Cleaning 4x20 radiators

   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #1  

cdaledave89

Bronze Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2004
Messages
61
Location
Southwestern PA
Tractor
Kubota B7610, John Deere 4520
Anyone have a good solution to clean the (FOUR!) radiators on a 4x20 cab?

I've been brush hogging the last few days in chest-high grasses and all the seeds and bugs are really plugging up the radiators. Compressed air gets some out, but it's hard to get in between all four of the radiators to really get the stuff out. I'm getting worried that I'm not getting it all out and it's starting to build up and will get plugged up over time.

This is a really dumb set-up. I can't believe JD would do something like this.

I guess maybe I'll try to make a blowgun attachment with a 90 degree bend out of really small tubing and see if it fits in between all of the radiators. I'm not sure what else I could do.

-Dave
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #2  
Maybe the smart thing to do is put some cover screen (like window screen) over them to keep out the small seeds and dust. Enjoy the cab :)
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #3  
Yup. Not sure why they did that. My dad called on Thursday saying his ac wasn't blowing cold. Asked what he had been doing. Same thing, mowing fields off. Told him to clean the condenser and cab filter. He called later that evening saying that was it. And wondering if he should come up with a screen
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #4  
I have a tight clearance between the front of my radiator and the transmission oil cooler. There is a removable screen in front of the radiator that gets most of the chaff, but some can still get to the radiator. I use a Fuller Brush dryer vent cleaning tool available at Lowes. It will not harm the radiator fins and does a surprising job of pulling out the bad stuff. Just a thought in case it might work for you.
 

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   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #5  
I don't have 4 radiators... but the 110TLB does have a very large hydraulic cooler in front of the engine radiator - that is so close you couldn't get a big cockroach in there between them!!

Nonetheless, with all the dust and chaff I get mowing, working dirt, clearing trees - I added 2 screens to the JD radiator (removable) screen.

Window screen wire mesh topped off with a heavier, hardware cloth size screen. It does plug off with debris but I can normally blow off most of it with compressed air.

At the very least; it helps reduce/eliminate much of the material from collecting inside the radiator fins.

Granted, JD could have likely "built a better mouse trap" for the cooling system.... but that certainly should not preclude owner's from catching their own mouse!

AKfish
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #6  
i know they say not to but I blast it from the outside with a pressure washer! Didn't think there was four radiators there but I will take a closer look.
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #7  
You hit the nail on the head blowgun attachment with a 90ー piping is exactly howI clean mine new Holland has the same design all the radiators piled on top of each other with only one removable. The only advice I can give you use low air pressure setting the air conditioner radiator has a tendency for the air fins to bend with high air pressure found out the hard way ;-). one other thing be careful as you push through the radiators you would want to damage one of them take care
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #8  
I have found that the only way to clean them well is to remove the battery. Then unbolt the after-cooler and rmove the hose from the left side so you can move it out of the way. then if you unbolt the condensor and move it slightly forward, you can get in between all the coolers with a small angled long reach blow gun. It takes a little time, but the only effective way of cleaning that I have found.
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators #9  
I used a 30psi air hose and still had lots of stuff in them. What about washing them with a water hose? Maybe light pressure and wash back to front?
 
   / Cleaning 4x20 radiators
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Thanks for the ideas guys. Maybe I'm wrong about there being 4 coolers there. One of them might be in two sections that are sandwiched really, really close together, but there sure is no less than three: engine coolant, hydraulic fluid, and air conditioning. I thought there might be one for the engine oil too, but maybe not.
 

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