Re: does the air scoop really help in minimizing radiator cleaning?
Sure, it helps as the top of the combine has the cleanest air. The chaff and dirt blows around the back and sides, especially in tailwinds. Perhaps Deere picked this up from the XBR2 Bi-rotor as it had dual overhead rotary screens, air intake from above. Additional features included radiator and AC Condensor on left side with its own main engine fan. The hydrostat and main hydraulic oil cooler and fans were on the opposite, right side, with their own overhead air intake and rotary screen. That worked good and made sense on the XBR2 in 1995, and finally made it to production in 2007. It takes time, but maybe more of the Bi-Rotor features will surely continue to follow as younger engineers work their influence into these products.