Radiator Chaff Prevention?

[B2710]

Have new MX6000HSTC that I am brush cutting a overgrown pasture with weeds 3-4' tall (mostly marestail or horse weed), but it seems the AC condenser, oil cooler, and radiator fills up with chaff much quicker than all my other tractors (MF50, L45, L3310 and B2710). Weeds are about the same as always when I cut but I can only get about 20-30 minutes running time before I have to stop and blow everything out. All the coolers are tighter together than the other tractors but other than that, I get a good hour run time on the L3310 and the B2710. The older tractors screens are easier to get out and clean also... I have to turn the front tires to the right and loader up to remove the radiator screen on the MX...

So, the question is... do any of you put mesh screens on the nose of the tractor to act as pre-screen to keep some of the weed tops and chaff out?

 

[Russell King]

I use a blue (plastic) filter from Filtrete. I get it at Lowe’s (if memory is correct).

It is a cut to fit and washable low grade filter but catches all the chaff. I install it in front of the tractor screen and pull it out and shake it out if it gets clogged then wash it out when done with the chore.

Here is a link to that filter.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Filtrete-20-in-x-30-in-x-1-in-Cut-to-Fit-Adjustable-Air-Filter/5005517111?user=shopping&feed=yes-_-0?store=&cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-plb-_-bng-_-PMAX_PLB_000_Priority_Item-_-5005517111-_-Online-_-23664582867-_-&gclsrc=3p.ds&gad_source=7&gad_campaignid=23664582867

Your tractor is much larger than mine so you might be able to fit a filter with the cardboard or metal frame in front somewhere. The one I install is fit tight against the screen so not much air gets around it. If you put it too far from the radiator you will need to box in the four sides to force air to follow a path through the filter or it will just suck air from the sides.

 

[nbryan]

Screen on the outside of your hood's plastic intake mesh openings will clog up just as fast but be way easier to get at and clean, IMHO.
Only if the overall area of an add-on pre-screen is larger than the hood openings will it take longer between cleaning stops. Sounds a bit tricky to do.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

During high chaff operations some will reverse fan airflow over the rad.
Something like a flexxaire system may help.