New to the business

[New Guy]

Recently purchased an older dozer. Need some help on getting started. First thing is when to replace cutting edges on blade. How much over hang is needed if any. Cutting edges are flush with dozer blade. Second is the direction of cooling fan. Fan blades are turned to push air through the radiator. The water tempature heats up on warm days but cools off in a few minutes at idle. Would it help to turn fan blades to pulll air from the front of the tractor or should I pull the radiator and have it cleaned. Oil temp also heats up with cooling temp.:Banghead

[Wulf]

Recently purchased an older dozer. Need some help on getting started. First thing is when to replace cutting edges on blade. How much over hang is needed if any. Cutting edges are flush with dozer blade. Second is the direction of cooling fan. Fan blades are turned to push air through the radiator. The water tempature heats up on warm days but cools off in a few minutes at idle. Would it help to turn fan blades to pulll air from the front of the tractor or should I pull the radiator and have it cleaned. Oil temp also heats up with cooling temp.:Banghead

Hi New Guy and welcome

IMO cutting edges shouldn't be flush with the 'frog' where they bolt on... as the edges wear closer to the frog and towards the bolts and bolt holes they would need major repairs. Its good practice to replace the edges when they get close to the frog and before the nuts start to wear too badly. The more 'overhang' the better!

On your radiator, most dozers are blow fans and are most efficient that way (make sure your drive belt is not slipping). You may be able to tell if the rad is blocked by checking the airflow in front of the radiator or try shining a light through the core and look from the other side for blockages... you may be able to clean it without removing it if you gently pressure wash it but be careful not to turn over the soft rad fins.

By the way... what type of dozer is it? Someone may have more specific advice if we know the type.

[New Guy]

Thank for the help Wulf. The dozer is a 1985 Cat D6D

[Jeff D.]

Aren't the cutting edges often reverseable, by just flipping it over? I know some are, for sure.

Maybe that's already been done though?

[Wulf]

Aren't the cutting edges often reverseable, by just flipping it over? I know some are, for sure.

Maybe that's already been done though?

Good point Jeff... and if the nuts and bolts aren't too worn you could probably re-use them.

[digger242j]

I never ran a 1985 D6, but I did run older 941 and 955 track loaders. In the wintertime, we'd turn the fan blades around so the warm air blows back through the machine. It's not the same as a heated cab, but it sure helps. No way do you want to have them turned that way during the summer--you'll die of heat stroke. I'd suggest cleaning the radiator as the others said...

[Dwan Hall]

Turning the fan blade around does not reverse the direction of air flow. You will need a fan blade with the pitch in the opposite direction.

[RonG]

If the moldboard is wearing because the cutting edge is worn down too much it either needs to be flipped or replaced,in either case you will need new end bits as they are not made to reverse.Plan on new bolts.
I would clean the radiator core with a pressure washer and make sure the belts are tight.Some pressure washers will eat a radiator core,if you have one that will I hope you are aware of it.
There will be an oil cooler core there too,make sure it is clean and if you are having transmission/torque converter problems such that they are running hot bear in mind that the same air going through the radiator also goes through the oil cooler and if it goes through the hot oil cooler first it will cause the engine to run hot as well.Ron G

[digger242j]

Turning the fan blade around does not reverse the direction of air flow. You will need a fan blade with the pitch in the opposite direction.

Changing the pitch is what I meant by "turning the blades around". They actually turn in their mounting, so that they're pitched the opposite direction.

[Dwan Hall]

Changing the pitch is what I meant by "turning the blades around". They actually turn in their mounting, so that they're pitched the opposite direction.


Cool (no pun intended) :) see one can learn something new here every day.

[20dub]

see one can learn something new here every day.

every time i come on here i learn something:yup