Filter question

edkinct · Jan 20, 2011

I have a ck20hst, and while plowing the snow last week, temp guage was getting high, I opened the hood and noticed I needed more anti freeze in the reserve, did that and than noticed the filter located in fron of the radiator was covered in thick gunk. I scraped some of this off, but its still pretty dirty.
My question is, what is this filter, can it be cleaned or does it need to be replaced?
Thanks
ED

VictorW · Jan 20, 2011

I haven't seen a CK20hst, but is the filter you're talking about a screen in a frame covering the front of the radiator? Most farm type tractors have these screens to keep any debris from going into and clogging the radiator. It's much easier to clean a screen than the radiator. If this screen is the filter you're talking about and it's plugged with gunk, then that's why it's overheating by stopping the airflow to the radiator. The screen will either be one section or as my CK30hst has, two halves. Pull the screen unit straight up and totally out from its location. Look to see how it is held in place so you can get it back in. Clean the screen with a brush, water, or some type of solvent if needed to get the gunk off. This should fix your overheating problem. I check mine at least twice a year or more depending on where the tractor is used. If you were cutting grassy fields, it might need cleaned more often.

edkinct · Jan 20, 2011

Thanks for that info, I did see that pull up screen, but thats not it. I believe its between the front of the radiator and the round air cleaner, I am just going from memory and that can be a challenge sometimes

I will take a better look tonight.

wallace · Jan 20, 2011

That is your hydraulic cooler.
If there is that kind of crud stuck to it you may just have a leak in it.
If it is plugged up with the crud it will also restrict the air flow to your radiator.

KiotiDave · Jan 20, 2011

Hi,
Is your tractor a Hydrostatic drive? You may be talking about the oil cooler in front of the radiator. That should not be wet or covered with silty oil. If it is you need to clean it up and check for oil leaks. Also it will cause your hydraulic oil to heat up as well. The oil cooler looks like a small radiator with a line going in one side and out the other side.
Check it out and let us know.
KiotiDave

edkinct · Jan 20, 2011

Wallace and Kioti Dave,
yes its the oil cooler, and yes my tractor is hydrostatic drive.
How do I go about cleaning this filter and where should I be looking for leaks?
Thanks for the help.
Here is a pic of it.

wallace · Jan 20, 2011

We I can tell by the looks of the picture, You are in need of a cooler.
Have it warrantied.
It is very hard to tell where it is coming from because as the engine is running it's sucking air in. There is no real way of seeing between the coolers for the leak.

You can pressure wash it with hot water to clean it up but it's going to just clog back up.
Time to make a call to your dealer.

VictorW · Jan 20, 2011

That picture tells it all. I had two go bad on my CK30hst. About 125 and 100 hours respectively. Because mine, both times, had a very small leak, I could never find the spot. The oil seems to just barely creep out and as mentioned, the moving air when running sucks the oil around.

The cooler is mounted with two studs and nuts going through the top of the cooler to a horizontal support in front of the radiator. A trick is to mount it with rubber grommets. I had drilled the holes in the cooler a little larger, placed a rubber grommet in each hole, cut two 5/16" long by 1/4" diameter steel tubing sections to go into the grommets and then passed the steel tubing over the studs with the nuts tightening down on the steel tubing. That relieves some of the vibration and I'm still good with 150 hours on the new cooler. Other Kioti owners have done the rubber mounting with good results. It should be replaced under warranty so you may not want to do the rubber mounting.

mrutkaus · Jan 21, 2011

Here is picture of new cooler install on CK30HST with rubber grommets on both sides of mounting nuts, nothing tightened too tight. Note creative use of "Goop" on end of bolts to secure nuts.

Mike

edkinct · Jan 21, 2011

I am not sure if its still under warranty. I purchased it on 1-26-2008.
And my local dealer is not in business anymore. I can install it myself if I can get one, how much does it cost?
Thanks for all your help.
ED