Thread: Donaldson TopSpin precleaner?

Have had/ seen them fitted to dozers and heavy machinery working in very dusty sites. They do the same job as a bowl type but with more bulk and weight. And there is the fan to wear out which it does . On a D2 snorkel? I doubt there would be any advantage or difference to a standard bowl precleaner apart from extra noise and weight up top.
Cheers Scott

I atually bought one about 8 years ago.
They are not heavy as they are made of plastic.
I have never used it as I had a RRC 3.9 and it was suggested strongly on this forum that petrol engines did not pass enough air to make the blades spin fast enough to expel the air at light throttle openings. Of course on rough dirt roads you are usually using small amounts of throttle.

I now have a D2 diesel TD5 so I may give it another go again on this forum it has been suggested that diesels pass far more air at low accelerator . I am not sure this is true.

It was cracked in a house move which is a pity but I was able to epoxy glue it.
They are quite a big thing and I had just enough room between it and the roof of the RRC, so I don't know what the clearance would be like on the D2.
Regards Philip A

This is the item I'm looking at:
Detail
Wondering if anyone can tell me if these specs are sufficient for the TD5?

I was looking at this one

Detail

The top-spin is a good product, but there is nothing wrong with the older (static) type as long as you are happy to empty the dust out regularly.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I now have a D2 diesel TD5 so I may give it another go again on this forum it has been suggested that diesels pass far more air at low accelerator . I am not sure this is true.

Petrols run close to stoichiometric. Diesels run heaps of excess air. Add a turbo and for every 15 psi of boost you are effectively doubling your engine capacity.

So a 3.5L (na) diesel at the same rpm would flow 20-50% more air than a 3.5L petrol. Add 15 psi (1 atm) boost and you are now at 140-300% more.

So a 3.5L (na) diesel at the same rpm would flow 20-50% more air than a 3.5L
petrol. Add 15 psi (1 atm) boost and you are now at 140-300% more.

Yes I appreciate that on boost the diesel will use lots more air, but when you need a precleaner is following a road train along a dirt road at say 70KMh with very little accelerator.
I still wonder how much spinning will be done in those circumstances.

AFAIR from looking at the Topspin site , Donalson list something like 100-500 CFM. I wonder how much spinning is done under 100CFM, which I would think would be most of the time.
Regards Philip A

I have found the bowl type pre cleaner to work ok when travelling slower but once road speed increases they don't seem to work as well.

Next trip ill be using one of those filter socks that hangs inside the snorkel which I hope will be more effective.

Cheers
Simon
TD5

I found the bowl type pre-cleaner to collect plenty of dust even when travelling in fast convoy but took it off when back on highways because of the whistle. I have a self-emptying hat style one for my 3.0 D4 but will only fit it when needed because its so noisy.