I have a 6530 with 120 hours on it. A recent development: the "air cleaner clogged" indicator on the main instrument panel lights up. When this first happened, (at 80 hours or so) it was persistent, so I replaced both the inner and outer air filters. This kept things quiet for awhile, but now the indicator lights up frequently again. When this happens, I pop the hood, remove the cartridge from the bracket, and tap it at the outlet end. The cartridge seems to accumulate a lot of dirt (I'm not operating in particularly dusty conditions), i.e., I can tap on the air cleaner after running the tractor for an hour or so and dust comes out of the outlet and also out of a small hole adjacent to the outlet. I've vacuumed out the cartridge carefully as well as cleaned the outer filter carefully with compressed air (followed directions in the manual). Does anyone else have this problem? I'm confident that the filter is correctly installed within the cartridge, having fiddled with it so many times now. It seems to me that this indicator is coming on too frequently, so...the cartridge not functioning correctly? Bad sensor? Something I'm missing? Any ideas and expertise much appreciated.
Air cleaner clogging
- Thread starter jeffreyi
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Pictures would be nice, where is the air cleaner mounted? A lot of air is drawn in from under the tractor because the engine is tightly cowled, anything kicked up ends up being drawn into the filter. Can you relocate or add a duct to the cleaner where the air is cleaner? You may be able to test this by running with the hood open an inch or two.
DavesTractor
Elite Member
You can clog an air filter in just an hour or two in real dusty conditions, or you can go almost forever in non-dusty conditions. The indicator is turned on by a vacuum switch. I'm not sure of the specs, but it could probably be tested easily enough. People that haven't spent too much time on a tractor before will often relate their experiences to their car, where after a year and 30K miles, sometimes the filter is barely dirty...unless you live on a dirt road. But a tractor is often run in a real dirty environment and you need to check the filter very often. If you do suck dirt into the intake system, it will ruin the engine in a matter of minutes. It is like throwing sandpaper down the intake and it quickly causes cylinder wall and piston problems.
Eagleview
Veteran Member
Do you run a flail mower ? They throw a lot of dust and clippings forward which gets sucked up by the filter .
I remember a dealer site that had a mod posted to move the air cleaner to a location outside the engine compartment, looked like a second exhaust stack, drawing in much cleaner air. Maybe someone can chime in if they remember where the site/mod is.
bindian
Super Member
Jeffreyi,
My 6520 has ears on the filter that align with the cartridge housing notches. If the ears are not in the notches, it can leak.
Also, remove the connector plug from the vacuum switch and spray it with electrical contact cleaner. One that will not harm plastic. LPS Electrical Contact Cleaner is what I use. Even if it is clean inside the connector, just removing and reinstalling the connector just might make the intermittant probelm go away.
hugs, Brandi
My 6520 has ears on the filter that align with the cartridge housing notches. If the ears are not in the notches, it can leak.
Also, remove the connector plug from the vacuum switch and spray it with electrical contact cleaner. One that will not harm plastic. LPS Electrical Contact Cleaner is what I use. Even if it is clean inside the connector, just removing and reinstalling the connector just might make the intermittant probelm go away.
hugs, Brandi
Brad_Blazer
Veteran Member
Might be a good application for a pre-cleaner.
Sy-Klone International:
Donaldson TopSpin Pre-Cleaner Air Filters - Wholesale
Sy-Klone International:
Donaldson TopSpin Pre-Cleaner Air Filters - Wholesale
ok, frustration. I completely cleaned the canister, inside and out, (carefully vacuumed + cleaned the (already pretty clean) outer air filter w/ air compressor, following instructions in the manual. Unplugged the sensor connections, plugged them back in. I'm in a grassy field, not dusty. Ran the tractor for all of 5 minutes, preparing to do a job, and goshdarnit light comes back on. Thanks for all the suggestions, but now I'm wondering if the sensor is not working properly. The canister lid is properly closed, yadda yadda yadda.
DavesTractor
Elite Member
On overly sensitive vacuum switch, no doubt. A filter has to get fairly dirty to turn on the light if all is working properly. I recently had a skidsteer that would turn on the light with a new filter if the engine was revved all the way up. Bad sensor. Have your dealer drop you one in the mail and you should be good to go.
bindian
Super Member
I agree with Dave. My next thought exactly. Just a nuisance light indication. Get a new vacuum switch before the gremlins get out of it.
hugs, Brandi
bindian
Super Member
Transit,
What would you compare the gauge reading to? I would hazard to guess some Mahindra engineer knows the vacuum setting the switch actuates, but good luck finding him. The only other way is put a guage on a another 6530 and use that reading as a baseline.
hugs, Brandi
skipmarcy
Veteran Member
I could easily be wrong but I would imagine it would take a manometer to read the vacuum in the air filter housing accurately - I doubt a regular vacuum gauge that reads inches of mercury would be precise enough. A manometer reads inches of water - much lower vacuum ranges. Ford produced variable venturi carburetors once upon a time that required a manometer to adjust certain aspects of the carb - was very, very sensitive and expensive !! That carb ended-up being a major abortion. Just my opinion but I think this type of sensor on a tractor is a little much - how many tractors out there that don't have a warning system do fine with just some proper inspection & maintenance of the air filter ?
Silly me, I'm too accustomed to using manuals with complete product information.
However, the suggestion is not without merit.
1 psi = 2.042 inches of water, or 1 inch of water = 0.4897inches, call it 0.49 inches.
If the manual gives the switches trip point so much the better.
I would expect a 1/4 in reading or less, 1 or more inches would indicate a problem.
However, the suggestion is not without merit.
1 psi = 2.042 inches of water, or 1 inch of water = 0.4897inches, call it 0.49 inches.
If the manual gives the switches trip point so much the better.
I would expect a 1/4 in reading or less, 1 or more inches would indicate a problem.
DavesTractor
Elite Member
I think every tractor should have one. You would not believe how many people operate a tractor in extremely dusty conditions and do not change the air filter until they have nearly killed the poor engine. I bet the switch is cheap. Not such an issue in humid or rainy areas I suppose.
bindian
Super Member
Going the other way, if it keeps being a nuisance, just wire a bypass around the switch, if out of warranty.
Funny thing. I keep the Big RED Beast up to date on routine mx,:thumbsup: but I let my zero turn mower beg for routine mx.
hugs, Brandi
