How important is the hydrostatic cooling fan?

[zippy1]

Originally Posted by Terry C

I would put it on. I had to do it twice in one day to the same tractor. Replaced the fan started it up to watch it then started messing with the carb and all of a sudden there was a loud bang. The socket wrench that was sitting on the seat vibrated off and fell into the brand new fan cleaning off all the blades. Glad the kids weren't around or they would have increased their vocabulary that day

not laughing at you, but with you. I did the same thing on my 1650, right after buttoning it back up and checking the air flow and clearance as it was running. Had the ratchet on the seat and lifted the seat to get my shop rag that was stuck under it, ratchet slid off the seat and.....well you know what happened then.

[OldSkull]

My 1650 new fan lifespan was about.....5 minutes! I didn't put the cover doing a test drive and some plastic fly away. Since I only use it for snow removal I never replace it but if someone came up with a rubber one I can mod to replace the crappy cheap OEM high density plastic one I don't hesitate one second to do it. Better be safe then sorry.

[Terry C]

Originally Posted by zippy1

not laughing at you, but with you. I did the same thing on my 1650, right after buttoning it back up and checking the air flow and clearance as it was running. Had the ratchet on the seat and lifted the seat to get my shop rag that was stuck under it, ratchet slid off the seat and.....well you know what happened then.

Some guy named Murphy must be related to both us.

[Mike McKown]

From an "expert"!

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...pment-mistakes

[Banman]

As I get to know my 'new' 149 I've discovered a number of broken items.

One of which is the cooling fan -- it still has one blade on it or I probably wouldn't have even realized there should be a fan there...

My cooling fins were completely caked in solid crud. I used a plastic scrapper to clean them off...

I've been mowing my ½ acre this way at full throttle and it takes me an hour since I'm new to this...

I've also been hauling several loads of #57 gravel around the yard (400lbs a load) all before I knew the fan was broken/missing...

Far as I can tell, it runs fine without it...
Owning a Scout I know IHC didn't put the fan there just to spend money so I WILL be replacing the fan at my earliest convenience...


I like the idea of this "rubber fan" that was mentioned being available from a Cadet dealer. Anybody know if these are still available or a part #?

[cooperino]

Originally Posted by Banman

As I get to know my 'new' 149 I've discovered a number of broken items.

One of which is the cooling fan -- it still has one blade on it or I probably wouldn't have even realized there should be a fan there...

My cooling fins were completely caked in solid crud. I used a plastic scrapper to clean them off...

I've been mowing my ½ acre this way at full throttle and it takes me an hour since I'm new to this...

I've also been hauling several loads of #57 gravel around the yard (400lbs a load) all before I knew the fan was broken/missing...

Far as I can tell, it runs fine without it...
Owning a Scout I know IHC didn't put the fan there just to spend money so I WILL be replacing the fan at my earliest convenience...


I like the idea of this "rubber fan" that was mentioned being available from a Cadet dealer. Anybody know if these are still available or a part #?

This is an old thread but I am glad it got revived.

I will say something that I do not think was covered when this thread was current.

My feeling on the matter is this. Cub Cadet built tractors to be really tough, hard working, animals in ANY ENVIRONMENT. So, that said, one guy mowing a half acre in a average climate more than likely would never need that fan. VS a guy that is say tilling or plowing acres at a time in a really hot dusty climate? He may really really need that fan. These little tractors we love were over built. Probably why we love them so much.. Designed to last and last. So the "do you need the fan question" Im a fan of the fan.. IH put it there so I like it! lol

[Banman]

Originally Posted by cooperino

This is an old thread but I am glad it got revived.

I will say something that I do not think was covered when this thread was current.

SNIP.....

It seemed I'd added to the data of running a lot longer than ½hr at a stretch.
Ambient temps have been in the 70's to 80's while mowing and moving gravel.

I've driven IHC Scout II's for over 20 years now -- I got the Cub 'cause I didn't want a "throw-away" machine. Mostly I knew how much I'd hate doing any maintenance on a throwaway machine...

I do have an IR temp gauge so maybe I'll post some #'s before and after mowing tomorrow!

I guess the next silly question I have is should I break off the one remaining blade? I'm used to working in a world where that kinda imbalance would be catastrophic so visually, the thought of it in there bothers me...

I have also left the 3" x 5" cover/insp plate over the pump off figuring that can only improve airflow...

[dodge trucker]

same thing happened to my 129, had it running while rear was on stands, I was adjusting neutral position of the trunnion, new fan, new pins, new driveshaft, had tractor back together all of ~10 minutes when something fell into the fan and busted a blade. so I have all but 1 at the moment, when I took it apart initially I think all the fins were missing, and yes this one was so badly coated with crud, that if I didn't know any better I'd have not known it even HAD fins.... so yeah I gotta get me another fan for this thing.

[twoton]

I don't know anything about a 'rubber fan'. I do know that a new OEM fan is much more flexible. They get brittle when they get old.

I'd replace it asap. It's easy to do.

[ol'George]

Now I know this is not much help,-- but I stuck a thermometer in my rear end once,
Oh my, I mean in the hydro fill hole on my 782 and mowed 3 acres one summer day, there is a pix of it somewhere on my 3000 + posts, but thinking it was about *150 or so.
That was with a good fan and the hydro fins clean.