Cleaning the cooling fans - jackl ??

[B-Man]

JackL - you made a comment a couple of months ago regarding cleaning the cooling fins of the motors. I have been seaching for that message but it must have been purged. Do you recall? could you resend? Or Kent could you repost the message from the archives? Do we have archives?
Tuffy

[Fred]

If that was back far enough that it was on Yahoo, that's part of the stuff that I promised to transfer to here. I'll really get to it, honest!
Ashamed Fred

[Fred]

Hi Tuffy, I hope this is what you are refering to-while doing some checking on my engine I discovered that the cooling fins on my engines flywheel had a build up of grass-dust-and heavens knows what else packed in between them. I normally take an airhose and or a leaf blower and blow air in and around the engine including the flywheelto make sure they are clean, but while mowing my lawn I noticed the engine was lacking power and that upon further checking with the engine running air was not cerculating or exiting around the front of the head like it should be. Also the flywheel normally will show some signs of trying to suck grass or something lite up againest the flywheel screen so make sure you keep this clean. I didn't see any of this being done so I took a mirror and flashlite to check to see if the fins on the flywheel were plugged and sure enough they were. But without the flashlite and mirror I could not see anything wrong as the grass ect. was packed in so tite that apparently when I used an air source to clean the fins it was just packing the dirt and grass deeper. I had to pull the driveshaft-starter pulley and belt off along with the screen to totally clean everything out. It was packed in so hard that I had to use a screw driver and my air hose to completed remove all of it. My warning at the time was not to assume that just because you blow it out dosen't mean that it really is clean. So I suggest checking it like I did every now and then to make sure it is really clean as this could of cost me a new engine. And this was not caused from any mice either as my tractor is kept in a heated garage along with a couple of cats. I hope this helps you and that this is what you were refering to. Thanks for your interest and the chance for me to answer your question. And don't ever use water as a source to clean off your engine or tractor either. If you have any other questions feel free to send me an e-mail->jackl-happyjack<-

[Fred]

Hey Fred don't sweat it as it was not that far back. So take a deep breath and relax the choo choo man told you so.

[Fred]

Thanks Jack. That was exactly what I was looking for.

But why no water ???

[Fred]

Hey Jack, How've ya been man!! Hey listen there could have been a brand new Sunstar at choo -choo land but our "friend" would have ignored it entirely because he's more interested in trains!!He's a card indeed but a very good one believe me! dlc

[khtsr]

Water can make things rust - it can settle into bearings and make them wear prematurely and freeze up pivots . The seals are made to keep dirt out, not water (that's boats). It can form grass clumps and help moisture to be retained in places that are not easily cleanable. I have some customers that have the cleanest mowers around - but also the noisiest. :( The decks come off easy enough (3 quick pins (and no tools) and can be scraped clean or car ramps will help elevate for cleaning purposes. If you can't do this then I recommend using a garden hose only when you have to but it is a compromise of convenience.