Frozen Grass Screen

[MalMac 1,332]

Went out and fired up the ol trusty C81, after a bit of reluctance she fired up. Can't say I blame it, it was -12 out, felt colder inside the barn. After a nice warm up, out we went to work relocating 6 inches of snow where Mother Nature put it to where I needed it to be. After about 10mins of pushing snow and 15 min of warm up time, I had to get out of the cab to relocate some obstacles. I just happen to notice that the grass screen was solid white. Now I have never had this happen in all the years plowing snow to get it that covered up. I shut the tractor down so I could get the snow off. To my surprise it was not snow. It was solid frost like you would see on a frosted mug but only more dense cutting off air flow from the flywheel. After my total loss of what was going on, it finally made it through my slow brain that the Exhaust from the low outlet on a C series was causing it. The steam vapor from the exhaust was being sucked into the grass screen and instantly freezing on it and build up a solid coating of frost. All my years I have never seen that before. Had it happen with other tractors using snowblower, but that was snow. New one on me.

[953 nut 59,735]

Was this a flywheel mounted screen or the one that attaches to the flywheel cover tins? I guess the rapid air movement produced by the flywheel would produce even lower temperatures, but would have thought the spinning flywheel would cause too much vibration for that.

2 hours ago, MalMac said:

Exhaust from the low outlet on a C series was causing it

Good tip for others to check on frigid days.  

[MalMac 1,332]

953, it's a flywheeel mounted screen.

[953 nut 59,735]

48 minutes ago, MalMac said:

it's a flywheeel mounted screen

Interesting!         Must be a real deep freeze for hot exhaust moisture to freeze a few inches away.   Thanks for sharing.

[Wishin4a416 2,191]

That is darn cold!

[dclarke 4,082]

Never heard of that happening either, Tim. That's just too cold!!

[MalMac 1,332]

Yes, it was too cold to be out trying to relocate snow, but I had to make sure are propane deliver driver could get in and around ok, being one that has driven a truck for several years I know what it's like to have to get into unplowed areas. Cold temps even make it worse. At -12 with wind chill way down there it's hard on any equipment to bring to life after sitting.