Radiator Insect Screen

[jake]

G'day,

does anyone know who makes an insect screen for current model Defenders


Jake

[PhilipA]

I think Graeme Cooper has them. check their website.
lrexpert.com.au
Regards Philip A

[one_iota]

As PhilipA says:

http://www.lrexpert.com.au/parts_gif/large/299.jpg

http://www.lrexpert.com.au/custom.php?page=defender

[JDNSW]

It has always amazed me that Landrover have not fitted chaff guards (to give them their original name) as standard to every Landrover built since 1948. As soon as you drive across a paddock with long grass (and remember this is what they were originally designed for) you get the radiator stuffed up with grass seeds. The first thing I have done to every Landrover I have bought since Series 1 is to fit a screen if there is not already one. In all cases they have been hand made, whether by me or the previous owner - although they have always been listed as an option, they are so simple to make that it is easier and quicker than going looking for one.

If you drive entirely on roads and tracks you can get away without one, until the locusts get real bad. But you must note that if you need one, in other words, if it is catching grass seeds or grasshoppers, it will need regular cleaning (as often as several times a day in bad conditions), as the airflow is blocked just as much by a blocked screen as by a blocked radiator - it is just that the screen is easier to clean!

[Sly]

Made one from light (40%) shade cloth when working at Kununurra,cut the edges with hot knife(foam cutter) nice and neat no fraying. Used it on a Stage one V8 no heat problems (light shade cloth) then made a couple more for the work 130s

[JDNSW]

Shade cloth is less suitable than insect screening, as it blocks more air.
On my 110 I have aluminium insect mesh backed by 12mm square wire mesh sandwiched behind the plastic grille.
On my 2a I have aluminium insect mesh attached by wire ties to the back of the grille with plastic wire ties. Note that with Series Landrovers it is important to block the one inch space between the front panel and the cross member or you get grass seeds coming in there. I used a 25mm wide strip of 16g aluminium pop rivetted in place.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

surely(can I call you surely JD?) even a clean screen decreases airflow significantly??

but then, I look at spotties in front of radiators and cringe https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[JDNSW]

Of course screening decreases airflow, but not nearly as much as a radiator stuffed with grass seeds or locusts. The design of any vehicle should include enough surplus cooling capacity to deal with this sort of reduction, and generally speaking, most Landrover products do have enough surplus capacity to handle it, even in 50+ temperatures driving slowly with heavy loads on steep hills or at high speed with a following wind.

But you are right, any insect screen does reduce the airflow - it is just the lesser of two evils, and as I said above, it has to be cleaned regularly. Shadecloth is less suitable since even light shadecloth blocks around 30% compared to around 10% for insect mesh. And as you say, look at the spotties, and in many cases the airconditioning condenser.

[sclarke]

Mine is Alloy insect screen.... just cut to the right shape and the grill screws hold it in place.
Never runs hot. not even on a 49 deg C day with the AC running.

[pgf]

Look for an old ironing board, the expanded metal mesh under the cover is perfect. Bit of grinder action and removable (cable ties) mesh on top works a treat. Cheap too

P

[rick130]

mines 2 pieces of 1" square weldmesh, hinged at the bottom that replaces the grille. In between some air conditioning filter media is sandwiched. Only put the filter media in when off road or paddock work, or locust season.