Keeping radiator from plugging up

37chief · Jun 8, 2017

With all the rain we had here in S. Calif This last winter. The weeds have reached new heights. Some reach at least 6-7 ft. Now they are dry all the seeds and pods plug my radiator. Now I have a piece of window screen over the radiator front. That keeps a lot out of the fins. I need to stop at least every 5 min to brush off the screen. The motor never gets a chance to cool down. I am thinking of installing a bar out in front of the radiator. to push the weeds away. Even thinking of a piece or sheet metal with a opening at the top, of 8 inches or so, and closed at the bottom. I am wondering if this will let enough air in to the radiator? Or I just could walk away from this job I have been doing for the last 18 years. I was never one to give a problem like this to someone else. Any thoughts? Stan

big jt · Jun 8, 2017

Super Snoot or a RotoScreen. Don't know what your tractor is but SuperSnoots were popular back in the day for use with mounted Corn Pickers. Did what you are talking about doing and got the Rad intake up from behind the picker sheet metal.

Roto screen would probably be better suited to your use. These are used on just about every combine since the late 70's. Is a screen that rotates powered by a fan blade that uses the airstream to keep the screen rotating and there is a piece of sheet metal blocking the bottom third from air flow so the junk falls off for that part of the rotation and it is clean for the rest of the way around.

Seems like I have also seen a replacement fan that reverses for a short time to blow out the radiator and screen. I think it was in FarmShow magazine but memory fades sometimes.

Personally I would lean towards a rotoscreen.

jt

JD Seller · Jun 9, 2017

Just put a bar/pipe out in front to deflect the weeds away from your grill. I have had to do this when doing tillage in tall weeds. I made it like a bumper out 2-3 feet in front of the radiator. This way it bends the weeds over so they are further away from the radiator. The bar /bumper will also knock a fair amount of the pods and such off before the tractor sucks them into the radiator.

Think about what your doing now. Your driving the grill/screen right into the junk.

tomturkey · Jun 9, 2017

I also immediately thought of the Super Snoot used withcorn pickers. I had the dog out in the pasture last evening, even his super snoot was getting plugged up with pollen seeds and dust from the tall grasses and weeds. lol gobble

wolfman · Jun 9, 2017

A full rack of suitcase weights push the tall stuff over and away from the radiator. Maybe a pipe through the hand holds of the weights for a wider push.

504 · Jun 9, 2017

Yes a pusher will help,I just tip the bucket and use the FEL for weeds.

SVcummins · Jun 9, 2017

Don't know how to keep it out but this is what I use to keep em clean

riveroadrat · Jun 11, 2017

(quoted from post at 04:10:23 06/10/17) Don't know how to keep it out but this is what I use to keep em clean

My father used to tie a croker sack to the front of the grille. Worked pretty good bushhogging. It also works good to keep sticks in hay from hanging on the underside of tractor, dont use it near a horizontal exhaust pipe, might catch fire.

Keeping radiator from plugging up

37chief

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big jt

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JD Seller

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tomturkey

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wolfman

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504

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SVcummins

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riveroadrat

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