Cleaning 4x20 radiators

[cdaledave89]

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

 

[beenthere]

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

 

[YesDeere]

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

 

[JD755]

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.

 

[AKfish]

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

 

[Glen Watkins]

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.

 

[RADIUM]

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

 

[jd110]

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.

 

[TC33DA]

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?

 

[cdaledave89]

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.

 

[9973720wb19]

I have a 2011 4720cab and I carefully used a powerwasher...worked great and did not cause any damage. I have a question...my manual talks about removing the "screen" in front of the radiator but I don't have one...do you? I had one on my 3720cab but this tractor does not.

 

[YesDeere]

My fathers is a 2010 4720. No screen at all. My 4310 has one. ????

 

[9973720wb19]

My fathers is a 2010 4720. No screen at all. My 4310 has one. ????

Interesting! And helpful. I'm getting ready to do the frist service and it shows removing a screen in the OM, and shows a part on-line. I tell ya, I've come to learn that you can not rely on the OM with Deere! Is the 4310 a cab? Maybe the new model 4's with cab don't have screens. I had a 2008 3720 and it had a screen??

 

[YesDeere]

No it's an open station. I mentioned it because it's an 04. Shouldn't things get better?? I started a thread on it but I am responding from phone. Don't know how to link it. Search 4720 what no screen.

 

[9973720wb19]

No it's an open station. I mentioned it because it's an 04. Shouldn't things get better?? I started a thread on it but I am responding from phone. Don't know how to link it. Search 4720 what no screen.

cool will do!

 

[eepete]

After each mowing (about 2 hours for what I do) I blow of the tractor with a leaf blower. The next day, when things are cool, I open the hood and blow out the radiators with an air gun attachment, pressure set at 60 PSI. I have a small piece of 3/8" pex pipe (like you see on toilets) I used to get between the radiators. No 90 degree, it just blows air by them. By working the radiators from both sides (hence the need for a cool engine) everything stays clean.

On the cab, clean the filter after each use. Then I take a small brass bristle brush and I have to comb the "smutz" off of the evaporator coil where it is exposed. I'm thinking of finding a "water pik" (do they still make them?) to clean that area out better.

No screen on '09 4520 cab unit.

Sure seems like this cleaning has to happen on each mow otherwise things could build up and you'd have a real mess on your hands. For 2 hours of mowing, you have about 12 to 15 minutes of maintainace to do. Worth it for me .

I also extended the condensate drains so that it was easier to blow of the rear of the tractor (no water everywhere to hold the dirt and grass debris). 3/8" line, simple barbed brass splice device. When I tried it to see if it would fit, it would not come apart. I have since changed out the nylon tie-wrap (UV eats them up) with a black one (UV east them up less).

Pete