1941 B air cleaner

[jdf11287]

Did the 1941 B air cleaner cup have any type of element in it originally?

 

[[email protected]]

No, oil bath.

 

[jdf11287]

i know its an oil bath. I have seen elements that look like steel wool or the sorts and sawe some on steiner tractor parts and wasnt sure if it was suppose to have some in there.

 

[JDG]

Yes it has the steel wool looking element in it, but I don't think it is replaceable. Best to find a complete used one.

 

[BushogPapa]

If ir is the type common Late JD B and A tractors, NO there is nothing in the cup but what amounts to a smaller cup that also is the height the oil should be in the cup.
The metal gauze is up in the cannister above the cup..
Oil is sucked up into the metal gauze, catches dust and debris and drains back into the cup, bringing the dirt into the cup..
Properly serviced they are a very good air filter.
You may need to remove the cannister ( Donaldson filter I assume) and flush it up and down in a 5 gal bucket of solvent to clean the gauze, if it has become plugged from negligence..
Always check for Mud-Dauber nests in the upper air pipe..A long piece of heater hose, or a garden hose will break them loose (and wash them out)..!!
A plugged air inlet pipe will allow the engine to run pretty well, UNTIL you put it under a heavy load..then the engine will SMOKE badly from oil drawn from the crankcase....!!

Ron..

 

[Radiator Bolt Man]

Here, from the John Deere Restoration Guide, 3rd Ed, 4th Print -- on the subject of how air into the engine is cleaned. Your 1941 B tractor will be quite similar. (PatB)
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AIR FILTERING SYSTEM -- The oil-wash air cleaner removes dust and dirt from the air that is drawn into the engine. The body of the filter unit is filled with closely crimped wire screen; the bowl at the bottom contains oil. The suction of the engine intake draws the incoming air into the cleaner and through the oil. Air and oil are drawn up into the closely crimped wire where the dirt is arrested in oil. Only clean air is allowed to pass into the engine. Every time the engine is shut off, the dirty oil drains down into the reservoir (bowl) at the base of the air cleaner where the dirt and dust settle out of the oil. It's an easy job to remove the bowl for cleaning, after the engine has been shut down for a short time.

AIR FILTER, CLEANING THE MESH -- The objectives are: (1) to remove all dirt, and (2) to leave an oiliness in the mesh when finished. Submerse the oil-bath air cleaner canister into a solvent such as kerosene in a 5-gallon bucket for a soak period, then swish up and down. Re-soak and re-swish as needed to remove dirt. Try pressure washing for more stubborn dirt or for removing mud dauber nests. If dirt remains, steam cleaning is the ultimate answer. Allow the unit to dry. Once dried and cleaned, rinse again in kerosene. Then pour some clean engine oil through the mesh after washing to provide the mesh that "oiliness" quality it needs to do its job. DO NOT REMOVE WIRE MESH FROM CANNISTER! ++++