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.

 

[mikester]

I use a battery operated leaf blower now, best thing since sliced bread. Auto reversing fans would be my first choice on bigger equipment.

 

[B2710]

I use a battery operated leaf blower now, best thing since sliced bread. Auto reversing fans would be my first choice on bigger equipment.

Yep, carry a 18v ryobi leaf blower on the tractor, without it there would be no way to cut the wooded fields since I am not near any electricity... but this may give me an excuse to get a new tool... a gas operated air compressor for my trailer...

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Good day.

I have an MX and it doesn’t take much to light up the dash with chaff being the culprit. (If the MX is new to you, after a couple of times of seeing lights you’ll start to get a good idea of the conditions and duration to set them off and I predict you will appreciate a leaf blower)

What has worked for me is the leaf blower as mentioned above…I take mine with me when I go to the pasture and set it off so it is there if needed. Generally whether I needed to blow chaff off or not during the mow, I blow the rear cutter off anyway so I just open the hood and give it a puff too. Anyway it’s a simple cure and good PM as far as I am concerned.

next step up for me is a radiator genie…those are handy when wanting a better blow job done (i can’t even type that without laughing…yes that’s right I am childish). Anyway you can pick those up from tractor mikes or an auto parts store.

All that being said, I am very intrigued by @Russell King suggestion on the ‘pre filter’ material and might give that a try myself.

 

[JasonW]

I have used window screen in front of the factory radiator screen on several tractors.
I have to stop more often to clean it out but nothing gets stuck in the radiator fins.