Zach, thanks for the kind words! (I’ll send you the coupon for the free steak dinner later!) Just kidding! Your air filter pictures look pretty nasty and the covers should really help to alleviate that! Post pics and the results after you use them in similar conditions.
To help answer some of the questions above…..here’s what I know so far:
I initially made my covers to help my B2650 warm up to temp and retain the heat in our sub zero ND weather while blowing snow. Since the area underneath the tractor’s engine is not enclosed, there’s never been a problem with not getting enough air circulating from the fan which most likely mixes air drawn in from below with that which is already warmed up around the engine. And when the outside air temps warm up enough it just takes a moment to first remove the side cover(s) and finally the front one.
I also noticed that without the covers on in cold sub zero temps my hydraulic oil must’ve been cooling down enough where I couldn’t keep the RPM’s up to speed. Using the covers fixed that as the hydraulic oil cooler sits just in front of the radiator also. Enough heat gets retained under the hood to melt the snow off the top of it so you know the fuel in the tank is being kept warm too.
The problem of the snow/frost being ingested into the air intake was unknown to me at the time as I use a rear mounted snow blower. That the covers helped to alleviate that problem was an added bonus that the first users commented about. Because of their ease of use compared to shifting and remounting air intake tubes, quick warm ups, keeping the engine temps in the “normal” range, warm fuel, etc., users in these colder climates like using the covers.
Regarding the possibility of routing the air intake tube into the cab of the cabbed models for a “warm air supply”: The calculations of how much air moves through the engine (especially at rated rpm) and the required fresh air breeze of cold winter “make up air” entering the cab might make it too uncomfortable. That would be an interesting/worthwhile experiment to find out.
I keep a list of purchases, so just for fun I tallied up the locations that now use these covers to date. Some locations have just one user while others more than one. Oklahoma wouldn't be big enough to deflect all the cold in these areas. LOL!!
United States: Virginia, New York, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.
My best friends in Canada! : Newfoundland/Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and the Yukon Territory.
Thanks to OTT member "tthorkil", we measured up his new LX2610 and the covers to fit the new LX models will soon be available. After a couple of fun visits to his beautiful spot, the final pattern is nicely taking shape. I was able to give them a trial fitting on just arrived but still crated up LXs at the dealer this week and they fit very well. The dealership wants a set to take pictures with when they assemble theirs and make them known to their customers. A very nice gesture on their part!! I’ll post pics of the final product and hope to have them ready by the end of November. The new LX models use the same air intake tube right up front on top of the radiator.
Regards,
David
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