Cleaning Radiator?

Aries68 · May 31, 2022

What would be the best methods of cleaning the front of a radiator on a Farmall 140? I can't seem to get a air hose to most of it to clean out the dirt and debris. Do I need to raise the hood of the tractor after removing the exhaust pipe or have to remove the radiator to clean it all? Would a shop vac work by sucking the debris out from the front?

This post was edited by Aries68 on 05/31/2022 at 05:26 pm.

MSD · May 31, 2022

Just don't use a power washer on it.

Steve@Advance · May 31, 2022

Removing the radiator or exhaust pipe does not sound like a practical solution.

I would try several methods, see what works best. Shop vac might work, leaf
blower from the back side, a spray nozzle on a water nose, maybe a pressure
washer but keep your distance and watch what it does to the fins! Once they are
folded over it is very tedious to stand them back up and could cause a leak!

Possibly an easily accessible course screen out in front would help as a
preventive.

cjunrau · May 31, 2022

small copper pipe 2 ft long bent 90degrees at the end. flare the other end and hold it on your blower nozzle from air compressor. have done
this for 30 years and it works great. pipe is 1/4 inch outside diameter.. can even shove it between the air conditioner rad

olgentdc · May 31, 2022

correct, the fins will bend shut ,,. what i do is wash out with a garden hose and spray nozzle with engine running idling at 1st then wide open to suck the junk thru ,you want that trash to get good and wet. . turn off engine. spray simple green or purple power cleaner or even engine degreaser if the oil cooler leaks have compromised the radiator with grease. apply liberally,then, let set for 10 minutes to soak. start engine at idle,spray thru front of radiator,rev engine to help pull the junk thru. you will notice soap suds ing all over your engine, now is a good time to clean it too. be careful not spray distributor or coil , if its a diesel and the air filter is open be careful not to get water in the air breathr. You can hydroloxk Your engine.If that happens do not attempt to start for 24 hours.

Blackhole49 · Jun 1, 2022

Don't know about a 140, but I've kept my Farmall A clear with no problem with a standard air gun for 12 years.

Davidj · Jun 1, 2022

Agreed. It'll find all the weak spots.

Brian G. NY · Jun 1, 2022

I found out years ago that a standard brake line fitting will screw right into my air nozzle after removing the original nozzle.
I have about a 15" piece of brake line with a 90 deg. bend like cjunrau says. I can reach the back side of almost all of the radiator with it.
I would never try to force the trash on thru the radiator toward the engine!

jm. · Jun 1, 2022

ANY WATER even a water hose is a no no around here. You put that water in there and dust becomes mud . You cannot get to the lower corners next thing the weed seed swell and you have a complete mess. Air is the only way to clean a radiator. When folks put the water to them we end up having to pull the radiator and take a strap and sit there and poke thru ever opening. Time consuming and costly.

fixerupper · Jun 1, 2022

To get it thoroughly clean, take the bent copper pipe or brake line like was mentioned and blow out what you can. Then shoot water in there with a garden hose and let it sit awhile, then blow out the mud with air, soak again, blow out with air till the water you blow back out is clear. Might take a couple of hours.

Cleaning Radiator?

Aries68

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MSD

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Steve@Advance

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cjunrau

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olgentdc

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Blackhole49

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Davidj

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Brian G. NY

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jm.

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fixerupper

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