We've owned our mid-80's B7100HST and RC60-71B mower deck for a few years. We use it, or try to, mow 3 acres of land that surround our shop. The tractor runs great, mower cuts well, but we can't keep the dried grass off the front of the radiator. We can mow about 2 laps then have to bring it to the shop to blow the grass off of the screen. And some even gets under the screen to the radiator. If the operator isn't watching closely the engine gets hot and damages the radiator, and that's happened three times. We have the factory mesh grill installed perfectly. We went so far as to carefully cut and place foam weatherstripping at every entry point we could find. Grass still got through. I questioned the fan direction but the manual says its designed to pull through the radiator toward the engine. I'm not sure what to do??? Anybody else have this issue? Is the unit just a poor choice for finish mowing when dried grass is present?? So frustrating, and we love our Kubota! Help!
B7100 radiator and dried grass issues
- Thread starter sdunnavant
- Start date
All I can tell you is to keep the radiator clean. Overheating may be the #1 reason for premature engine damage.
If conditions force you to clean it every 3 passes... so be it.
Are you aware that there are 'portable' air-tanks (about 4-5 gallon size) which you can fill with your compressor and carry on the tractor?
If conditions force you to clean it every 3 passes... so be it.
Are you aware that there are 'portable' air-tanks (about 4-5 gallon size) which you can fill with your compressor and carry on the tractor?
There are reversible cooling fans available but probably not for that small a tractor and they are expensive as well. The only thing a reversing fan does is blow the chaff out of the rad. Keep an air hose handy and lots of blowing.
Russell King
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
You may be able to fit an AC filter in front of the screen. Filtrete has a blue cut to fit filters that work well for my L185. I just shake them out a time or two while mowing to remove the chaff and replace it when full of dust.
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Pau7220
Well-known member
Equipment
L3650 GST, Landpride TL250 FEL w/ Piranha, 6' King Kutter, GM1084R Finish
Interesting.
I have a B1750HSDT with 60" MMM that I have been using in various situations without overheating issues since I bought it in 1993. My 1750 is similar to your 7100 but, perhaps the grass in TX is different than that here in IN???
Not sure about your 7100 but the reverse flow fan on my 1750 pulls air through the side screens at the side of the engine and blows it out through the radiator toward the front grill. I blow everything out thoroughly with compressed air after each use and often find debris on the side screens and usually a bit of debris on the HST cooler screen and the radiator screens but have never had any issues with overheating.
The engine compartment of my 1750 is well sealed with with sticky backed foam seals in multiple areas to reduce the amount of debris pulled inside by the fan. These foam seals deteriorate over time reducing the effectiveness of the seals. I replaced all such seals on my 1750 a few years ago even though I have never had any overheating issues.
SDT
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It's very hard to get all the debris out of the radiator itself. If you are using water, chances are you just made the problem worse by turning the dirt inside the coils to cement. Grab a Radiator Genie from Tractor supply or Amazon and use the compressed air attachement while mowing and in between really give it a good flushing with the water jet one. I found a regular water hose will never get all the dirt out.
Oh.. I use those Radiator genies on my UTV's too when we go mudding. Only way I found to clear all the mud out without taking the whole rad off the machine.
I appreciate everybody's input. I guess it's just "what it is" and can't be prevented. I plan on getting one of those Water Genie's as well. We were trying to clean an AC condenser coil recently and that would have been a handy tool.
Thanks!
Thanks!
I have one as well but I tend to use my pressure washer with a wide fan tip instead.