682 Cooling Ideas?

dcdodge · #1 12-13-2023, 11:17 AM

Have a 18 HP Vanguard in my 682 that runs too hot & breaks down the syn oil. Grass clippings get trapped under all of the heat shields resulting in poor cooling. Always blow off the engine after each cutting but cannot get behind most of the shields even with compressed air. Photos show what happens after each year, maybe 60 hours, that requires me to pull the engine and do a thorough cleaning. Since the engine cooling air comes from below the frame & just above the deck would like to either screen out that area better and/or add new cooling vents away from the deck in the side panels or front of the driveshaft cover. Looking for people that have run into this problem & have come up with ideas that keep the side covers on.

Workingstiff · #2 12-14-2023, 06:14 AM

I'm not familiar with this model. What about access holes drilled in the covers? Possibly plug them with rubber grommets or sheet metal covers. Or directional access by welding/brazing a bent piece of tubing or brake line?

Oak · #3 12-14-2023, 06:34 AM

Got any pics of the engine in the machine with all the proper muffler ducting in place?

Does your machine have the frame screen on it? (#8 in the pic)

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1711Cub · #4 12-14-2023, 08:54 AM

The CCC 82 series had a steel mesh screen on parts of the belly to catch some of those clippings, so that would not happen as fast. Eventually, grass finds its way into places you do want it.

dcdodge · #5 12-23-2023, 03:20 PM

I do have the perforated metal screen, #8, in the diagram. Got more of that to extend back to the transaxle. Will cover a few of the large holes in the side of the frame too. Recall the John Deere's having screened air vents on the side covers of the 318/320 models back in the day. Not thrilled about cutting into my side covers at this point but it may come to that.

spndncash · #6 12-23-2023, 05:56 PM

I rebuilt three JD 245's during covid and they come equipped with a foam filter between the engine compartment cover/hood and the engine cooling fan to keep grass out of the engine cooling. also to keep air from coming from the lower side of the engine compartment. I would say this makes about 80% of the air enter from the top of the hood. I would think you could achieve the same thing by using old 70's style ring air filter to keep grass from entering the engine - clean or blow out after every use.
I clear my engines and decks of grass after every mowing with compressed air. brazed a two foot long soft copper tube to the end of one of my blow guns to get deep into small passages.
its still bendable a bit, I rarely need to replace it. I put about a inch of fuel line over the end to keep from scratching the paint

Sam Mac · #7 12-24-2023, 07:45 AM

I had a Vanguard in a 1210. I got a piece of what racers call roll plastic and made a tube to go between the engine and the fire wall. As others have said the screen underneath is important. Link for roll plastic. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Color...hoCAJ8QAvD_BwE

darkminion_17 · #8 12-24-2023, 07:28 PM

# 8 is also solid like this one I have.This is from a 2284

garydee · #9 12-25-2023, 02:49 PM

Check out my "1864 minor improvements" for some additional ideas to keep your rig from eating so much grass. Good for cows, but not for Cub Cadets!

Go the CCC/MTD section. Select "search this forum". Type in (1864 minor improvements) and go down 11 lines and click on it. I have several pictures to view showing some of my solutions.

BTW, contrary to what some others have said, I did not steal my wife's kitchen strainer and put it in my Cub!