I've got an early 80's IHC 234 which was actually a Mitsubishi. Battery is mounted identically. Really looks like a bad idea to me, but rarely is an issue. That one has to be really clogged before it becomes an issue, however unlike the chinese tractors there are 6 blades on the fan & it is positioned correctly in the shroud to draw air from the full surface of the radiator. Clean, clean clean those fins.
ML