- Location
- Austin, TX
If you've followed my posts over the years (and who hasn't?), you'll know I am a strong advocate for Bandits, but that I've had a few issues that really bugged me (rubber fuel lines on diesel was a big one, since biodiesel ruined mine--I called the engine manufacturer before purchase to confirm it was BD-safe, but it never occurred to me that Bandit would screw me up on that one).
I have a new issue (overlapping an old one).
For several years, I've had issues with overheating. It got worse over time. I figured out early on that the radiator was right at the front of the machine (and the back of the truck), so dust was dumping directly into the radiator and clogging the fins. Short of a pretty large undertaking to disassemble the box, there is no good way to clean it out. I complained to my Bandit dealer and he sent me a fan to push air from behind the radiator rather than pull it from in front of the machine (on the theory that it wouldn't be pulling dust off the back of the truck into the fins). Not much help, and since I took a few years complaining about it I was out almost a hundred bucks to find that out.
So I finally pulled the radiator to have it cleaned. I took it to the oldest radiator guy still working, I think (he said he was 76, so I probably exaggerate a bit). He told me all the reasons why this was a terrible radiator for my machine:
1. the fins are too close. At 14 per inch, they don't have enough space between them and the dust can't pass through. He said most outdoor equipment has 10 per inch.
2. plastic tanks. He said bending the tabs to remove the tanks generally causes cracks in the core that can't be fixed, making this a disposable for all practical purposes.
3. undersized. One more row in the core and even partially clogged it would have worked better. Why cheap out on such an important part?
4. (and this is one I've already ranted about many times) they painted the radiator when they sprayed the machine after it was built. So, in addition to buying the wrong fuel line (because it was swollen from the biodiesel and looked like it was a size bigger, and paint hid the numbers on the old hose) and having to call the dealer every time I needed a part because the numbers were hidden, I now realize the cooling ability of this machine has been compromised from the beginning because the paint was interfering with heat exchange.
The old dude cleaned out the dust, removed the paint, welded a couple of pinholes closed, and told me to just live with the problem (I suggested getting a junkyard radiator in its place, but he couldn't find one the right size). If I don't replace the machine in the next year or two, I will be pulling the radiator to have it cleaned out again. I also replaced the fan with the original and added an air conditioner filter over the front of the box where it pulls in the dust. All in all, not that big of a deal and I still think Bandits are best for chipping. I just really get chapped every time I think about all the little things that have been so annoying, yet could have so easily been avoided.
Incidentally, the cost for patching and cleaning up the radiator was $25 and a couple of hours listening to his stories. It pays to find those old guys sometimes.
I have a new issue (overlapping an old one).
For several years, I've had issues with overheating. It got worse over time. I figured out early on that the radiator was right at the front of the machine (and the back of the truck), so dust was dumping directly into the radiator and clogging the fins. Short of a pretty large undertaking to disassemble the box, there is no good way to clean it out. I complained to my Bandit dealer and he sent me a fan to push air from behind the radiator rather than pull it from in front of the machine (on the theory that it wouldn't be pulling dust off the back of the truck into the fins). Not much help, and since I took a few years complaining about it I was out almost a hundred bucks to find that out.
So I finally pulled the radiator to have it cleaned. I took it to the oldest radiator guy still working, I think (he said he was 76, so I probably exaggerate a bit). He told me all the reasons why this was a terrible radiator for my machine:
1. the fins are too close. At 14 per inch, they don't have enough space between them and the dust can't pass through. He said most outdoor equipment has 10 per inch.
2. plastic tanks. He said bending the tabs to remove the tanks generally causes cracks in the core that can't be fixed, making this a disposable for all practical purposes.
3. undersized. One more row in the core and even partially clogged it would have worked better. Why cheap out on such an important part?
4. (and this is one I've already ranted about many times) they painted the radiator when they sprayed the machine after it was built. So, in addition to buying the wrong fuel line (because it was swollen from the biodiesel and looked like it was a size bigger, and paint hid the numbers on the old hose) and having to call the dealer every time I needed a part because the numbers were hidden, I now realize the cooling ability of this machine has been compromised from the beginning because the paint was interfering with heat exchange.
The old dude cleaned out the dust, removed the paint, welded a couple of pinholes closed, and told me to just live with the problem (I suggested getting a junkyard radiator in its place, but he couldn't find one the right size). If I don't replace the machine in the next year or two, I will be pulling the radiator to have it cleaned out again. I also replaced the fan with the original and added an air conditioner filter over the front of the box where it pulls in the dust. All in all, not that big of a deal and I still think Bandits are best for chipping. I just really get chapped every time I think about all the little things that have been so annoying, yet could have so easily been avoided.
Incidentally, the cost for patching and cleaning up the radiator was $25 and a couple of hours listening to his stories. It pays to find those old guys sometimes.
