Bean701 35 #1 Posted May 18, 2020 I’m going to start doing some paint and body on my 86 312-A. The hood has five or so I guess cooling slots on the hood. The metal on this tractor is rust pitted pretty bad, so I was going to pull the better hood off the GT-1800 parts tractor and swap it in it’s place. Will I be creating overheating issues for the Kohler by doing this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kasey54 305 #2 Posted May 18, 2020 Iv'e had that question my self. I have a 417 A with the slots and I don't like them. Some 417 A's didn't have them. I don't believe there would be any issue at all. I think it was a marketing deal. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 7,224 #3 Posted May 18, 2020 10 minutes ago, Bean701 said: I’m going to start doing some paint and body on my 86 312-A. The hood has five or so I guess cooling slots on the hood. The metal on this tractor is rust pitted pretty bad, so I was going to pull the better hood off the GT-1800 parts tractor and swap it in it’s place. Will I be creating overheating issues for the Kohler by doing this? No a lot of 312's didn't have the slots. The engine cooling air all comes in at the flywheel and exits the back of the engine. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,638 #4 Posted May 18, 2020 (edited) In my opinion the hood slots were a styling treatment In the case of some models they came with either depending.The 500 series had both.The 312a had louvers but the other 300 series I've had solid hoods. As Lee points out the cooling air in the air cooled models flows left to right as seen from the operators station.Put the hood on that suits you.It really won't affect anything. Edited May 18, 2020 by JAinVA 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 60,363 #5 Posted May 18, 2020 My 417-A has the louvered hood and the 418-C and 310-8 don't, heat has never been an issue with any of them. A solid hood is stronger too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,858 #6 Posted May 18, 2020 The hood louvers are to let rain, snow and bird droppings to fall on the engine causing electrical issues and rust. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 7,224 #7 Posted May 18, 2020 4 hours ago, lynnmor said: The hood louvers are to let rain, snow and bird droppings to fall on the engine causing electrical issues and rust. Also a design feature to short out the 9 pin electrical connector on the later model tractors. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #8 Posted May 19, 2020 the hood slots serve two significant purposes: (a) - provide air intake for the optional intercooler on the turbo-equipped Cecil Pond signature edition (b) - prevent the tractor lifting off the ground in the event of a high speed accident 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
