warm. As an experiment I removed the side panels and opened the hood and the engine ran allot cooler according to the temp gauge. So the idea was born to change the airflow from rear to front to front to rear. I just need to match the fan size with another tractor with the proper blade pitch.

How warm is warm? Running a diesel well up in the operating range is optimum. Cooler is never better, unless your tractor is overheating to start with.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I cannot comment on your specific tractor, but i have been designing diesel driven oil and gas compressors for 15 years. We use pusher fans on almost everything. They are less effecient when used with coolers, put it keeps the machinery (engines, compressors, valves, instrument panels, fuel tanks, fuel systems, etc) at a much lower temperature in high ambient conditions. Multi-Wing fan company out of Burton Ohio will make you a custom fan. These fans are of plastic multi piece construction. Due to this modular manufacturing approach, they can make one custom piece fairly inexpensive (around $100). If I was really interested in this, I would take off your fan, show on fan rotation and direction of air flow, ship it to them, and tell them you want fan of similar or greater performance, same rotation, but opposite air flow. I am sure they can do this for you. Philip.

 

[EE_Bota]

I can't speak to about your tractor, but on my BX2200, I did testing of gage positon vs actual temperature. You might want to look at that work. It can run way up on the gage with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Yankee Clipper]

Check with Huber Fan in PA - they built some reverse flow fans for an application on M8200s in WA, I am told.

This is not cheap but can be done if you need / want it done.

Good luck!

 

[dodge man]

My dealer had a conversation with me similar to EE-Bota. They said the gauge on BX's just run high. They had done a lot of testing and they aren't over heating. Mine has never gotten in the red, but when mowing it climbs up there. Do you have reason to believe yours is over heating?

 

[fish6942]

I've thought about doing this to get some heat while snowblowing!!