Fan

[jamie]

Can I fit a ken low electric fan onto my dexta tractor

[Timeee]

Dear Jamie

Interesting question. You can fit a Kenlowe Fan to nearly anything, provided you have sufficient space to fit the fan and its shroud either in front of, or behind the radiator, you have enough space for the controller and you have a sufficient 12V electric supply. You usually take the fan blades off to make space, but the water pump pulley has to remain to pump coolant around the system. The problems you will have is that you will need some extensive rewiring to provide a fused electric supply, and somewhere for the switches, over-ride switch, relays and controller to go. Electric supply is a problem for a dynamo system, as the fan draws a huge whack of current when running and dynamos cannot keep up, leading to a very low battery if the fan runs a lot. Alternatively, if the system seldom trips in, then after 2 years sat in the dust, mud and wet doing nothing, the fan motor is seized when it is finally required. The cooling system on the tractor needs to be in good condition for the Kenlowe to work efficiently. You normally set the controller to allow the engine to run at optimum temperature, usually at a slightly higher temperature than it normally does. This means the radiator and hoses will be working at or near the maximum pressure the system should run at. The controller trips the fan at this slightly higher temperature and it then runs at maximum to draw the engine temperature down quickly. If set too low, the fan runs for long periods drawing down the battery. Set too high and the engine overheats.

I suppose the question is why do you want to fit one? The Dexta cooling system is designed to cope with static running (driving say a saw bench, mill, drying fan etc) in dusty, hot English summer conditions, inside a building and should provide adequate cooling, provided it is reasonably well maintained. Kenlowe fans are now mainly negative earth, so you may have problems fitting it to your positive earth Dexta supply, I have fitted quite a few to positive earth MGBs, so it is not an insurmountable problem. I doubt whether Kenlowe would guarantee their product, when used in such an environment, although the one I have fitted to my 300Tdi Defender gets soaked in floods, covered in winter salt, mud and summer dust, yet works OK on those rare occasions when I am towing a fully laden Ifor Williams 14ft trailer up a long steep hill, on a particularly hot day. I look forward to your response.
Tim E

[jamie]

Hi I was chain harrowing the field on the farm and she boiled over so was thinking put a kenlowe fan on

[Timeee]

You really need to find out why your Dexta overheated, as a Kenlowe fan would probably not solve your problem. A new set of hoses for £22.00, with decent hose clips, a new thermostat and radiator cap. Clean out the matrix on your radiator, all those dead flies, bits of hay and grass and dust and give it and the engine cooling system a reverse flush through. Pressure check to see if there are any leaks, particularly from the water pump and possibly have the radiator rebuilt by a radiator specialist if it is blocked/leaking. Presumably the fan belt is tight and driving the fan/water pump OK and the coolant level is correct. That lot would need to be in good order before you fit a Kenlowe anyway. Sounds as though you might have a collapsed coolant hose, or blocked radiator. Tim E

[Nevis]

Is there a cowl around the fan? The cowl is very important to ensure that the air is sucked through the radiator and not around it. On my tractor the cowl was missing which caused the tractor to overheat - once I fitted a cowl I had no further overheating problems.

[pjjms]

I think mine had been drained daily in winter and refilled from the local stream for 50 years. The block was full of silt. Got a hose running through it and spent a hour or so poking wire through every hole possible. Flushed the radiator as well. Loads came out and it ran fine after that.

[The Swanndri Guy]

Another way is to remove the drain tap,and hook up the yard washdown hose in its place, with the bottem hose and thermostat removed to dislodge silt in the block.

[Jerry Coles]

Jamie
Diesels usually run cooler than petrol engines and with my Dexta running a cordwood saw it has never gone over temp. As all the other contributors suggest a good back flush works wonders. A lot of debris in the coolant system may be organic so with great care add some Caustic Soda to the water and let it circulate and stand for a few days and any organic matter will be dissolved. Take care though as it burns skin, eyes etc. Avoid splashes and use eye protection.
Cheers
Jerry

[islander]

Try a colder temperature thermostat and if it is a petrol engine...wouldnt hurt to remove the head and unblock the coolant holes in the block. When i changed my head gasket i noticed they were just about plugged shut

[jamie]

Hi all thanks for the replays just checked and there is no cowling around fan I'll need to get one ALSo I'll order new water pipes thermostat etc