Thread: Insect radiator guard

I have one on mine, made it out of flyscreen. I can not see how it would be a problem as long as it did not restrict airflow. A intercooler full of hoppers would be worse for it.

Ive done one out of shadecloth over the bullbar big red, Ive posted some pics of it on here somewhere, it was in a thread about stone deflectors for trailers from memory.

it sits far enough in front of the radiator that even if it was a plate of steel it would still not block the radiator and is close enough that the bugs dont pass around it. Its been on for 3 years now and no ill effect.

total cost <$25

my screen is two pieces of 1" welmesh, hinged together at the bottom and secured at the top with wingnuts that sandwich a piece of air conditioning filter media. Much less restrictive than something like shadecloth, etc. This replaces the grille.

Originally Posted by rick130

my screen is two pieces of 1" welmesh, hinged together at the bottom and secured at the top with wingnuts that sandwich a piece of air conditioning filter media. Much less restrictive than something like shadecloth, etc. This replaces the grille.

pics?

Insect screens are much better than having the radiator, intercooler and condenser stuffed up with grasshoppers. Landrover used to fit a grille that consisted of square mesh that could be removed by taking out two scres - it was dead easy to either fit the optional "chaff guard" (which I don't think is even an option now?) or, much cheaper, attach insect screen gauze to the grille. Since then they have made it sufficiently more difficult to clean an insect screen behind the grille that the best solution is probably to put the insect screen on the bull bar as suggested by Blknight. Shade cloth is much less suitable than insect screening as it is deliberately made with the threads blocking 70% or more of the area, where insect screening is more like 10%, although most Landrovers have enough cooling margin not to overheat even with the shade cloth except perhaps in extreme conditons.

My 2a has a screen wire tied to the grille, the 110 has one wire tied to a wire mesh that fits behind the grille.
John

i have metal flyscreen mesh on my disco permanently.

no airflow restriction, no bugs in the coolers, no problems.

i just have it held in place using a couple of screws at the top under the bonnet and folded under the grill at the bottom. never looks like coming out and is easy peasy to clean. i tried aircond filter material and i found it to be way more trouble than mesh and less effective as it clogs a lot quicker.

is amazing what you find in the mesh from time to time.

Have dealt with quiet a few old vehicles i can say that taking the trouble to fit a good bug/grass screen infront of the radiator is worth while. Bugs kill radiators faster than pretty much anything else. The acid in their bodies eats the fins away....

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Shade cloth is much less suitable than insect screening as it is deliberately made with the threads blocking 70% or more of the area, where insect screening is more like 10%
John

True .. but I reckon insect screen will clog up far easier with mud, dust and general crap and when it does it's much harder to clean.

I have one made of shade cloth that I affixed to the b/bar when we went to the Cape a while back, with no apparent probs. I tend to leave it off now and only fix in place if the area warrants it.

I have heard/read somewhere that they can cut down on the efficiency of the intercooler.

Cheers