Cleaning a combine radiator

[Neddy flanders]

Have spent too much of my life doing this. Today has been one of the worst. Maybe 7 hours in total twisted in a hot cramped position with a dust mask, goggles and a head torch.
Can clean the outer layer easy with a airline and fine nozzle, second layer ok with effort but deeper back there's old thistle down clogging it. Cannot shift if. Daren't poke anything in, so keep going with air jet. Stumped, tired and knackered.
Ps never buying a second hand combine again. Inherit too much crap.

 

[milkloss]

pressure washer with a short lance, maybe even just a hande with a nozzle screwed in if its a bit cramped. Need a strong wrist though.

 

[Phil P]

Pressure washer will remove much more wedged in dirt than the air line.
In fact I wouldn’t even bother trying to wash it from the back side of the rad, just blast it through its surprising what a good wash out will shift.

Ps just keep going till the water stops coming back at you

 

[Exfarmer]

Just be careful not to bend the fins with a pressure washer.
Also if there is a double rad you must hopen them up as all you will do is fill the space between them with crap and it will be impenetrable to airflow

 

[icanshootwell]

Pressure washer will remove much more wedged in dirt than the air line.
In fact I wouldn’t even bother trying to wash it from the back side of the rad, just blast it through its surprising what a good wash out will shift.

Ps just keep going till the water stops coming back at you

Don,t use water unless you can clean both sides of rad, air is best.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

pressure washer is the way to go, you will not keep it clean, if it's not clean to start with, careful with the fine, but wash it till water runs clean and easy

 

[Timbo]

Don,t use water unless you can clean both sides of rad, air is best.

Rubbish. Power washer used correctly at 90 degrees to the fins will clean it 100x better than air alone.

 

[milkloss]

Hot and with a few revs on even better!

 

[Zippy768]

+1 for pressure washer and boiler. Steady job but gets there eventually. I use air daily to try and keep on top and then try and bring combine back to the yard mid harvest for a wash down.

 

[nick...]

Only way to clean radiators is to remove them first.guess how I know that
Nick...

 

[devonshire farmer]

Along the same lines clean radiator but struggling with oil pressure anyone know the thickest available engine oil it's a sisu engine on a mf

 

[Timbo]

Low pressure at idle or working? Have you proved it with a gauge? Oil cooler thermostat stuck closed?? Can get straight 60 weight oil but it.may not buy you much time if there's an underlying bottom end issue.

 

[Morph]

Along the same lines clean radiator but struggling with oil pressure anyone know the thickest available engine oil it's a sisu engine on a mf

Check pressure with an accurate gauge before doing anything.

 

[devonshire farmer]

Check pressure with an accurate gauge before doing anything.

Have had it done, the oil just isn't lasting in the heat, 3 days and then drop for fresh

 

[DrWazzock]

Yes the most thorough way to clean a rad is a pressure washer. I do this once at start of season then air line daily to keep it good.

Having said this, I find the only acceptable way to pressure wash is with the rad out of the combine to do it properly and also to avoid getting water into the combine grain ways. Getting the rad out is not a trivial job on my machine but is just about tolerable as a once per season job.

So pressure wash once a year and keep clean with air line daily. If you are needing to pressure wash more than once a season then there is something wrong with the rad screen, leaking chaff in or something.

 

[DrWazzock]

Also, as far as I know, the temperature should go up to a fixed operating temperature and sit there, regulated by the thermostat. It shouldn't rise as the weather warms up. This means the cooling system isn't coping and usually that ends up with a cooked engine.

So the engine oil should be at same temperature whether it's 10degc or 40 deg c outside. It shouldn't be getting cooked if the cooling system is up to scratch.

Well that's the theory. Can very frustrating.

 

[devonshire farmer]

Also, as far as I know, the temperature should go up to a fixed operating temperature and sit there, regulated by the thermostat. It shouldn't rise as the weather warms up. This means the cooling system isn't coping and usually that ends up with a cooked engine.

So the engine oil should be at same temperature whether it's 10degc or 40 deg c outside. It shouldn't be getting cooked if the cooling system is up to scratch.

Well that's the theory. Can very frustrating.

We are planning on pressure washing the rad as soon as rain forecast, don’t want to be going into dust with it still wet!

 

[Exfarmer]

We are planning on pressure washing the rad as soon as rain forecast, don’t want to be going into dust with it still wet!

Dont worry a couple of minutes with engine running in the yard will ensure the moistures has gone

 

[milkloss]

We are planning on pressure washing the rad as soon as rain forecast, don’t want to be going into dust with it still wet!

Can you wash it while it’s running? Makes a big difference if it’s warm and the fan is pulling the junk through.

 

[Timbo]

Could but as.soon as the belt gets wet it slips , reducing fan speed to about 10% !