I Won't Operate My Equipment in Wet Weather

[Dozernut]

In my opinion, the best 30 bucks you can spend is the Bauer 20 volt portable blower (so long as you have Bauer tools and extra batteries). Fits behind the seat, has 3 speeds and blows like a hurricane and comes with a nice concentrator to direct the air through the rad. Problem with my Kubota's at least is the rad screens are a royal PITA to remove to clean so the blower works for me. I use it to blow the round baler off as well and blow off the cars after they get washed. Bought a second one just in case the first one craps out at some point. Had it on sale, ITC for 10 bucks off.

I've got the Ryobi version and it does very well also. If I am close to the shop, I have long wand I hookup to the air compressor and blow it out. I do this every time I do the oil changes and maintenance.

 

[bmanmg]

On my Kubota and many other tractors the fan blow out to keep the radiator cean and there is a screen that can be pulled out and cleaned if debris does get in. Make sure someone did not reverse the fan blade.

 

[John_Mc]

On my Kubota and many other tractors the fan blow out to keep the radiator cean and there is a screen that can be pulled out and cleaned if debris does get in. Make sure someone did not reverse the fan blade.

Flipping the fan blade over will not reverse the flow.

 

[jyoutz]

If I can help it, that is. Of course I get caught by a shower now and then, but really try to avoid that.

With what I do, dusty conditions, as well as fine vegetation particles get into the radiators, and I've had a mess to clean out, before.

I've other people's radiators nearly completely clogged~ solid on the intake side.

Also seen a lot of people who don't know how to maintain/clean a radiator. Caught my brother with the water hose on his Kubota tractor radiator after he said it was getting hot. Told him the radiator needed cleaning, and went around back, and there he was... just hosing down the radiator. Umm... No! I had to soak his radiator and use pressure to clear it. It was packed with mud.

I think he knows how now. I got him a correct high pressure air wand, and showed him how to use it.

Summer's coming. I watch that temp gauge closely.

You guys have any issues with your radiators clogging and the tractor getting hot?

Yep. Cutting dry grass will do that. I watch the temperature closely when cutting dry grass and clean the radiator and air filter frequently.

 

[jyoutz]

In my opinion, the best 30 bucks you can spend is the Bauer 20 volt portable blower (so long as you have Bauer tools and extra batteries). Fits behind the seat, has 3 speeds and blows like a hurricane and comes with a nice concentrator to direct the air through the rad. Problem with my Kubota's at least is the rad screens are a royal PITA to remove to clean so the blower works for me. I use it to blow the round baler off as well and blow off the cars after they get washed. Bought a second one just in case the first one craps out at some point. Had it on sale, ITC for 10 bucks off.

I picked up the Hercules blower on sale for $35.

 

[rockinbbar]

Flipping the fan blade over will not reverse the flow.

What was it...? Old Jeeps? Can't remember, but you could switch the wires that operate the fan and it would turn the other way.

Just happened to think of that. Old guy used a Jeep motor on a water well, and needed the thing to blow in reverse, and someone told him that, and he said it worked.

 

[WinterDeere]

What was it...? Old Jeeps? Can't remember, but you could switch the wires that operate the fan and it would turn the other way.

Any DC motor can be reversed by reversing the voltage applied to it. Manufacturers may prevent this by bonding one terminal to a mounting bracket and calling it "chassis ground". But short of that, or if you isolate it from chassis ground, then yes... reversing the wires on any DC fan will reverse the fan.

 

[DarkBlack]

My Kubota BX2680 was running warm when mowing in 90 degree plus Texas weather. I always clean the radiator screen before starting but it still was warmer than I thought that it should. I added wetter water and that helped a bit. Finally I noticed that the radiator was over half blocked by chaff that passed around the pre screen. I blew it clean and temps remained normal even in hot weather. I just added blowing out the radiator to the regular checks I make before using now.

I used to run water wetter in my race cars because slippery antifreeze is prohibited. I wouldn’t put water wetter in a normal 50/50 antifreeze mixture. I don’t think even the water wetter sales team would recommend that.
If you run zero, or small amounts of antifreeze, OK, but otherwise, no.

 

[John_Mc]

What was it...? Old Jeeps? Can't remember, but you could switch the wires that operate the fan and it would turn the other way.

Just happened to think of that. Old guy used a Jeep motor on a water well, and needed the thing to blow in reverse, and someone told him that, and he said it worked.

For a DC motor that works. I was referring to an engine or belt-driven fan. Some people are under the misimpression that you can reverse the flow by flipping the fan over on its shaft. That does not change the direction of air flow.

 

[masscity]

In our gas engine P&H Cranes we changed the fan blades, pushed out in the summer and in for the winter. I never ran a dozer, but I think they had the same setup.