OK NOT to start tractor in cold weather?

[Egon]

The other question is should those idle tires be filled with nitrogen?

 

[john_bud]

They will survive ok outside, and a block heater is a good thing at 20 below set on a timer.
Long term in this cold, I had my 856 pto off, and made a plexiglass window
to fit perfect as the pto's housing.

I took a look through inside one day, and everywhere above the oil level was solid ice crystals.
If left too long, this moisture would eventually rust pit.
So if you want perfect long term storage, fill it full to the top, the fuel tanks, to engines and gear boxes.

.

The ice crystals were from water in the oil. That's from not running it long and hot enough to get it out AND from leaving it in too long. Letting it set in the winter won't draw moisture in very fast as the air is pretty dry. Typically moisture is from spring summer and fall. A block heater is good, if you are about to start the engine. Running one just to heat it up (and no intention of running the tractor) is a waste of electricity and will just wear out the heater sooner with no gain.


To the OP, Just fill the fuel tank, block down the clutch and wait until spring. No harm at all. In fact, more harm will occur from running the vehicle only short amounts of time. Old timers rule of thumb was to run equipment for 1 hour minimum AFTER it was totally heated up to operational temperature. That includes the gear and hydraulic oils which are hard to even get warm, much less hot. If you don't want to remove the battery, take off the ground connection so it won't discharge.

jb

 

[wedge40]

We have had a strange winter here in central Indiana. Very cold termeratures and no snow. It has been too cold to work outside and haven't needed to plow snow, so my tractors have just been sitting. Should I be starting them every weekend?

I am sure the battery could benefit from the charge, but are there other reasons to start an engine on a regular basis in winter?

Thanks,

I'm just up the road from you and I have left my Ford 4000 outside for many years and it doesn't seem to have affected it. This year I pulled the battery and it's in the garage waiting for the snow. I think the coldest I've ever tried to start, was about 10 degrees and I have a block heater. If I had to use the tractor I would tent it with a tarp and put my kerosene heater under there for an hour or two.
Not sure if this makes much of a difference but mine is gas not diesel.

Wedge

 

[LBrown59]

I've had 2 car engines and 2 push mower motors lock up/freeze up as a direct result of failing to start and run them periodically.

 

[whistlepig]

We have had a strange winter here in central Indiana. Very cold termeratures and no snow. It has been too cold to work outside and haven't needed to plow snow, so my tractors have just been sitting. Should I be starting them every weekend?

I am sure the battery could benefit from the charge, but are there other reasons to start an engine on a regular basis in winter?

Thanks,

I live in Southwest Ohio about 1 mile from the Indiana border. Pretty much the same kind of weather. I run the tractor once a month for about an hour. This gets it to operating temperature. This lubricates the cylinder walls and valve stems. And it burns out the condensation in the crankcase. I have a Honda back up generator. Honda recommends running the generator at least once a month for all the reasons I have previously stated. Running the tractor an hour a month isn't enough to keep your battery fully charged. I use a battery charger for that.

 

[smfcpacfp]

The advice that others posted about not starting the tractor during the winter is good advice. I did see one piece of bad advice which is to keep the battery warm. A well charged battery will not freeze and the cold helps it keep the charge longer. I doubt that you will leave the tractor idle more than a couple of months so don't worry about it. Of course if it does lose it charge and freezes, you will need a new battery in all likelihood.

I would definitely put it on the charger the night before I next use it, if it is going to be more than a month sitting idle.

 

[lhfarm]

Well, we have a winter storm watch for the next couple of days and should finally get some snow. I won't be back at the farm until Saturday and the forecast is for temperatures just above freezing. So I'll need to start the tractor, but it won't be terribly cold

This thread has convienced me that I need to get power to my barn. I've been planning to do so, but haven't wanted to spend the money (it is 450' from my garage). Guess that is my spring project.

Does anyone use a Battery Tender for winter storage?

Thanks,

 

[LBrown59]

I live in Southwest Ohio about 1 mile from the Indiana border. Pretty much the same kind of weather. I run the tractor once a month for about an hour. This gets it to operating temperature. This lubricates the cylinder walls and valve stems. And it burns out the condensation in the crankcase. I have a Honda back up generator. Honda recommends running the generator at least once a month for all the reasons I have previously stated. Running the tractor an hour a month isn't enough to keep your battery fully charged. I use a battery charger for that.

I start and run my trucks and tractors 4 15 to 20 minutes monthly year around .
Keeps the motors from locking up and the batteries from going dead.

 

[JGY]

I've had 2 car engines and 2 push mower motors lock up/freeze up as a direct result of failing to start and run them periodically.

So how often do you run your equipment to maintain it? Inquiring people want to know!

Joe

 

[Gary Fowler]

TO LBROWN: By just running 15 minutes you may save the battery and lubricate the engine by doing this, BUT: I sure hope you increase the frequency of your oil changes because you are not getting the engines hot enough in 15 minutes of run time on a water cooled engine to boil off the condensate which then combines with the sulfur from your fuel to form sulfuric acid in the oil sump. This will definitely damage your seals, rings and all wear surfaces. Any engine should be perfectly capable of setting for 3-6 months without starting and not damage the engine if a good lube oil is used.