[THyde17]

I recently brought my 2019 Rancher for its first service. The mechanic said the radiator was really caked up with mud. I’m trying to find out how to remove the radiator to clean it.

 

[fishfiles]

Maybe a good time to do a radiator relocation

 

[mrbb]

get yourself a service manual, it will show you how to remove it
BUT might be easier to just wash it ON the bike, just go easy, don;t use a high power pressure washer, or you can damage the fins
and make sure you wash BOTH sides, so it cools properly!

 

[rustynut2]

Foaming non corrosive a/c condenser cleaner will help once you soften it up, rinse and repeat

 

[_Wilson_]

X2 ^^ great idea!

 

[LedFTed]

i would think if clay dirt is stuck in the radiator, only patience, an low water pressure, will get it out. then you could clean it with the foam. clay is just hard to remove..

 

[_Wilson_]

Nah... Rusty has the cure, I've used ac, acid AND, also concrete acid many times on my tractors, n semi trucks radiators, (works great!) AND, and the OP said caked. NOT plugged!!

iThe mechanic said the radiator was really caked up with mudd

 

[GirlsRideToo]

Agree that a a/c coil cleaner is a good product to use but you need to be sure it's NON-ACIDIC. I used Nu-Brite by Nucalgon. It's available at big box stores and Amazon.

The company says, "Nu-Brite is a non-acid, alkaline-based product for cleaning and brightening air cooled condensers. It is formulated with the best available foaming detergents and chelants to quickly penetrate and dissolve greasy dirt and grime and foam it right out of the coil. The safer alternative to acids."

I spent about an hour with the hose and low pressure fan nozzle to clean the radiator on my 2014 Rancher 420FM. I did not remove the plastics. I THOUGHT it was fairly clean because I could see through it on the sides. Looked again using halogen flashlight and it was still caked with red mud. I tried Simple Green and washed and rinsed over and over. THOUGHT it was clean.

When I removed the old plastics to replace with new ones I realized that radiator was no where near clean!

If you want to do it right, you have to removed the front rack and plastics. Removing the radiator is not difficult.

Attached pic shows how much mud foamed out after I thought I it was clean.

 

[LedFTed]

i still think, ya should get all the clay out, ya can, before ya use the cleaner. i will double down on, though, not an acid type cleaner.
even with AC units, as central air, i think acid is over rated. outside, or inside.