Kubota U35-4 operating in extreme dust...filter?

[Jfet]

So it is extremely dusty here in Washington state. It has not rained significantly in three months. I am puttering around with our U35-4 but it is so hot and dusty I have only put 43 hours on the machine since new.

I have been checking and cleaning the outer air filter (it has fine mesh metal cage inner filter and a outer paper filter with a large mesh metal cage around it). I clean the outer filter by blowing compressed air from the inside. Poof! looks like that character on Charlie Brown after just three or four hours of operation.

After cleaning this last time and blowing out the dust in the side compartment where the intake was (an 1/16" of dust just on top of the hydraulic tank and battery) I noticed how incredibly strong the ~2" diameter air intake hose that hangs out there is. It is like a shop vac. No wonder this thing sucks in the dust.

1) Is there any kind of pre-filter you could put over that hose in the side compartment to keep the main filter from getting so dusty or would this restrict too much air flow in the 25hp engine?

2) Should I be cleaning it this often or do people let it get really dirty? I am being pretty anal since it is an expensive machine and brand new.

3) About how many times can I do this compressed air thing before I should think about replacing the main filter? It seems to be getting clean each time but not sure how long the paper will last repeated cleanings.

I have a feeling I worry too much and I have to think the rental machines are just dirty as heck when they are operated for a week in this environment.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Check your owner's manual for guidelines, for mine on the L3560 it says replace airfilter every 6th cleaning or once a year, whichever comes first. Airfilters are relatively cheap compared to engines, keep a spare on hand and if one doesn't clean up nice, swap it out.

 

[100 td]

Donaldson and others make a precleaner bowl, I have one on my SDK skidsteer and it collects a lot of fines

 

[Flienlow]

Hummm... I am suffering from the same issue over here on the west side. I havent looked at my filter but probably should. I have around 140 hrs on it.

 

[twomany]

A high "snorkel" intake would be the easiest first line of defense.

Any "oil bath" or water bath pre-cleaner could only be a good thing. Don't worry about the volume of air drawn through , just size according to the present "plumbing".

Hey! Maybe this is the perfect time to "repurpose" one of those "bissell ball" vacuum cleaners with the insanely complicated "cyclone" dust canisters. ;-))

 

[helomech]

I have 2 filters, when one gets dirty I wash it out with a garden hose, and put the other one in. Let that one dry then put back in the box till next time. Been doing this with the same 2 filters for 7 years now. My internal filter is spotless, and I live in east Texas and we have had a drought for many years now. Finally getting out of it now. After working on my tractor I am covered in dust and you can't barely tell what color the tractor is.

 

[Jfet]

Yes thanks, I just ordered a spare filter from Colemanequip. I ran this morning for about 4 hours and thought I was being careful about stirring up dust. When I got off the machine it looked like a CAT instead of a Kubota. It is like working in flour here in eastern Washington.

After four hours I was able to tap out a pile of dust about 1/8" thick from the filter (this is four hours since I cleaned it spotless). The inner filter was spotless though so the metal shrouded paper thing *is* doing its job.

It isn't going to rain for at least two more weeks.

Flienlow, you should definitely check your U25's filter. I didn't know the west side was so dry though.

 

[Flienlow]

Yes thanks, I just ordered a spare filter from Colemanequip. I ran this morning for about 4 hours and thought I was being careful about stirring up dust. When I got off the machine it looked like a CAT instead of a Kubota. It is like working in flour here in eastern Washington.

After four hours I was able to tap out a pile of dust about 1/8" thick from the filter (this is four hours since I cleaned it spotless). The inner filter was spotless though so the metal shrouded paper thing *is* doing its job.

It isn't going to rain for at least two more weeks.

Flienlow, you should definitely check your U25's filter. I didn't know the west side was so dry though.

"Flour" ....Yep! I know exactly what you are talking about. I got a whole yard full of it. It dumped rain non stop all winter and now we cant get a drop of it in the summer. I really need a light rain just to settle all of this dust down.
I will check that filter tonight. I have also never thought about washing a paper filter. Didnt even know you could do that?

Oh, and by the way.... only 43 hrs on that nice new machine? Hold your head in Shame!

 

[D2Cat]

Since June 1 Kansas City has had 28.8" of rain. No dust here.

http://weatherblog.kshb.com/