Protect them radiators!

[General Lee]

Somehow my radiator on my L4400 got a hole in it. Not sure how it happened. Started the tractor up for 5 minutes to move something and saw it leaking. Dealer came and got it, new radiator...................$650.00

I tried to speak to the mechanic when I picked it up but he had already left. Wanted to see what he thought may have caused it.

 

[Greenfield Dave]

An expensive lesson. It's not real protected on the bottom. I did the same thing years ago. Bent the tab that holds the bottom support down and cracked the plastic tank. JB Weld to the rescue! Not a leak since. The JB Weld even matched the Kubota gray!:thumbsup:

 

[Thomas]

Interesting...when you find out the cause post it.

 

[oosik]

View attachment 558871 I feel fortunate. I got to read a couple threads on TBN BEFORE I bought my grapple. Its expanded metal on my OEM grill guard. Nothing is 100% but it could be the one thing that will catch and stop a stob or branch.

 

[General Lee]

Interesting...when you find out the cause post it.

I do recall when I used the tractor a couple times prior, I could hear what sounded like some kind of debris being thrown by the fan. A couple quick checks I didn't see anything obvious. Now that I think more about it, I'm wondering if mice/chipmunks left little shell/food bits and the fan would pick those up and toss em around. Not sure if that is what poked a hole in the radiator.

 

[oosik]

I've had the whole nine yards in all my vehicle engine compartments - EXCEPT the tractors. Mice with their nests - chipmunks packing dog & cat food into the air cleaner compartment and one big 'ol pine rat who made a nest in the pickup. It was a real mess when he jumped out of his new nest and attempted an exit thru the engine fan. He was so unusual - I scraped what was left of his body off the steering arms - put it in a plastic sac - the local vet identified him. Thirty six years here and only that one pack rat.

Anyhow - none of the little beasties bring anything into the engine compartment big or long or hard enough to pref a radiator.

Normal reason for a perf - a stick, stob, root or limb comes up from under the tractor and gets pushed thru the radiator. Either that or something you picked up with whatever is on your FEL got jammed back into and thru the radiator. Your tractor battery is another object that can be perforated - due to its location.

Now - IMHO - the reason there has never in the 36+ years here had anything in the engine compartment of either of my tractors. It too open and little protection from the weather. The engine compartments of my car, Jeep & pickup are much more enclosed and do provide protection.