Block Heater

[Onederdog]

Hey Guys, I'm wondering what type of block heater you are using? Lately, we've had temps down in the single digits and when I started my L45 last time it was really blowing out a lot of gray smoke and you could tell it was struggling with the cold oil. It's only got about 30 hrs. on it so I was a little concerned and thought maybe I should pick up a heater of some kind. It is kept under cover, but only in a three sided leanto.

 

[Tig]

I use an inline in the lower rad hose. Which works well on B7100 since it has no thermostat or water pump to inhibit circulation by convection.
If I do have to start cold, I give it a minute or so of glow plug, start and then hit the glow plugs again (10 -30 seconds?) until it fires nice on all cylinders and there is no diesel mist (gray smoke).
I'm not certain if that is a glow plug no no, but it works well.

 

[Onederdog]

Thanks Tig, anyone ever use the magnetic type on the oil pan?

 

[Tig]

No, I've never used one but I did consider it for the Hydrostatic tranny when I lived a bit further north and we were seeing -25C and -35C on a regular basis. Past few years winter seems to be one long November/March. To me the magnetic ones seemed inefficient since they were on the outside of the engine, although anything that warms the oil like that has got to be good for the engine.
Back in the really cold days I would throw an old sleeping bag over the hood of whatever I had plugged in. It helps capture the heat and lets the heat spread around in the engine compartment. That would work with a magnetic heater too.

 

[HeLa]

i personally prefer the heaters that warm the coolant. since the water jacket surrounds so much of the engine i like to think it heats up more of it, more evenly. even though things don't get too cold here i just bought a freeze-plug type for my BX, to be installed at the next coolant flush. warmer engine/oil > colder engine/oil at start in my opinion, and i only plan to run it when i know i'll be using the machine to save on power.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I have started my L3940 in 0F mornings with no issues without any heaters. Fresh seasonal fuel, Power Service white bottle, 5w-40 synthetic oil. All the colder it ever gets here is 0F, and I don't think it is worth the bother to add heater and worry about plugging it in or waiting for it to warm up to start. Philip.

 

[Katahdin]

I have the screw-in-block heater type made by Zero Start, a freeze plug heater should work just as good. Anyway, when it was 20 degrees in my garage, my infrared temp gun was showing about 85 degrees emitting from the block after a couple hours of heat-up time.

 

[Jesse masterson]

i personally prefer the heaters that warm the coolant. since the water jacket surrounds so much of the engine i like to think it heats up more of it, more evenly. even though things don't get too cold here i just bought a freeze-plug type for my BX, to be installed at the next coolant flush. warmer engine/oil > colder engine/oil at start in my opinion, and i only plan to run it when i know i'll be using the machine to save on power.

Was just wondering why could t a person take a heater made for waterlines to prevent freezing and wrap it around tractor water hose. Just wondering if anybody ever tried it

 

[xring100]

I have the kubota screw in on my m8540 if its above 10°F 30 minutes warms the block enough it does not hit the glow plugs and starts great below 5°f i let it go longer no more than an hour. Only problem is still have to let Trans warm up for a while 10 - 20 minutes usually before she shifts nicely
If you use the screw in type use an anaerobic thread sealant similar to lock tight tried tape and regular thread sealant twice would not seal.
Oh yeah have fun getting the plug out mine took 400- 500 ft lbs to break it loose. Breaker bar with cheater pipe and me jumping onto it

Dave

 

[oldnslo]

Was just wondering why could t a person take a heater made for waterlines to prevent freezing and wrap it around tractor water hose. Just wondering if anybody ever tried it

Are you talking about heat tape? If yes I would be concerned that it may hot spot and melt the rubber hose. I know from experience that it will melt PVC pipe. Other problem is would you get any circulation of fluid through the block?

 

[Jesse masterson]

Are you talking about heat tape? If yes I would be concerned that it may hot spot and melt the rubber hose. I know from experience that it will melt PVC pipe. Other problem is would you get any circulation of fluid through the block?

Yea I was talking heat tape, couldn't think of what it was called if you put it on the bottom hose heat rises I would think it might circulate from bottom up, just a thought, as far as melting I've had several for years with no problems , dosent mean it couldn't happen though.

 

[Ace3]

I had the dealer install the kubota block heater. Works great. I walk out to the barn, plug it in, go back in and have a cup of coffee and by the time I'm done its warmed up any ready to start. I just think its better to pre-warm the enging before starting on a very cold day.

 

[oldballs]

Although a small BX engine, the 200 watt magnetic electric oil pan heater did next to nothing for warming the engine. I'd like to have that $35 back. I didn't know better at the time.:confused3: Maybe the larger magnetic one would do better for moderate cold. But if you're talking 0 deg F, I'd now go for a block heater or some other kind of apparatus.

 

[tomf]

I installed a Kubota block heater on my b2400 3 years ago. This is why. After letting my B2400 sit outside on a particularly cold night, -14, I started it up, went inside for about 5 minutes to wait while it warmed up. When I came out my tractor was not running and all its hydraulic fluid was on the ground. A plug had popped. I'm guessing there was some water in the fluid that froze and blocked a pipe causing pressure to build and blow the plug. The block heater is cheap peace of mind.

 

[PHILIP8N]

A plug had popped.

What plug popped? Philip.

 

[xring100]

I installed a Kubota block heater on my b2400 3 years ago. This is why. After letting my B2400 sit outside on a particularly cold night, -14, I started it up, went inside for about 5 minutes to wait while it warmed up. When I came out my tractor was not running and all its hydraulic fluid was on the ground. A plug had popped. I'm guessing there was some water in the fluid that froze and blocked a pipe causing pressure to build and blow the plug. The block heater is cheap peace of mind.

How does a block heater solve this problem? did you install the heater in the trans someplace? A block heater on the engine does nothing to keep water in the trans from freezing.
The reason i ask is i would like a descent way to safely heat the hydraulic oil? My Trans take 15 -20 minutes to warm up even with a block heater

Dave

 

[PHILIP8N]

i would like a descent way to safely heat the hydraulic oil?

Google 'Kim Hot Start', they have an entire range of idustiral heaters for many fluids and applications. This is what we use on units we send to Siberia. Philip.

 

[tomf]

What plug popped? Philip.

There is a plug above the shaft seal in the clutch housing. You can't see it in this picture because the shaft is blocking your view. It's part number 100 on the .pdf file.

 

[tomf]

How does a block heater solve this problem? did you install the heater in the trans someplace? A block heater on the engine does nothing to keep water in the trans from freezing.
The reason i ask is i would like a descent way to safely heat the hydraulic oil? My Trans take 15 -20 minutes to warm up even with a block heater

Dave

I'm guessing even the limited heating provided by the block heater would have been enough to prevent the ice from forming. I could be wrong. I never had a problem when I stored my tractor in my unheated barn no matter what the temperature was. The reason I parked the B2400 outside was because there was so much snow I could not get to the barn. Anyway, it's better than nothing.

Don't know how water got in the fluid. Always stored inside. Never operated in the rain.

 

[PHILIP8N]

There is a plug above the shaft seal in the clutch housing. You can't see it in this picture because the shaft is blocking your view.

So is that on the top of the transmission housing? Appears that there would be nothing but air under that plug. Philip.