Keeping a radiator clean???

As you've all seen I had to be towed back yesterday due to my commander overheating. The cause was a radiator caked with mud. Any ideas of how to prevent this on the trail?

I clean mine after every ride. Even my rzr. Make sure u have shrouds which I think u told me u did. Also go add the radiator guard from can am. I have it in front of mine as well.

Knock on wood but my commander has NEVER overheated. It's just not an issue with mine.

ECMTV's looked almost the same. His RZR was at 240 degrees when he finally stopped running it. No clue how to prevent it though

Neuromax sent me the list of what u need to make a radiator cleaner. It's basically a copper wand with little holes on the end to shoot pressure into the radiator cleaning it.

With the radiator guard, it stops mud well. I know its not designed for it. It's made to stop rocks and sticks. The mud does build up and fall off of it. Since its angled the mud dries and falls off instead of grabbing on the fins and building up on the radiator.

GARY WARDEN OVERHEATED ON THE WAY HOME ALSO TURNED ON HIS HEATER AND IT COOLED BACK DOWN GO RHINO ARMY

I clean mine every time too. Just ordered the radiator guard. A heater would definately help. Has anyone installed one on a commander?

I don't think anyone here has. Check the commander forum. Where would u put it?

You could mount it behind the dash and let it blow out of the center console above the switches

U about don't need a heater since the motor heat coming out.

Thinking about it, u could mount the heater in front of the shifter under the panels. You would have to run vents through the cab panels. One each side and hook up ducts to those vents for the sir to run to.

I don't see any other way to run it.

CommAndrew wrote:

You could mount it behind the dash and let it blow out of the center console above the switches

Could but would u keep warm? With heat u may need to get the vents and ducts low

I'm not too worried about keeping warm. Like you said plenty of heat due to the engine already. Im more looking for an auxiliary heat removal method

Try the radiator protector from brp. U should be fine.

Mine has never overheated so I must be doing something good. My commander has never been close.

I wouldn't go to the big expense of the heater on the commander. I would on a rzr bc no motor heat on those. well not much.

Just get that protector and u should be ok. Keep me updated!

Now that's a good idea

here is what I am getting to put in front of radiator...

http://www.rangehoodsupply.com/product.php?p=american-metal_rym1518g&product=172273

I think it will stop the mud, slow down the muddy water and let it drain out the bottom and not get into radiator fins

take it out, clean it in a creek, and put it back in

That's looks cool. Let me know how it works out

If you dont have the radiator shrouds, get them. I put them on mine and it has never overheated since!

I have the shrouds but once it gets covered in mud it was all over

Outerwears makes for radiator shrouds I don't see the commander listed but it says they will custom design one for you. Follow the link and it is listed at the top of the page.

http://www.outerwearsracing.com/products.asp?cat=12694

have seen those, dont look very effective, kinda wimpy and don't protect much... anyone tried them

Even the bottom of my radiator was clean because I tried not to go fast and spash muddy water up in it. Plus, I tried to stay back out of the dust. If the radiator is wet, and you get in that dust it doesn't matter what machine you are riding.

A way to spray out radiators on the trail will be in my Ricky Lilly survival kit. If I don't need it, someone else will.

Maybe we should start a thread dedicated to what should be in that survival kit

[quote="Bobby D"]

CommAndrew wrote:

Maybe we should start a thread dedicated to what should be in that survival kit

In a Ricky Lilly survival kit this will be at the top of the list

http://www.amazon.com/SPOT-Inc-SPOT-1-Personal-Tracker/dp/B000YTZV74/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1322454247&sr=8-4


So when he leaves you or can't find his way back you can signal for help

I carry a garden sprayer, it has saved me several times. Tbone can u pull the guard out and clean it on the trail?

No u can't. The way it's shaped in there u can see if probably will never have to be cleaned on the trial.

I have never over heated and dont carry water tanks or anything and I have gotten it pretty muddy. Chasing James a few weeks ago is testament to how well that setup works. U couldn't see my front end it was so covered in mud. Ran cool all day!

Here is a pic of the BRP protector. It has worked great. I take the shrouds off after every ride and clean the radiator very well. You can see it has been cleaned and its time to put them back on. On a rzr you can clean it and get to it but this machine, you cannot clean that radiator worth a darn if you dont remove the shrouds.

With those angles, the dirt comes off and will not stay in it. Has worked awesome for me. This is not something that removes fast. You have to take the front end of the commander off to install it. Well to install it right.

Wow that's good. I'll get one and try it, but I don't think that it will help me, when you are in soupy mud over top of the radiator and come out it dries quickly and clogs up. Im also going to put a fan controller on so it will come on at 180 deg instead of 210 deg. They sell them at most auto parts stores, it has a probe that mounts on the radiator and you just splice into the factory fan wires.

ElmoEOD wrote:

here is what I am getting to put in front of radiator...

http://www.rangehoodsupply.com/product.php?p=american-metal_rym1518g&product=172273

I think it will stop the mud, slow down the muddy water and let it drain out the bottom and not get into radiator fins

take it out, clean it in a creek, and put it back in

Thats a good idea...I like it..

[quote="Bobby D"]

Bobby D wrote:

CommAndrew wrote:

Maybe we should start a thread dedicated to what should be in that survival kit

In a Ricky Lilly survival kit this will be at the top of the list

http://www.amazon.com/SPOT-Inc-SPOT-1-Personal-Tracker/dp/B000YTZV74/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1322454247&sr=8-4


So when he leaves you or can't find his way back you can signal for help